Systematic tool production and use is one of humanity's defining characteristics, possibly originating as early >3 million years ago.1-3 Although heightened manual dexterity considered to be intrinsically intertwined with manufacture, critical for human evolution, its role in the emergence culture remains unclear. Most previous research on this question exclusively relied direct morphological comparisons between hominin modern skeletal elements, assuming that degree a species' depends...

Abstract Birch tar is the oldest synthetic substance made by early humans. The earliest such artefacts are associated with Neanderthals. According to traditional interpretations, their study allows understanding Neanderthal tool behaviours, skills and cultural evolution. However, recent work has found that birch can also be produced simple processes, or even result from fortuitous accidents. Even though these findings suggest per se not a proxy for cognition, they do shed light on process...

Abstract Objectives In anthropological sciences, entheses are widely utilized as occupational stress markers. However, the reaction of entheseal surfaces to mechanical loading is not well understood. Furthermore, previous studies on relied individuals' occupation‐at‐death. Past research by one us has identified two patterns among hand entheses, proposing that they reflect synergistic muscle groups. Here, we investigate association between these and habitual manual activity using an...

Contrary to common assumptions, Neandertal habitual behavior relied mainly on manual precision rather than brute grip force.

ABSTRACT Objectives This study aimed to put forth a new and precise methodology for calculating the 3D areas of hand entheses. Furthermore, it investigated some factors affecting entheses development through an assessment their correlations morphometric patterns. Materials methods Fifty individuals from late‐medieval San Pablo were studied. The sample consisted high‐definition models 17 first, second, fifth rays. A was introduced quantifying areas. Precision verified using intraobserved...

Abstract Reconstructions of habitual activity in past populations and extinct human groups is a primary goal paleoanthropological research. Muscle attachment scars (entheses) are widely considered as indicators many attempts have been made to use them for this purpose. However, their interpretation remains equivocal due methodological limitations paucity empirical data supporting an interaction between systematic muscle forces entheseal morphology. We recently addressed the first issue with...

The morphology of entheses (muscle/tendon attachment sites) on bones is routinely used in paleontological and bioarcheological studies to infer the physical activity patterns ancient vertebrate species including hominins. However, such inferences have often been disputed due limitations quantitative methods commonly employed a lack experimental evidence demonstrating direct effects entheseal morphology. Recently, we introduced new improved method quantifying analyzing that involves...

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to put forth a precise landmark‐based technique for reconstructing the three‐dimensional shape human entheseal surfaces, investigate whether entheses is related their size. effects age‐at‐death and bone length on shapes were also assessed. Materials methods sample comprised high‐definition models three right hand which correspond 45 male adult individuals known age. For each enthesis, particular landmark configuration introduced, whose...

Abstract Skeletal muscles attach to bone at their origins and insertions, the interface where tendon meets is termed attachment site or enthesis. Mechanical stresses muscle/tendon‐bone are proportional surface area of bony sites, such that a larger will distribute loads over wider area. Muscles frequently active and/or size should cause sites hypertrophy (training effect); however, experimental studies animals subjected exercise have provided mixed results. To enhance our ability detect...

In archaeological sciences, the macroscopic morphology of distinct dry bone structures, such as tubercles, ridges, epicondyles, and fossae, is routinely used to infer habitual activity patterns in past human populations, extinct hominins, other animals. This study introduces “Validated Entheses-based Reconstruction Activity 2.0” (VERA 2.0), a new method for precisely quantifying 3D surface irregularities on enthesis-bearing structures. Building VERA 1.0, first introduced by same author 2016...

Despite extensive research into the biomechanical and cognitive dimensions of early hominin material culture, no study has explored these aspects together in context stone tool production use. In contrast to fields like rehabilitation sports science, where electroencephalography (EEG) surface electromyography (sEMG) are often integrated, experimental archaeology lacks such a combined approach. This paper introduces validates new protocol that integrates EEG sEMG measure neuromechanical...

Abstract Objectives Cuncaicha, a rockshelter site in the southern Peruvian Andes, has yielded archaeological evidence for human occupation at high elevation (4,480 masl) during Terminal Pleistocene (12,500–11,200 cal BP), Early Holocene (9,500–9,000 and later periods. One of excavated burials (Feature 15‐06), corresponding to middle‐aged female dated ~8,500 BP, exhibits skeletal osteoarthritic lesions previously proposed reflect habitual loading specialized crafting labor. Three small tools...

Abstract Objectives Sex‐based occupational variability constitutes a fundamental component of human behavior and major focus research focusing on biocultural evolution. However, the reliability reconstructing physical activity in past women is often compromised by lack female skeletal collections with adequately documented lifetime occupations, domestic living conditions, medical records, socioeconomic status. Here, we attempt to reconstruct habitual manual sample early industrial uniquely...

Abstract Objectives When studying hominin skeletal remains, anthropologists commonly assume that the morphology of entheses (muscle and tendon attachment sites) is influenced by physical activity patterns during life. Here, we use samples mice from a prior experiment (Siegel & Jones [1975] American Journal Physical Anthropology 42:141–144) to test this assumption. Specifically, investigate effects habitual climbing on humerus using recently developed protocol for analyzing entheseal...

In anthropological sciences, muscle attachments are typically utilized for reconstructing the physical activities of past human populations. This approach relies on concept that entheseal bone morphology is influenced by cumulative biomechanical stress. A fundamental criterion assessing stage change involves proportion elevated area. However, it not yet clear if elevation associated with forces exerted during activity, while histology entheses hand, least-bodyweight-bearing anatomical area,...

Abstract In anthropological sciences, the areas of bones where muscles or ligaments attach (“entheses” “muscle attachments”) are routinely used for reconstructing habitual physical activity based on skeletal remains. However, several previous studies have argued against this practice, considering low measuring repeatability most traditional evaluation techniques and former lack supportive experimental evidence an actual effect entheseal morphology. 2016, I proposed a repeatable virtual...

In a commingled context, assessing that talus and calcaneus correspond to the same individual could become primary step for accurately sorting human remains. For this purpose, lengths widths of trochlea, posterior calcaneal articular surface, talar surface were measured in 197 individuals (105 males, 92 females) from Athens Collection. A total 12 highly accurate equations reassociating tali calcanei developed, using simple multiple linear regression analysis they found be suitable Bilateral...

Accurate sorting of commingled human remains comprises a fundamental requirement for all further anthropological analyses. The lower limb bones are particularly important reconstructing biological profiles. This study introduces metric technique these elements using eight standard measurements and 222 adult individuals from Greece. utilized were the os coxae, femora, tibiae tali. Simple regression analyses used to develop functions reassociating articulating bones, providing strong...

Diagnosing sex is vital for developing biological profiles from human skeletal remains. For that purpose, osteometric evaluation of bone size has proven to be usually effective. The present study investigates the degree sexual dimorphism in proximal foot phalanges a documented collection, known as Athens collection. Furthermore, it utilizes data development sex-discriminant formulas Greek population. material used consists 749 (left and right), which belong 174 adult individuals (91 males 83...

Abstract Research on sexual dimorphism in proximal hand phalanges contributes to the assessment of biological profile an individual from human skeletal remains. Furthermore, it provides fundamental information for studying origins manual dexterity. The anatomy has been widely described, and occurrence reported studies concentrating sex determination. However, there is limited research focusing level dimorphism. Therefore, aim this study examine degree phalanges. A total 661 bones 160 adult...