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Hand of Sunghir 1 (new data about built of tubular bones)

Mednikova M.B.

Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117036, st. Dm. Ulyanova, 19, Moscow, Russia

Mednikova Maria B, Ph.D., D.Sc. , ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1918-2161, e-mail: medma_pa@mail.ru

Abstract

Study of hand of fossil hominids traditionally focuses great attention of evolutionary anthropologists. Hand of the Upper Palaeolithic man Sunghir 1 was initially described by E.N.Khrissanfova [1984, 2000]. General sapient features combined with some peculiar, even Neanderthal those. The similarity of Sunghir male with early modern Shkul 4 was pointed, as well partial similarity with Kiik_Koba Neanderthal. Radiological approaches improved methods of analysis of fossil remains. New comparative materials of the Middle and the Upper Palaeolithic Ages can be used. Current publication had goal to describe new morphological information about inner and external built of phalanges in context of comparative data. By macromorphological patterns, including absolute sizes, relation of phalanges of pollex, hand of Sunghir 1 shows features of modern anatomy. Hypertrophy of transversal diaphyseal sizes had analogies in some Neanderthal forms. Microfocus X-ray corrected knowledge about level of negative influence in childhood, indicated 6 Harris lines in the image of distal phalanx of the 3rd ray. Widening of distal phalanges, robust transversal and lateral ridges of palmar surface of right proximal phalanx, as well massive trabecular metaphyseal structures of middle phalanx reflect intense biomechanical influence, mainly, for the right hand. CT scanning discovered exceptionally robusticity of walls of right tubular bones, comparable with Neanderthal values. But corticalisation of left hand bones is smaller, and large postcranial bones of the same individual have relative gracile walls at all. That means, some «Neanderthal» or «archaic» traits of Sunghir 1 generally reflect occupational stress for the right hand.

Keywords

anthropology, Upper Palaeolithic, hand morphology, Sunghir 1, microfocus X-ray, CT scanning, cross-sectional geometry, inner robusticity of tubular bones, occupational stress

Цит.: Mednikova M.B. Hand of Sunghir 1 (new data about built of tubular bones) // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2012; 4/2012; с. 4-17