A Survey of the Evidence for Intrahuman Killing in the Pleistocene

Roper, Marilyn Keyes

doi:10.1086/201038

Cited by 65 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Facial skeletal trauma consistent with injury due to fist fighting has been observed in many samples of prehistoric skeletal remains (Owens, 2007;Cohen et al, 2012;Judd, 2004;Jurmain, 2001;Jurmain et al, 2009;Andrushko and Torres, 2011;Lessa and Mendonça de Souza, 2004;Standen and Arriaza, 2000;Scott and Buckley, 2014;Walker, 1997;Webb, 2009). Additionally, evidence consistent with facial skeletal trauma due to fist fighting also exists in the fossil record of Australopithecus (Dart, 1948;Roper, 1969) and early Homo (Wu et al, 2011;Pérez et al, 1997;Curnoe and Brink, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

In vitrostrain in human metacarpal bones during striking: testing the pugilism hypothesis of hominin hand evolution

Horns

Jung

Carrier

2015

Journal of Experimental Biology

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The hands of hominins (i.e. bipedal apes) are distinguished by skeletal proportions that are known to enhance manual dexterity but also allow the formation of a clenched fist. Because male-male physical competition is important in the mating systems of most species of great apes, including humans, we tested the hypothesis that a clenched fist protects the metacarpal bones from injury by reducing the level of strain during striking. We used cadaver arms to measure in vitro strain in metacarpals during forward strikes with buttressed and unbuttressed fist postures and during side slaps with an open palm. If the protective buttressing hypothesis is correct, the clenched fist posture should substantially reduce strain in the metacarpal bones during striking and therefore reduce the risk of fracture. Recorded strains were significantly higher in strikes in which the hand was secured in unbuttressed and slapping postures than in the fully buttressed posture. Our results suggest that humans can safely strike with 55% more force with a fully buttressed fist than with an unbuttressed fist and with twofold more force with a buttressed fist than with an open-hand slap. Thus, the evolutionary significance of the proportions of the hominin hand may be that these are the proportions that improved manual dexterity while at the same time making it possible for the hand to be used as a club during fighting.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

In vitrostrain in human metacarpal bones during striking: testing the pugilism hypothesis of hominin hand evolution

Horns

Jung

Carrier

2015

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Thus Brothwell (1999) suggests that there may have been Neanderthal conflict on the basis of the frequency of traumatic injury, and that such injury cannot simply be accidental. 1) (Roper 1969;Guilaine and Zammit 2001: 72-3). This could also be the cause of the weapon-like injuries from Shanidar (Iraq) and Skhūl (Palestine) (Fig.…”

Section: Conflict In Early Prehistorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Transdisciplinary Approach to Language Study

Filipović¹

2015

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The main theories of the origin of warfare -from evolutionary psychology, materialism, and historical contingency -are examined. Their implications and their use of anthropological evidence, especially for the Yanomamö of the Amazon, are explored, then their relationship to the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic archaeological record. The early prehistoric evidence for conflict and warfare, mainly from Europe, is considered, from individual injuries, mostly from club wounds to the skull and death by arrowshot, to mass killings which could have destroyed a group. The enormous regional variation in this evidence is set against universal theories which imply uniformity and are thus found wanting.

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“…Between 20,000 and 30,000 years ago, skeletal remains with signs of violenceprojectile points embedded in bone, depressed fractures on crania-have been found in rare, isolated cases in Paleolithic Europe and Egypt (Keeley, 1996:37;Roper, 1969;Wendorf and Schild, 1986). Although there are no accepted human remains in the Western Hemi- sphere for this early a period, there are similar isolated occurrences of violence in skeletal remains in the evolutionarily analogous Paleoindian period from 7000 to 12,000 years ago.…”

Section: The Origins Of Warmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeology at the Millennium

Feinman¹,

Price²

2001

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A Survey of the Evidence for Intrahuman Killing in the Pleistocene

Cited by 65 publications

References 23 publications

In vitrostrain in human metacarpal bones during striking: testing the pugilism hypothesis of hominin hand evolution

In vitrostrain in human metacarpal bones during striking: testing the pugilism hypothesis of hominin hand evolution

Transdisciplinary Approach to Language Study

Archaeology at the Millennium

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