On the prevalence of external auditory exostoses among the proto-neolithicHomo sapiens population of Shanidar Cave, Iraq

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to report on the incidence of external auditory exostoses among the Proto-Neolithic Homo sapiens population from Shanidar Cave, in northern Iraq. Out of 31 individuals comprising the skeletal collection, seven individuals preserved pertinent temporal bone loci. Of these, four of five adult individuals presented exostoses, yielding an 80% observation ratio of this manifestation. Based on the association of external auditory exostoses with cold aquatic exposures, the observed presence of these growths among cranial remains may provide further insight as to aspects of life conditions among-this population.

Auditory exostoses among the prepottery neolithic inhabitants of Çayönü and Aşıklı, Anatolia; its relation to aquatic activities

“…A total of 114 subadult and adult crania from Ç ayönü Tepesi and 40 subadult and adult crania from Aş ıklı Hüyük were thus examined. No ear exostoses occurred in any of the infants paralleling observations by several authors concerning both living or past societies (Agelarakis and Serpanos, 2002;Steinbock, 1976;Crowe et al, 2010;Miladinovic-Radmilovic, 2010;Ortner, 2003). Consequently, it is clear that auditory exostoses include a complex relationship between genetic liability and both environmental and behavioral factors (Manzi et al, 1991;Mann, 1984;Kennedy, 1986).…”

A multidisciplinary approach to investigate the osteobiography of the Roman Imperial population from Muracciola Torresina (Palestrina, Rome, Italy)

“…There is experimental evidence that cold water can stimulate osteoblastic activity, and therefore bone production of the ear (Van Gilse, 1938;Fowler and Osmun, 1942). The presence of these traits has been detected in archaeological series since prehistory (Velasco-Vázquez, 2000;Agelerakis and Serpanos, 2002;Okumura et al, 2005Okumura et al, -20062007). In particular, it was particularly common in several coastal or riverine populations (Frayer, 1988;Manzi et al, 1991;Sakalinskas and Jankauskas, 1993;Tommaseo Ponzetta et al, 1997;Gregg, 2000;Okumura et al, 2005Okumura et al, -20062007).…”

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

“…The prevalence of EAEs at Souskiou‐ Laona is higher than EAE prevalence at some sites in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, including Classical and Hellenistic Thasos Island, Greece, with 2.1% of individuals exhibiting EAEs, and Neolithic Aşıklı Hüyük, Turkey, where 3.6% of crania display EAEs (Agelarakis & Serpanos, 2010; Özbek, 2012). The Souskiou‐ Laona prevalence is, however, lower than at Neolithic Çayӧnü Tepesi, Turkey, where 17.5% of individuals present EAEs (Özbek, 2012), and at Proto‐Neolithic Shanidar Cave in Iraqi Kurdistan where 80% of adults display EAEs (Agelerakis & Serpanos, 2002). The differential occurrence of EAEs indicates that only some members of the community of Souskiou‐ Laona were actively engaging in repetitive aquatic activity.…”

“…EAEs have been found in skeletal assemblages from the Eastern Mediterranean and Near East (Figure 1). The Proto‐Neolithic (10,600 ± 300 years Before Present [BP]) Shanidar cave displayed EAEs in 80% of adults, which were attributed to habitual and/or occupational activities, such as aquatic resource harvesting (Agelerakis & Serpanos, 2002). EAE prevalence from two Neolithic sites from Anatolia, Çayӧnü Tepesi (10,200–9000 to 8200–8000 years BP) and Aşıklı Hüyük (11,000 years BP) was assessed in adult and subadult crania.…”