EVOLUTION DE L'OS FRONTAL D'HOMO HEIDELBERGENSIS ET HOMO NEANDERTHALENSIS ET COMPARAISON AVEC L'HOMME MODERNE
Journal:
Anthropologie
Number:
2-3
Volume:
XLIII
Year:
2005
Pages:
159-167
Keywords:
Frontal bone, Homo heidelbergensis, Europe, Homo neanderthalensis, Procustes analysis
ISBN:
ISSN:
URL:
Abstract:
Before Homo neanderthalensis various types of hominids occupied Europe, Homo heidelbergensis being one of them. We focused on examining the morphometric differences of the frontal bone between these two fossil hominid species on the one hand, and these species and the Modern Man on the other hand. The study population consisted of 36 European fossil hominids (10 Homo heidelbergensis, 26 Homo neanderthalensis) and a sample of 60 modern crania from a French historical necropolis. Metric methods and Procustes superimpositions were associated. A flatness and widening of the frontal scale and a district of the orbital cavities in Homo neanderthalensis compared to Homo heidelbergensis were highlighted. This study does not settle the matter of cladogenesis vs anagenesis between Homo heidelbergensis - Homo neanderthalensis, but suggests a clear difference of the morphological organization of the frontal bone in these species and in these hominids fossils as compared to Modern Man.
