A5006704860- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Archaeology and Rock Art Studies
- dental development and anomalies
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Marine animal studies overview
- Craniofacial Disorders and Treatments
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Paleopathology and ancient diseases
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Bone health and osteoporosis research
- Bone and Dental Protein Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Dental Erosion and Treatment
Stony Brook University
2015-2024
Stony Brook School
2024
Stony Brook Medicine
2016
State University of New York
1998-2014
McGill University
2013
Leverhulme Trust
2008
University of Cambridge
2008
University of Cape Town
2007
University of Oxford
2007
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
2007
The Plio-Pleistocene hominin Paranthropus boisei had enormous, flat, thickly enameled cheek teeth, a robust cranium and mandible, inferred massive, powerful chewing muscles. This specialized morphology, which earned P. the nickname "Nutcracker Man", suggests that this could have consumed very mechanically challenging foods. It has been recently argued, however, morphology may indicate adaptations for consumption of occasional fallback foods rather than preferred resources. Dental microwear...
The East African hominin Paranthropus boisei was characterized by a suite of craniodental features that have been widely interpreted as adaptations to diet consisted hard objects required powerful peak masticatory loads. These morphological represent the culmination an evolutionary trend began in earlier taxa such Australopithecus afarensis , and presumably facilitated utilization open habitats Plio-Pleistocene. Here, we use stable isotopes show P. had dominated C 4 biomass grasses or...
Carbon isotope studies of early hominins from southern Africa showed that their diets differed markedly the extant apes. Only recently, however, has a major influx isotopic data eastern allowed for broad taxonomic, temporal, and regional comparisons among hominins. Before 4 Ma, had were dominated by C 3 resources were, in sense, similar to chimpanzees. By about 3.5 multiple hominin taxa began incorporating 13 C-enriched [C or crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)] foods highly variable carbon...
Hominin fossil evidence in the Turkana Basin Kenya from ca. 4.1 to 1.4 Ma samples two archaic early hominin genera and records some of evolutionary history Paranthropus Homo. Stable carbon isotopes tooth enamel are used estimate fraction diet derived C3 or C4 resources these taxa. The earliest species Basin, Australopithecus anamensis, nearly all its resources. Subsequently, by 3.3 Ma, later Kenyanthropus platyops had a very wide dietary range--from virtually purely resource-based one...
Abstract The proximal half of a hominid femur was recovered from deep within paleokarst feature at the Berg Aukas mine, northern Namibia. is fully mineralized, but it not possible to place in geochrono logical context. It has very large head, an exceptionally thick diaphyseal cortex, and low collodiaphyseal angle, which serve differentiate Holocene homologues. attributable Australopithecus , Paranthropus or early Homo (i.e., H. habilis sensu lato). erectus femora have relatively longer AP...
Abstract This investigation explores the effects of compact bone distribution on biomechanical properties postcanine mandibular corpus fossil hominid taxa Australopithecus africanus and Paranthropus robustus The mandibles extant great apes, modern humans, hominids are examined by computed tomography (CT), contours used to calculate cross‐sectional (cortical area, second moments Bredt's formula for torsional strength). relative amount is comparable in mandibles, but mechanical A. P. jaws...
The lack of Late Pleistocene human fossils from sub-Saharan Africa has limited paleontological testing competing models recent evolution. We have dated a skull Hofmeyr, South Africa, to 36.2 ± 3.3 thousand years ago through combination optically stimulated luminescence and uranium-series dating methods. is morphologically modern overall but displays some archaic features. Its strongest morphometric affinities are with Upper Paleolithic (UP) Eurasians rather than recent, geographically...
Abstract Determining the diet of an extinct species is paramount in any attempt to reconstruct its paleoecology. Because distribution and mechanical properties food items may impact postcranial, cranial, mandibular, dental morphologies related their procurement, ingestion, mastication, these anatomical attributes have been studied intensively. However, while environments influence skeletal features, it not clear what extent they dictate particular morphologies. Although biomechanical...
Abstract There is a degree of correlation between dietary habits and dental microwear in extant primates, this has enabled inferences to be made about prehistoric diets. Several techniques have been used quantify microwear, but the comparability results derived from each not demonstrated. Moreover, neither intra‐ nor interobserver error rates quantification documented date. We here assess using Microware 4.0, evaluate intertechnique three methods that most widely employed field. This study...
Abstract Tooth enamel thickness has long been an important character in studies of primate and especially hominin phylogeny, taxonomy, adaptation. Current methods for accurately assessing involve the physical sectioning teeth, because measurements using some radiographic techniques are unreliable. However, destructive limit sample sizes access to fossil specimens, it is desirable that they be replaced with nondestructive techniques. Although microfocal X‐ray computed tomography (mCT) used...
Abstract This study presents data on the enamel thickness of deciduous (dm2) and permanent (M1–M3) molars for a geographically diverse sample modern humans. Measurements were recorded from sections through mesial cusps unworn teeth. Enamel is significantly thinner than molars, there distinct trend to increase in relative M1 M3. The relatively thicker M2s especially M3s can be related overall reduction size more distal molar crowns, which has been attained differential loss dentine component....