Antemortem trauma and survival in the late Middle Pleistocene human cranium from Maba, South China

Wu, Xiujie; Schepartz, Lynne A.; Liu, Wu; Trinkaus, Erik

doi:10.1073/pnas.1117113108

Cited by 71 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(45 reference statements)

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“…Apart from the macroscopic and radiological scrutiny, few paleopathological studies have applied histological techniques to characterize different types of injury lesions [38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45] or to understand the timings of posttraumatic healing [46,47,48,49]. The results of this exploratory investigation showed that gross inspection may be insufficient to describe and characterize trauma lesions or to understand the biology of disease.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Below the Callus Surface: Applying Paleohistological Techniques to Understand the Biology of Bone Healing in Skeletonized Human Remains

Assis

Keenleyside

2016

Pathobiology

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Objectives: Bone trauma is a common occurrence in human skeletal remains. Macroscopic and imaging scrutiny is the approach most currently used to analyze and describe trauma. Nevertheless, this line of inquiry may not be sufficient to accurately identify the type of traumatic lesion and the associated degree of bone healing. To test the usefulness of histology in the examination of bone healing biology, we used an integrative approach that combines gross inspection and microscopy. Materials and Methods: Six bone samples belonging to 5 adult individuals with signs of bone trauma were collected from the Human Identified Skeletal Collection from the Museu Bocage (Lisbon, Portugal). Previous to sampling, the lesions were described according to their location, morphology, and healing status. After sampling, the bone specimens were prepared for plane light and polarized light analysis. Results: The histological analysis was pivotal: (1) to differentiate between types of traumatic lesions; (2) to ascertain the posttraumatic interval, and (3) to diagnose other associated pathological conditions. Conclusion: The outer surface of a bone lesion may not give a complete picture of the biology of the tissue's response. Accordingly, microscopic analysis is essential to differentiate, characterize, and classify trauma signs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Below the Callus Surface: Applying Paleohistological Techniques to Understand the Biology of Bone Healing in Skeletonized Human Remains

Assis

Keenleyside

2016

Pathobiology

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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: 99%

In vitro strain 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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“…They also dealt with encounters with often dangerous prey as well as predators (Camarós et al 2015). There is no notable difference in adult mortality between Neanderthals and early modern humans (Trinkaus 2011), with serious pathological conditions common across archaic and early human populations (Wu et al 2011). Estabrook comments: 'The idea that Neanderthals are more frequently traumatized than modern populations is based on little evidence, but it has been well received because it dovetails nicely with this paradigm [of Neanderthals as "dumb"]' (2009,337).…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Calculated or caring? Neanderthal healthcare in social context

et al. 2018

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Explanations for patterns of healed trauma in Neanderthals have been a matter of debate for several decades. Despite widespread evidence for recovery from injuries or survival despite impairments, apparent evidence for healthcare is given limited attention. Moreover, interpretations of Neanderthals' approach to injury and suffering sometimes assume a calculated or indifferent attitude to others. Here the authors review evidence for Neanderthal healthcare, drawing on a bioarchaeology of care approach and relating healthcare to other realms of Neanderthal social life. The authors argue that Neanderthal medical treatment and healthcare was widespread and part of a social context of strong pro-social bonds which was not distinctively different from healthcare seen in later contexts. They suggest that the time has come to accept Neanderthal healthcare as a compassionate and knowledgeable response to injury and illness, and to turn to other questions, such as cultural variation or the wider significance of healthcare in an evolutionary context.

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Antemortem trauma and survival in the late Middle Pleistocene human cranium from Maba, South China

Cited by 71 publications

References 43 publications

Below the Callus Surface: Applying Paleohistological Techniques to Understand the Biology of Bone Healing in Skeletonized Human Remains

Below the Callus Surface: Applying Paleohistological Techniques to Understand the Biology of Bone Healing in Skeletonized Human Remains

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

Calculated or caring? Neanderthal healthcare in social context

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