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The growth pattern of Neandertals, reconstructed from a juvenile skeleton from El Sidrón (Spain)

Authors :
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
Rosas, Antonio
Ríos, Luis
Estalrrich, Almudena
Liversidge, Helen
García-Tabernero, Antonio
Huguet, Rosa
Cardoso, Hugo
Bastir, Markus
Lalueza-Fox, Carles
Rasilla, Marco de la
Dean, Christopher
Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
Rosas, Antonio
Ríos, Luis
Estalrrich, Almudena
Liversidge, Helen
García-Tabernero, Antonio
Huguet, Rosa
Cardoso, Hugo
Bastir, Markus
Lalueza-Fox, Carles
Rasilla, Marco de la
Dean, Christopher
Publication Year :
2017

Abstract

Ontogenetic studies help us understand the processes of evolutionary change. Previous studies on Neandertals have focused mainly on dental development and inferred an accelerated pace of general growth. We report on a juvenile partial skeleton (El Sidrón J1) preserving cranio-dental and postcranial remains. We used dental histology to estimate the age at death t o b e 7.7 years. Maturation of most elements fell within the expected range of modern humans at this age. The exce ptions were the atlas and mid-thoraci c ver tebrae, whi ch remai ned a t t he 5- to 6-ye a r sta ge o f d evelopment. Furthermo re, e ndocra nial features suggestthatbraingrowth wasnot yetcompleted. T he vertebral m aturation p attern and extended brain growth most likely reflect Neandertal physiology and ontogenetic energy constraints rather than any fundamental difference in the overall pace of growth in this extinct human.

Details

Database :
OAIster
Notes :
English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1103431453
Document Type :
Electronic Resource