Statistical and biological definitions of “anatomically modern” humans: Suggestions for a unified approach to modern morphology

Pearson, Osbjorn M.

doi:10.1002/evan.20155

Cited by 68 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 100 publications

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“…The African fossil record is consistent with a gradual accumulation of anatomically modern osteological features during 200 to 50 kya (34)(35)(36)(37). By 195 to 160 kya, the Omo and Herto skulls from Ethiopia closely anticipate the form of contemporary humans, although they tend to be more robust overall.…”

Section: Human Origins In Africamentioning

confidence: 54%

The great human expansion

Henn

Cavalli-Sforza

Feldman

2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

366

238

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Genetic and paleoanthropological evidence is in accord that today's human population is the result of a great demic (demographic and geographic) expansion that began approximately 45,000 to 60,000 y ago in Africa and rapidly resulted in human occupation of almost all of the Earth's habitable regions. Genomic data from contemporary humans suggest that this expansion was accompanied by a continuous loss of genetic diversity, a result of what is called the "serial founder effect." In addition to genomic data, the serial founder effect model is now supported by the genetics of human parasites, morphology, and linguistics. This particular population history gave rise to the two defining features of genetic variation in humans: genomes from the substructured populations of Africa retain an exceptional number of unique variants, and there is a dramatic reduction in genetic diversity within populations living outside of Africa. These two patterns are relevant for medical genetic studies mapping genotypes to phenotypes and for inferring the power of natural selection in human history. It should be appreciated that the initial expansion and subsequent serial founder effect were determined by demographic and sociocultural factors associated with hunter-gatherer populations. How do we reconcile this major demic expansion with the population stability that followed for thousands years until the inventions of agriculture? We review advances in understanding the genetic diversity within Africa and the great human expansion out of Africa and offer hypotheses that can help to establish a more synthetic view of modern human evolution.human population growth | hunter-gatherer demography | molecular evolution

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Section: Human Origins In Africamentioning

confidence: 54%

The great human expansion

Henn

Cavalli-Sforza

Feldman

2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

366

238

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“…Omo (Kibish) 1 is a large, robust early anatomically modern human (AMH) (Brown and Fuller, 2008). Statistical differences between early AMH and current H. sapiens have been noted in previous cranial studies (e.g., Tub on et al, 1997;Pearson, 2008;Gunz et al, 2009) and are qualitatively more robust than current modern humans (Keith, 1925). This cranial robusticity is mirrored in the postcrania and often postulated to be the result of differences in activity patterns over time (Brose and Wolpoff, 1971;Stock, 2006).…”

Section: Discussion Is the Morphological Pattern Of Covariance In Formentioning

confidence: 88%

Forelimb to Hindlimb Shape Covariance in Extant Hominoids and Fossil Hominins

Tallman

2012

The Anatomical Record

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Researchers often attempt to use limb proportions to ascertain the locomotor repertoires of fossil hominins. This can be problematic as there are few skeletons in the fossil record that preserve both a full forelimb and hindlimb; therefore, estimates of full limb lengths are typically associated with substantial error. In this study, two-block partial least squares analyses were used to examine covariation between forelimb and hindlimb elements in extant hominoids and fossil hominins. This has the benefit of including both forelimb and hindlimb in a type of functional analysis without necessitating an accurate length estimate. There is a high degree of covariation between forelimb and hindlimb segments in the mixed species sample, particularly in the proximal ulna, distal humerus, and proximal/distal femur and that shape covariation is significantly correlated with intermembral indices in the extant taxa. Overall, the fossil hominins most closely resembled modern humans with the exception of analyses utilizing the distal femur where some occupied a unique morphological position; thus, some fossil hominins likely possessed locomotor capabilities similar to modern humans, whereas others likely represent a unique morphological compromise between terrestrial bipedality and other positional behaviors not present among extant hominoids.

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“…Facial size and orientation are often cited as criteria for anatomical modernity, and a vertically short, nonprojecting face is considered to be a principal distinguishing feature of our species (27,48). Facial retraction cannot be measured satisfactorily without lateral radiographs, but NPH can be obtained directly from the fossils.…”

Section: Populations Skull Measurements and Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Middle and later Pleistocene hominins in Africa and Southwest Asia

Rightmire

2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

106

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Approximately 700,000 years ago, Homo erectus in Africa was giving way to populations with larger brains accompanied by structural adjustments to the vault, cranial base, and face. Such early Middle Pleistocene hominins were not anatomically modern. Their skulls display strong supraorbital tori above projecting faces, flattened frontals, and less parietal expansion than is the case for Homo sapiens. Postcranial remains seem also to have archaic features. Subsequently, some groups evolved advanced skeletal morphology, and by ca. 200,000 years ago, individuals more similar to recent humans are present in the African record. These fossils are associated with Middle Stone Age lithic assemblages and, in some cases, Acheulean tools. Crania from Herto in Ethiopia carry defleshing cutmarks and superficial scoring that may be indicative of mortuary practices. Despite these signs of behavioral innovation, neither the Herto hominins, nor others from Late Pleistocene sites such as Klasies River in southern Africa and Skhu l/Qafzeh in Israel, can be matched in living populations. Skulls are quite robust, and it is only after Ϸ35,000 years ago that people with more gracile, fully modern morphology make their appearance. Not surprisingly, many questions concerning this evolutionary history have been raised. Attention has centered on systematics of the mid-Pleistocene hominins, their paleobiology, and the timing of dispersals that spread H. sapiens out of Africa and across the Old World. In this report, I discuss structural changes characterizing the skulls from different time periods, possible regional differences in morphology, and the bearing of this evidence on recognizing distinct species.Homo heidelbergensis ͉ Homo sapiens ͉ human evolution ͉ skull morphology ͉ systematics

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Statistical and biological definitions of “anatomically modern” humans: Suggestions for a unified approach to modern morphology

Cited by 68 publications

References 100 publications

The great human expansion

The great human expansion

Forelimb to Hindlimb Shape Covariance in Extant Hominoids and Fossil Hominins

Middle and later Pleistocene hominins in Africa and Southwest Asia

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