MelanieC
Well-known
Despite the fact that I'm currently working as a dog geneticist, my training is primarily in evolutionary biology and human paleontology (specifically Middle Pleistocene systematics for the curious). At a recent conference I attended, a group of researchers presented a new analysis of early modern humans from a Czech site called Predmosti (early Upper Paleolithic). The sample from Predmosti was almost entirely destroyed during World War II (as were a number of other precious fossils), so most work done on these specimens has been based on published descriptions and casts.
Recently, original glass negatives taken of the specimens (which were discovered in the 1890s -- can't remember when the images were made exactly) were found. These images are so good that they allowed analysis of quite minute aspects of the fossils' anatomy that were previously unknown. At the conference they presented photographs made from these negatives and the detail preserved blew me away.
I've pasted the abstract of the talk below for the curious and/or geeky. Unfortunately I don't have copies of any of the images handy and I don't think they've been published yet.
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Ontogenetic Stress and Kinship Hypotheses of the Upper Palaeolithic Fossil Sample from Predmosti (Czech Republic): Reflections on the Basis of Cranial Discrete Traits
Velemínsky, P., Department of Anthropology, National Museum, Praha
Bruzek, J., UMR 5199 de CNRS - PACEA - Laboratoire d’Anthropologie des Populations du Passé, Université Bordeaux I and Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, University of West Bohemia
Katina, S., Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and CS, Comenius University, Bratislava
Velemínska, J., Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Charles University, Praha
Sef?akova, A., Department of Anthropology, Slovak National Museum, Bratislava
The recent discovery of an extensive set of glass negatives of early humans from Predmosti (Velemínska et al. 2003) provides the opportunity to test hypotheses about this rich Gravettian skeletal collection. Here, we: (1) establish the range of morphological variability based on discrete trait frequencies; (2) discuss recent hypotheses on the possible kinship of individuals; and, (3) evaluate the applicability of the hypostotic scores (Manzi et al. 2000) for assessing ontogenetic stress.
The Predmosti fossil assemblage was discovered in 1894-1895 and first described by Matiegka in 1934 and 1938. Because the original skeletal material was almost completely destroyed during World War II, these monographs until now have provided the bulk of the information for the site. Matiegka and more recently Zilhao and Trinkaus (2003) argued for a possible familial relationship among the 29 individuals, based on the occurrence of several, rare anatomical features.
In this study, approximately fifty non-metric traits for the Predmosti sample were scored from the photographs of eight subadult/adult skulls (P I, P III, P IV, P V, P IX, P X, P XIV, P XVIII). Traits included sutural and ossicle variation, the frequency of vessel and nerve-related foramina, joint facet variation, disorders of ossification, non-junction of the ossification centres or their developmental hypoplasia and appearance of hyperostotic activity (osseous tori, tubercles, spines or bridges).
Our results on discrete trait frequencies confirm the morphological affinity of the Predmosti fossils, and make it likely, but not certain, that the mass grave represents a familial graveyard. However, kinship of individuals cannot be affirmed with certainty on the basis of non-metric traits. We also find evidence which supports Manzi et al. (2000) hypostotic scores and the conclusion about the reduction of ontogenetic stress from Middle to Upper Palaeolithic.
Recently, original glass negatives taken of the specimens (which were discovered in the 1890s -- can't remember when the images were made exactly) were found. These images are so good that they allowed analysis of quite minute aspects of the fossils' anatomy that were previously unknown. At the conference they presented photographs made from these negatives and the detail preserved blew me away.
I've pasted the abstract of the talk below for the curious and/or geeky. Unfortunately I don't have copies of any of the images handy and I don't think they've been published yet.
----------
Ontogenetic Stress and Kinship Hypotheses of the Upper Palaeolithic Fossil Sample from Predmosti (Czech Republic): Reflections on the Basis of Cranial Discrete Traits
Velemínsky, P., Department of Anthropology, National Museum, Praha
Bruzek, J., UMR 5199 de CNRS - PACEA - Laboratoire d’Anthropologie des Populations du Passé, Université Bordeaux I and Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, University of West Bohemia
Katina, S., Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and CS, Comenius University, Bratislava
Velemínska, J., Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Charles University, Praha
Sef?akova, A., Department of Anthropology, Slovak National Museum, Bratislava
The recent discovery of an extensive set of glass negatives of early humans from Predmosti (Velemínska et al. 2003) provides the opportunity to test hypotheses about this rich Gravettian skeletal collection. Here, we: (1) establish the range of morphological variability based on discrete trait frequencies; (2) discuss recent hypotheses on the possible kinship of individuals; and, (3) evaluate the applicability of the hypostotic scores (Manzi et al. 2000) for assessing ontogenetic stress.
The Predmosti fossil assemblage was discovered in 1894-1895 and first described by Matiegka in 1934 and 1938. Because the original skeletal material was almost completely destroyed during World War II, these monographs until now have provided the bulk of the information for the site. Matiegka and more recently Zilhao and Trinkaus (2003) argued for a possible familial relationship among the 29 individuals, based on the occurrence of several, rare anatomical features.
In this study, approximately fifty non-metric traits for the Predmosti sample were scored from the photographs of eight subadult/adult skulls (P I, P III, P IV, P V, P IX, P X, P XIV, P XVIII). Traits included sutural and ossicle variation, the frequency of vessel and nerve-related foramina, joint facet variation, disorders of ossification, non-junction of the ossification centres or their developmental hypoplasia and appearance of hyperostotic activity (osseous tori, tubercles, spines or bridges).
Our results on discrete trait frequencies confirm the morphological affinity of the Predmosti fossils, and make it likely, but not certain, that the mass grave represents a familial graveyard. However, kinship of individuals cannot be affirmed with certainty on the basis of non-metric traits. We also find evidence which supports Manzi et al. (2000) hypostotic scores and the conclusion about the reduction of ontogenetic stress from Middle to Upper Palaeolithic.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
dry glass plates were probably used to make those exposures in the 1890s, athough collodion wet plates were used in scientific photography up until the dawn of the Great War.
I am not surprised at the high quality of 19th century photography, a lot of pics by de Gray, Frith, Beato, and many others, put our 21th century digital prints to shame.
I am not surprised at the high quality of 19th century photography, a lot of pics by de Gray, Frith, Beato, and many others, put our 21th century digital prints to shame.