渑池笃忠遗址仰韶文化晚期人骨研究

本文对河南省渑池县笃忠遗址仰韶文化晚期灰坑出土的15例人骨进行了人类学的考察,该组颅骨在体质特征上与现代华南地区的居民有些近似。在若干古代和近现代对比组中,笃忠组颅骨的体质特征与尉迟寺组、近代华南组最为接近。推测该组人骨的平均身高,男性为165.00厘米,女性为154.33厘米。     

河南荥阳薛村遗址早商人骨种系研究

本文对出土于河南荥阳薛村早商时期墓葬和灰坑的人骨材料进行了人类学的考察。该组颅骨在种族特征上应归属于亚洲蒙古人种的东亚类型,薛村早商组的人骨种系特征,在若干古代对比组中,其体质特征与瓦窑沟组和游邀组最为接近。     

日本北九州宗玄寺遗址出土人骨的种族类型

本文对日本福冈县北九州市宗玄寺遗址出土的颅骨进行了人种学研究。研究结果表明 ,宗玄寺近世居民在若干主要体质特征上具有现代亚洲蒙古人种的特点 ,并且与东亚蒙古人种最为接近。与亚太地区古代颅骨组相比 ,日本宗玄寺近世居民与其本国的北九州山口弥生人、北九州山口古坟人、吉母浜中世纪人以及中国东北地区的由大甸子Ⅰ组所代表的夏家店下层文化中的部分居民、夏家店上层文化居民、关马山石椁墓居民关系均较密切。     

陕西临潼新丰秦墓人骨研究

本文对临潼新丰镇秦墓出土的人骨标本进行了体质人类学方面的考察。与相关地区的人骨材料的比较研究发现:新丰组颅骨在人种分类上属于现代亚洲蒙古人种范畴,其基本的种系成分与现代亚洲蒙古人种中的东亚类型最为接近,其次为南亚类型。与现代亚洲蒙古人种的若干近代组的比较表明,新丰组在颅骨的基本形态特征方面与近代华北组最为接近,其次为华南组。与新石器时代各组的比较结果显示其与陶寺组、仰韶合并组最为接近。与夏代至汉代相关颅骨组的比较结果显示新丰组与游邀组、乔村A组最为接近。     

大安后套木嘎新石器时代中期墓葬出土人骨研究

本文对吉林大安后套木嘎遗址第三期文化,即新石器时代中期墓葬出土的颅骨进行人类学考察,通过对颅骨的观察与测量,并将后套三期组与相关对比组进行比较和分析。该组颅骨在体质特征上可归入亚洲蒙古人种,在若干近代和古代对比组中,后套三期组与近代华北组及抚顺组、古代组中的东北地区青铜时代的关马山组最为接近。     

磨沟墓地古代居民非连续性特征的观察与研究

本文对磨沟墓地古代居民中齐家组和寺洼组的39项非连续性特征性状进行了观察分析,其中有24项有着较为一致的频率,说明两者有相似的颅骨非连续性特征。通过选择13项颅骨非连续性性状进行各组间的对比,发现磨沟两组与中国北方地区各个古代组别关系最为密切,其次是代表着现代东亚蒙古人种的华北组和太原组,而与现代东南亚蒙古人种、北亚蒙古人种、东北亚蒙古人种以及具有欧罗巴血统的人种关系较为疏远。     

云南怒江石岭岗遗址人骨研究

本文对云南怒江石岭岗遗址出土的人骨标本进行了初步的人口结构分析,在此基础上对颅骨进行了观察与测量,显示其具备亚洲蒙古人种的特征。男性颅骨标本表现为两种不同的类型,一类与现代亚洲蒙古人种的东亚和南亚类型比较接近,与古代九站组和西村周组最为接近,一类与现代亚洲蒙古人种的北亚类型有最多的相似性,与古代朝阳组距离相对较近。最后对肢骨进行了测量与分析,并推算了石岭岗遗址古代居民的平均身高。     

宁夏海原石砚子墓地人骨研究

本文对海原石砚子墓地的颅骨标本进行了观察和测量,我们认为石砚子居民总体的颅面部形态与现代北亚蒙古人种较为相似,但在个别特征表现上又明显与之有别,显示出混合型的体质特点,推测是该地区早期游牧人群与中原移民高度融合的结果。我们在石砚子M12中的1例成年男性个体的颅骨上发现有大面积不规则形的骨质破坏,推测应系由颅骨转移癌所致。     

云南宾川白羊村新石器时代遗址人骨研究

本文对云南宾川白羊村遗址出土的30例人骨标本进行了系统的体质人类学研究。在初步的人口结构分析基础上,对颅骨标本的形态特征进行了观察与测量,并且与相关的古代颅骨组进行了对比研究。同时对肢骨进行了测量,推算出白羊村遗址古代居民的平均身高。对骨骼的病理现象进行了观察与描述。另外,本文还对白羊村遗址无头葬的葬俗进行了统计与分析,探讨了其形成的原因。     

北京市石景山区老山汉墓出土人骨的研究报告

2000年2～11月 ,北京市文物研究所对石景山区老山地区的一座西汉贵族墓进行了发掘 ,出土一具人骨。2002年10月 ,研究人员对该人骨进行了体质人类学、古代DNA和颅像复原等方面的研究 ,得出初步结论 :老山汉墓墓主人为一位30岁左右的女性 ,其体质具有蒙古人种的特征 ,并与现代东亚蒙古人种较为接近 ;在近现代对比组中与华北近代居民的种系特征最近似 ;在古代对比组中与殷墟中小墓组所代表的中原地区先秦时期的土著居民最为接近。该个体的身高约为159.8厘米。     

Size and shape of the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa), with a view to the reconstruction of its Holocene history

Abstract

A large assortment of skulls and skeletons of recent wild boar (Sus scrofa) from across the world has been used to collect tooth and bone measurements that can be compared to those from archaeological specimens. The data provide useful information for a reconstruction of the Holocene history of the species. The evidence collected so far highlights the great variability of the species and provides a baseline to be used for the interpretation of ancient material. It is shown that not only the size, but also the shape of teeth and mandibles can help in highlighting patterns of variability in wild boar from different areas. A number of geographic trends are identified in the variation of S. scrofa across its range, mainly concerning the differentiation of insular forms, and the existence of South–North and West–East clines. Other factors such as hybridisation with domestic stock, feralisation and human-induced movement of animals may also play an important role. A comparison with ancient material emphasises the existence of similarities as well as differences between modern and ancient populations. Although some of the geographic trends identified on the basis of the analysis of modern material seem to date back to early Holocene times, the morphological history of the species appears to be complex, and in more than one area fluctuations in body size seem to have occurred.     

A Comparison of Radiological and Palaeopathological Diagnostic Criteria for Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna

Hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) is a common clinical finding in post-menopausal women, less often in men. The characteristic billowing symmetrical new bone formation is found on the endocranial surface of the skull and rarely causes any significant symptoms. In clinical medicine HFI is diagnosed from its X-ray appearance, whereas in palaeopathology it is diagnosed by direct observation of the skull. There are no standard palaeopathological criteria to diagnose HFI. In past populations HFI appears to be much less common than today, with modern prevalences of up to 70 per cent of women over 40 affected, compared with archaeological prevalences of between 1 and 4 per cent. This discrepancy has been attributed to a younger mean age at death in ancient populations. This study aims to test the hypothesis that the difference in prevalence may be due in part to the differential nature of diagnosis between the two disciplines. A sample of 85 skulls was X-rayed, and the presence of HFI was recorded using radiological criteria. Using this method the results showed a marked increase in the number of cases of HFI to 31 per cent in females in the ancient population. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Int. J. Osteoarchaeol., 7 : 157–164 (1997) No. of Figures: 4. No. of Tables: 3. No. of References: 13.     

DNA analysis of archaeological sheep remains from China

Recent research has thrown considerable light on the history of the domestic sheep, but has not extended to ancient sheep specimens. In the present study, ancient DNA analysis was carried out on eight archaeological sheep remains recovered from Erlitou archaeological site in Henan Province (ca. 2100–1800 B.C.) to explore the genetic structure of ancient sheep and the phylogenetic relationship between ancient and modern sheep. We analyzed the control region sequences and coding regions of mitochondrial DNA from the remains by direct sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, respectively. Our results reveal that all ancient sheep belong to lineage A defined by modern sheep sequences. Phylogenetic analysis shows that neither argali (Ovis ammon) nor urial (Ovis vignei) mtDNA is closely related to Erlitou ancient sheep. In addition, our results suggest that ancient DNA analysis can serve as a powerful tool in tracing prehistoric population movement.     

Tooth wear in two ancient populations of the Khazar Kaganat region in the Ukraine

Tooth wear is a common phenomenon in archaeological material. It has been related to the abrasiveness of diet and to the tribological attrition of teeth of individuals. Numerous investigations have been carried out in north and middle American samples as well as African anthropological material. Not much is known about tooth wear in European cultures. Eleven skulls from Chervona Gusarovka, and 14 skulls from the Upper Saltov sites of the Khazar Kaganat region (8th–10th centuries AD) in eastern Ukraine, with different diets were examined. A total of 208 teeth were studied for tooth wear, caries prevalence and periodontal status. Abrasion grades were determined according to a standardised classification and statistically evaluated. Periodontal status was measured using the distance between the enamel‐cementum junction and alveolar crest and the gingival attachment level respectively. Tooth wear was significantly different (P < 0.01) between the two populations. A low caries prevalence of 4.2% in the Chervona Gusarovka population and 1.7% in the Upper Saltov population was found. Significantly more alveolar crest bone resorption on the lingual side was found in the premolars and anterior teeth of the Chervona Gusarovka population. No significant differences were found regarding gingival attachment levels and gingival recession. It is concluded that the content and mode of food preparation influenced tooth wear, as reflected by the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal diseases in these ancient populations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Imaging Evaluation of Skull Trepanation Using Radiography and CT

Cranial surgery as practised by the prehistoric and present-day traditional medicine man is the oldest known and one of the highest surgical achievements in the history of medicine. This study examines morbidity and mortality of this ancient surgical procedure by re-examining and reviewing reports of 71 completely trepanned skulls from pre-Columbian Peru by three techniques: gross visual observation and palpation; radiography; and CT. The specimens are located in the San Diego Museum of Man and are part of the Hrdlicka collection. Clear distinction can be made by visual observation between skulls with bone regeneration and those without; that is, between patients who survived long enough to allow bone healing and those who died immediately or within a few days of the operation. 64.8 per cent of skulls had complete healing, 12.7 per cent had partial healing and 22.5 per cent had no evidence of healing. Thus, a post-operative survival rate of 77.5 per cent is noted by gross examination. The meaning of completely trepanned skulls with no evidence of healing is questionable, however, some unhealed skulls may represent post-mortem trepanation, suggesting a lower surgical mortality. Both radiography and CT scan demonstrate with considerable accuracy the presence or absence of new bone formation on trepanned skulls. One skull demonstrated evidence of partial bone healing by CT and radiography but not by our gross examination or by that of some anthropologists. Evidence of osteomyelitis was illustrated by CT scan but not by radiography.     

Paul Broca’s search for Basque skulls: The full story

Paul Broca surmised that the short and broad—brachycephalic—skulls of the earliest European settlers had become longer and narrower—dolichocephalic—in modern populations due to the blending of different races. Swedish anatomist Anders Retzius had two brachycephalic skulls said to be from contemporary Basque individuals, a claim suited to test Broca’s hypothesis. Broca worked with fellow anatomist and surgeon Pedro González Velasco, the founding father of Spanish anthropology, to gather a large number of Basque skulls. In its time, this was the most fascinating collection owned by the Anthropological Society of Paris. This article explains how Broca and Velasco were able to gather such a sizeable array of specimens, which they had collected at a location known at first by the code name of “Z.” Although Broca finally concluded that the origin of the Retzius skulls could not be determined, his research was to spark anthropologists’ interest in the language and origins of the Basque people.     

Wild or domesticated: DNA analysis of ancient water buffalo remains from north China

Recent zooarchaeological studies on water buffalo (Bubalus sp.) remains from China and south Asia question the traditional view that water buffalo were first domesticated in Neolithic China over 7000 years ago. The results from several recent population genetic studies of modern domesticated buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) are not consistent with each other, placing the original center of buffalo's domestication in south Asia, southeast Asia, or China. This paper reports a study using an ancient DNA approach to analyze water buffalo remains from Neolithic sites in north China to investigate their affinities with modern domesticated water buffalo, and to shed light on the origin of modern domesticated water buffalo in China.A 169 bp fragment of D-loop mitochondrial DNA was successfully amplified and verified for 13 of 24 bone samples obtained from seven archaeological sites along the Wei River valley in Shaanxi Province, China. The bone samples which yielded positive DNA can be dated to 8000–3600 cal. BP. The phylogenetic analysis of the obtained DNA sequences along with modern water buffalo sequences indicated that the ancient water buffalos were not the direct ancestor of modern domesticated water buffalo. However, the phylogenetic analysis, along with BLAST searches of these ancient DNA sequences, did demonstrate their relatedness to water buffalo more so than to any other bovid species, confirming the existence of indigenous wild (but now extinct) water buffalo species (B. mephistopheles) in ancient China.The DNA analysis of these ancient remains failed to establish direct links between modern domesticated water buffalo (B. bubalis) and indigenous water buffalo (B. mephistopheles) from ancient China. If further DNA studies of more ancient remains from other regions of China confirm the observation of solely indigenous water buffalo species in ancient China, it would suggest modern water buffalo might not have been first domesticated in China.     

Neurosurgical aspects of trepanations from Neolithic times

Trepanation of the cranial vault is the oldest known surgical procedure and has often been reported in the literature. We present two skulls with trepanations from Neolithic excavations in southwestern Germany. One skull exhibits a healed fracture in association with the trepanation. Both skulls show clear signs of healing without evidence of osteolytic inflammatory reaction. We discuss conditions relating to survival from trepanation in Neolithic times and some potential complications such as intraoperative bleeding and wound infection, in the context of modern neurosurgical knowledge. We conclude that neolithic skull surgery was probably mainly extradural. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fossil dogs and wolves from Palaeolithic sites in Belgium,the Ukraine and Russia: osteometry,ancient DNA and stable isotopes

Using multivariate techniques, several skulls of fossil large canids from sites in Belgium, Ukraine and Russia were examined to look for possible evidence of the presence of Palaeolithic dogs. Reference groups constituted of prehistoric dogs, and recent wolves and dogs. The fossil large canid from Goyet (Belgium), dated at c. 31,700 BP is clearly different from the recent wolves, resembling most closely the prehistoric dogs. Thus it is identified as a Palaeolithic dog, suggesting that dog domestication had already started during the Aurignacian. The Epigravettian Mezin 5490 (Ukraine) and Mezhirich (Ukraine) skulls are also identified as being Palaeolithic dogs. Selected Belgian specimens were analyzed for mtDNA and stable isotopes. All fossil samples yielded unique DNA sequences, indicating that the ancient Belgian large canids carried a substantial amount of genetic diversity. Furthermore, there is little evidence for phylogeographic structure in the Pleistocene large canids, as they do not form a homogenous genetic group. Although considerable variation occurs in the fossil canid isotope signatures between sites, the Belgian fossil large canids preyed in general on horse and large bovids.     

Making Ancient Cities Plausible

The state of archaeological research on ancient cities is presented in three edited volumes, and our understanding of ancient urbanism is undoubtedly advanced. Some venerable questions are renewed, including how and whether ancient cities differ from modern ones. However, the chapters consist mainly of narrowly focused aspects of ancient cities, and there are few interconnecting themes running through each volume. Future investigations of ancient cities will depend on an engagement with modern urban and social theory and from new kinds of comparative studies.