New horizons in reconstructing past human behavior: Introducing the “Tübingen University Validated Entheses‐based Reconstruction of Activity” method

Abstract

An accurate reconstruction of habitual activities in past populations and extinct hominin species is a paramount goal of paleoanthropological research, as it can elucidate the evolution of human behavior and the relationship between culture and biology. Variation in muscle attachment (entheseal) morphology has been considered an indicator of habitual activity, and many attempts have been made to use it for this purpose. However, its interpretation remains equivocal due to methodological shortcomings and a paucity of supportive experimental data. Through a series of studies, we have introduced a novel and precise methodology that focuses on reconstructing muscle synergies based on three‐dimensional and multivariate analyses among entheses. This approach was validated using uniquely documented anthropological samples, experimental animal studies, histological observations, and geometric morphometrics. Here, we detail, synthesize, and critically discuss the findings of these studies, which overall point to the great potential of entheses in elucidating aspects of past human behavior.

Effects of selective breeding for voluntary exercise, chronic exercise, and their interaction on muscle attachment site morphology in house mice

“…For instance, previous applications of the V.E.R.A. protocols to fossil hominin hand skeletons (Karakostis & Harvati, 2021; Karakostis et al, 2018) focused exclusively on entheses that have shown consistent differences across documented humans with distinct lifelong occupational activities (Karakostis et al, 2017). Similar recommendations have been made for any skeletal feature used for reconstructing activity in the past (e.g., see Copes et al, 2018; Lieberman et al, 2004; Peacock et al, 2018; Wallace et al, 2012).…”

“…Following the V.E.R.A. method (Karakostis & Harvati, 2021), four entheseal surfaces were delineated using image filtering techniques based on surface elevation, coloration, and surface complexity (Karakostis & Harvati, 2021; Karakostis et al, 2018, 2019a, b, 2021; Karakostis & Lorenzo, 2016). In this study, we provide a pipeline figure of the V.E.R.A method based on the humerus deltoid tuberosity (Figure 2).…”

“…Before quantifying the delineated muscle attachment 3D surface models, we transformed the scale on MeshLab based on linear measurements from the whole bone 3D surface models. Finally, the “ Compute Geometric Measurements ” filter was used to measure the external surface area of the muscle attachments in mm 2 (Karakostis & Harvati, 2021; Karakostis et al, 2018, 2019a, b, 2021; Karakostis & Lorenzo, 2016) (Figure 3).…”

“…Since then, this method, named "Validated Entheses‐based Reconstruction of Activity" (V.E.R.A.) (Karakostis & Harvati, 2021), has been applied successfully in other experimental studies using small mammals and birds (Karakostis et al, 2019a; b). Our large sample size, which is substantially greater than in other experimental studies of muscle entheses, allows us to reliably apply robust linear statistical models and probability testing.…”

Covariation of proximal finger and toe phalanges inHomo sapiens: A novel approach to assess covariation of serially corresponding structures

“…The musculus flexor pollicis brevis and the musculus abductor pollicis brevis insert on the medial tubercle. Therefore, these tubercles comprise muscle attachment sites (entheses), of which relative robusticity is experimentally shown to be affected by habitual manual activity (Karakostis et al 2017; Karakostis & Harvati, 2021). Here we show that the robusticity of these tubercles is directly related to robusticity and proportions of proximal hand phalanges themselves.…”