Abstract
Mandibular traits that differentiate Neanderthals from modern humans include greater robusticity, a receding symphysis, a large retromolar space, a rounder gonial area, an asymmetric mandibular notch and a posteriorly positioned mental foramen in Neanderthals. These features have been shown to separate Neanderthals from modern humans in both non-metric and metric, including 3-D geometric morphometric, studies. However the degree to which these differences are related to size and function is still under discussion. The aim of this study is to further assess the effects of allometry and evaluate the influence of masticatory and paramasticatory activities on mandibular shape using a morphological integration approach. Data were collected in the form of three-dimensional coordinates of 27 landmarks, superimposed using generalized Procrustes analysis, and analyzed using canonical variates, regression and partial least squares analyses. Consistent with previous findings, Neanderthals are separated from modern human mandibles in the canonical variates analysis. However, partial least squares analysis indicates a similar pattern of integration for the two human groups, suggesting homology across modern humans and Neanderthals in the mandibular features examined. This finding does not support a paramasticatory hypothesis for Neanderthal mandibular shape, although it also does not refute this hypothesis. Finally, allometry was found to influence the expression of the retromolar gap.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Chris Stringer, Rob Kruszynski, Henry and Marie-Antoinette de Lumley, Philippe Mennecier, Dominique Grimaud-Hervé, Ian Tattersall, Ken Mowbray and Jean-Jacques Hublin for allowing access to the specimens in their care and Chris Klingenberg and Philipp Gunz for assistance with the PLS analysis. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions. This research was supported by the Centennial Scholars Program of Barnard College, New York University and the Max Planck Institute Society and the “EVAN” Marie-Curie training network MRTN-CT-019564. This is NYCEP morphometrics contribution number 33.
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Harvati, K., Singh, N., López, E.N. (2011). A Three-Dimensional Look at the Neanderthal Mandible. In: Condemi, S., Weniger, GC. (eds) Continuity and Discontinuity in the Peopling of Europe. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0492-3_16
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