External auditory exostoses among western Eurasian late Middle and Late Pleistocene humans

Abstract

External auditory exostoses (EAE) have been noted among the Neandertals and a few other Pleistocene humans, but until recently they have been discussed primary as minor pathological lesions with possible auditory consequences. An assessment of available western Eurasian late Middle and Late Pleistocene human temporal bones with sufficiently preserved auditory canals (n = 77) provides modest levels of EAE among late Middle Pleistocene archaic humans (≈20%) and early modern humans (Middle Paleolithic: ≈25%; Early/Mid Upper Paleolithic: 20.8%; Late Upper Paleolithic: 9.5%). The Neandertals, however, exhibit an exceptionally high level of EAE (56.5%; 47.8% if two anomalous cases are considered normal). The levels of EAE for the early modern humans are well within recent human ranges of variation, frequencies which are low for equatorial inland and high latitude samples but occasionally higher elsewhere. The Early/Mid Upper Paleolithic frequency is nonetheless high for a high latitude sample under interpleniglacial conditions. Given the strong etiological and environmental associations of EAE development with exposure to cold water and/or damp wind chill, the high frequency of EAE among the Neandertals implies frequent aquatic resource exploitation, more frequent than the archeological and stable isotopic evidence for Middle Paleolithic/Neandertal littoral and freshwater resource foraging implies. As such, the Neandertal data parallel a similar pattern evident in eastern Eurasian archaic humans. Yet, factors in addition to cold water/wind exposure may well have contributed to their high EAE frequencies.

Neandertals on the beach: Use of marine resources at Grotta dei Moscerini (Latium, Italy)

“…At both sites only Callista chione shells were used and 23.9% of the specimens of Moscerini cave were collected as live animals from the sea floor. The archaeological evidence from Moscerini supports the idea that the abnormal bony growth of the external ear canal, quite common on Neandertal remains, indicates that Neandertals spent a significant amount of time collecting aquatic resources by skin diving [35][36]. Evidence of fishing in shallow waters is also documented by remains of freshwater fish at a Mousterian site in Italy (Castelcivita Cave; trout, chub, eel, NISP = 21) [38].…”

“…Bony growth in the external ear canal is correlated with habitual exposure to cold water [35]. These bony growths (exostoses) are quite common on Neanderthal remains and the most likely explanation is that Neanderthals spent a good deal of time collecting aquatic resources [35; see also [36][37].…”

“…Fishing in shallow fresh water fish or collecting shells from rocky shores or coastal sandy sea floor by skin diving is a simple technology. There is an increase in aquatic resource exploitation in the Upper Paleolithic (UP thereafter) but a decrease in the frequency of exostoses in the external auditory canal on the UP fossils [35]. This is possibly related to the use of more sophisticated fishing technologies such as fishhooks or barbed spears, which do not require diving.…”

Triangulating Neanderthal cognition: A tale of not seeing the forest for the trees

“…Documentation of the types of animals hunted by Neanderthals further substantiates the inference of ranged weaponry and is in itself impressive as it fully reflects modern hunter‐gatherer capabilities. From big game and even bears through small game and birds to fish and other seafood including seals and dolphins, Neanderthal subsistence strategies were varied and systematic—and in contrast to common misconception also heavily relied on nuts, mushrooms, and a multitude of other vegetation, though heavy reliance on meat was highly prevalent during cold climatic phases (Bocherens et al, 2016; El Zaatari, Grine, Ungar, & Hublin, 2011; Estalrrich, El Zaatari, & Rosas, 2017; Finlayson & Finlayson, 2016; Hardy et al, 2013; Morin et al, 2019; Power et al, 2018; Romandini et al, 2018; Stringer et al, 2008; Trinkaus, Samsel, & Villotte, 2019; Zilhão et al, 2020). Exploiting these resources in a specialized way resembling “logistic behavior” (Marín et al, 2020, p. 22), Neanderthals implemented “complex land use patterns, adapting to diversified landscapes and climates” (Moncel, Fernandes, Willmes, James, & Grün, 2019, p. 1) and thereby demonstrate “a complex scenario of extensive knowledge and intensive exploitation of the landscape” (de Soler et al, 2020, p. 1).…”

External auditory exostoses, repetitive aquatic activity and increasing social complexity in Chalcolithic Cyprus: Specialists of the sea?

“…Within human bioarchaeology it is generally accepted that the aetiology of EAEs is chronic cold‐water exposure (Evans & Cameron, 2017). EAE data inform on human–environment interactions, activity and behavioural differences between the sexes, habitual aquatic activity (e.g., fishing, diving, swimming, bathing, seafaring, littoral zone resource procurement), marine and aquatic resource exploitation and subsistence patterns, amongst other domains (Günay & Akpolat, 2009; Kennedy, 1986; Kuzminsky et al, 2016; Lambert, 2002; Özbek, 2012; Standen et al, 1997; Trinkaus et al, 2019; Velasco‐Vazquez et al, 2000; Villotte et al, 2014). The nature of human–environment interactions and, particularly, habitual aquatic activity in ancient Cyprus is understudied in the archaeological record.…”