early modern human from Tianyuan Cave, Zhoukoudian, China

Thirty-four elements of an early modern human (EMH) were found in Tianyuan Cave, Zhoukoudian, China in 2003. Dated to 42,000-39,000 calendrical years before present by using direct accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon, the Tianyuan 1 skeleton is among the oldest directly dated EMHs in eastern E...

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Published inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 104; no. 16; pp. 6573 - 6578
Main Authors Shang, Hong, Tong, Haowen, Zhang, Shuangquan, Chen, Fuyou, Trinkaus, Erik
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States National Academy of Sciences 17.04.2007
National Acad Sciences
Subjects
Biological Sciences
Bone and Bones - anatomy & histology
Bones
China
Comparative analysis
Dentition
Diaphyses
Fossils
Human remains
Humans
Humerus - anatomy & histology
Natural History
Paleoanthropology
Paleontology
Pectoralis Muscles - anatomy & histology
Radiocarbon
Scapula - anatomy & histology
Skeletal system
Skeleton
Teeth
China
Zhoukoudian China
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Summary:Thirty-four elements of an early modern human (EMH) were found in Tianyuan Cave, Zhoukoudian, China in 2003. Dated to 42,000-39,000 calendrical years before present by using direct accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon, the Tianyuan 1 skeleton is among the oldest directly dated EMHs in eastern Eurasia. Morphological comparison shows Tianyuan 1 to have a series of derived modern human characteristics, including a projecting tuber symphyseos, a high anterior symphyseal angle, a broad scapular glenoid fossa, a reduced hamulus, a gluteal buttress, and a pilaster on the femora. Other features of Tianyuan 1 that are more common among EMHs are its modest humeral pectoralis major tuberosities, anteriorly rotated radial tuberosity, reduced radial curvature, and modest talar trochlea. It also lacks several mandibular features common among western Eurasian late archaic humans, including mandibular foramen bridging, mandibular notch asymmetry, and a large superior medial pterygoid tubercle. However, Tianyuan 1 exhibits several late archaic human features, such as its anterior to posterior dental proportions, a large hamulus length, and a broad and rounded distal phalangeal tuberosity. This morphological pattern implies that a simple spread of modern humans from Africa is unlikely.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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Contributed by Erik Trinkaus, March 8, 2007
Author contributions: H.S., H.T., S.Z., F.C., and E.T. designed research; H.S., H.T., S.Z., F.C., and E.T. performed research; H.S. and E.T. analyzed data; and H.S. and E.T. wrote the paper.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.0702169104