The Creswellian (Pleistocene) human lower limb remains from Gough's Cave (Somerset, England)

7 Pages·2000·3.1 MB·

by  Erik Trinkaus

Bull. nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Geol.)56(2): 155-161 Issued30November2000
The Creswellian (Pleistocene) human lower
limb remains from Gough's Cave (Somerset,
England)
ERIKTRINKAUS
DepartmentofAnthropology, CampusBox 1114, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA, & U.M.R.
5809du C.N.R.S., Laboratoire d'Anthropologie, Universite de BordeauxI, 33405 Talence, France
SYNOPSIS. TheCreswellianhumanremainsincludeavarietyofpiecesofthelowerlimbs,allextremelyfragmentaryand,with
theexceptionofthreemetatarsals,disassociated.Atleastfourindividualsarerepresented.Theremainsarenotablemainlyfortheir
moderatelyhighfemoralneck-shaftanglesandtheirpronouncedglutealtuberositiesandassociatedlateraldiaphysealbuttresses.
Morphology
INTRODUCTION
These two pieces provide little information, otherthan that there is
The lower limb remains from the Creswellian levels of Gough's no apparent degeneration on the M.54090 subchondral bone.
Cave are extremely fragmentary. Except for one fibula and three
associated metatarsals, there are no complete diaphyseal contours,
and none ofthe articular surfaces are sufficiently intact to provide FEMORA
more than basic identification and a few qualitative details. More-
over, even though multiple individuals are represented (e.g., there
Inventory
arefourleftproximalfemoralfragmentswithportionsofthegluteal
tuberosity, indicating that at least fourindividuals are present), itis
M.54081 (GC87 85)
notpossibletoassociatepiecesbyindividual (notincludingcasesin
Right
whichtwopiecesactuallyjoinalongapostmortembreak, sincethey
are now catalogued as a single element). Section of the posterior and medial surfaces of a mid femoral
diaphysis,withstrongdevelopmentofthelineaasperaandapilaster.
Consequently, the following description provides primarily in-
ventory information, combined whenever possible with Maximum length: 121.9 mm, maximumbreadth: 22.4 mm.
morphological observations. Very few standardosteometric dimen- M.54085 (GC 87 13)
sions can be determined, oreven estimated, on these remains. Right?
In the inventory, the current Natural History Museum catalogue Diaphyseal section which probably represents the lateral popliteal
number (M.54###) is provided, followed by an excavation number surface with the lateral distal crest of a right femur. Maximum
(ornumbers when two ormore pieces have beenjoined). length: 107.5mm, maximumbreadth: 26.6mm.
For some of the remains (e.g., the femora and tibiae) sample
sizes are sufficient to divide the remains into smaller and larger M.54115 (GC 1950-51 Level 12)
Right
morphs. These assessments are based on visual inspection ofmul-
tiple pieces from the same region ofthe bone and are not strictly Medial neck cortical bone with the adjacent trabeculae, from the
proximal flare for the head to the mid-posterior flare forthe lesser
quantified.
trochanterandthemid-anteriorrugosityforthespiralline(Figs 1,3).
Maximum length: 83.0mm.
PELVIC REMAINS M.54116(GC87 108A)
Right
Medial cortex and trabeculae ofthe neck, from close to the head to
Inventory
justdistalofthelessertrochanter,withmostofthemedialsideofthe
baseforthelessertrochanter(Figs2,4).Maximumlength: 97.0mm,
M.54080 (GC 87 114A) maximumbreadth (antero-posterior): 27.3mm.
Right
Internal fragment of an iliac blade just anterior of the posterior M.54117(GC49Levell4)
superior tubercle andjust below the iliac crest. Maximum height: Left
40.5mm, maximum length: 29.0 mm. Proximal lateral diaphysis, with the edge of the greater trochanter
and all of the gluteal tuberosity and buttress (Fig. 5). Maximum
M.54090 (GC 87 224A)
length: 159.5mm.
Right
Inferior end of the acetabular lunate surface, with the articular M.54118(GC86 14A)
surfaceandtheinternaledgearoundtheconvexendofthesubchon- Left
dral bone adjacent to the acetabular notch. Maximum length: 21.1 Proximaldiaphysealpiecewiththedistalhalfoftheglutealtuberosity
mm, maximumbreadth: 22.6 mm. andbuttress.Maximumlength:81.8mm,maximumbreadth: 19.7mm.
iTheNaturalHistoryMuseum,2000
156 E.TRINKAUS
1
^r
\
'fJM
1 a^lfl
fl
ft
;
Hi 4
^^t^
- y{
11 ^HB ». S-JIWf
^
1
1
1
1 !^^^^^^^B
' 1"
^1
D; ^H
u ?
1 i ^
fl
*
1
l • R
A
1
1 K 1 ^ll
i
Bh
Ji
' ft- *- -,J|
kV i .
I
1 M
s| ^1
I : ftfl
Hl>s 1.2 Posterior \ie\ssof proximal right femora; 1, M.541 15; 2, M.541 16.
\ius 3.4 Medial \icus ot proximal right lemora; 3, M.541 15;4,M.541 16.
Hi;. 5 Lateral view ofleft femur, M.541 17.
Hu. 6 Posteriorview ot right femur, M.54120.
I il;s7-9 Posterolateral viewsot lemora; 7. \1 54123;8, M.54145;9,M.54124.
M
All t:
\1 541 6 I4Hi M.54I2()(GC87 138A)
Lett Riyht
limal lateral diaplnsis vtitfa the middleofthegluteal buttressand Proximal diaphysis with the distal half to one-third of the gluteal
tubcrosit\ Maximum length: 69.6mm, maximum breadth: 2 ).3mm. tuberosity and buttress (Fig. 6). Maximum length: 86.5mm, maxi-
mum breadth: 20.4mm.
CRESWELLIAN HUMANLOWERLIMB REMAINS 157
M.54121 (GC 87 167) Table2 Corticalthicknesses (inmm) ofproximallateral femoral
Left diaphyses.
Proximaldiaphysiswiththedistalhalfoftheglutealbuttressandthe
Glutealbuttress Anterior Antero-lateral Posterior
lateral three-quarters of the gluteal tuberosity. Maximum length: maximum diaphysis diaphysis diaphysis
54.5mm, maximumbreadth: 17.9mm.
M.54117 10.4 3.8 _ 4.8
M.54122 (GC 1986) M.54118 11.3 - 4.5 6.7
Left M.54119 10.7 - ca.4.0 3.4
Proximal medial diaphyseal piece, with the spiral line and the M.54120 ca.11.1 - 4.8 5.1
beginning of the flare for the lesser trochanter, with medial and M.54121 10.3 4.2 - 5.0
antero-medial surface bone. Maximum length: 50.3mm, maximum
breadth (antero-posterior): 24.6mm. formostofthepieces, theyarewellwithintherangesofvariationof
late Upper Paleolithic humans [7.8 ± 2.0, N = 5 (Trinkaus, 1976)].
M.54123 (GC 86 17) The dimensions of these tuberosities become more pronounced
Side indeterminate
whentheyareplacedinthecontext(albeitqualitatively)ofthesmall
Midshaftposteriorandmedialdiaphysealsectionwiththelineaaspera
dimensions ofthese diaphyses.
(Fig. 7).Maximumlength: 49.0mm,maximumbreadth: 23.1mm. These pieces are also notable for their pronounced proximo-
M.54124 (GC 87 200) lateral buttresses (Figs 5, 6). The relative dimensions of these
Right buttresses can be assessed in part by comparisons of maximum
Proximaltomiddiaphysealsectionwiththeposteriorsurfaceandthe cortical thickness across the buttress compared to those obtained
proximal development ofthe linea asperaplus the nutrientforamen fromadjacentanterior, antero-lateral andposteriordiaphysealbone
(Fig. 9). Maximum length: 67.8mm, maximum breadth: 22.6mm. (Table2).Inallbutonecasethebuttressthicknessismorethantwice
the largestadjacentcortical thickness, andinthe exceptionitis still
M.54125 (GC 87 98/176) 69% largerthan the posteriordiaphyseal thickness.
Left
There is onepiece whichpreserves themedial diaphysis withthe
Lateral and especially dorsal sides of an adolescent distal femur, spiral line. It has a modest but clear spiral line and exhibits some
withthemetaphysealsurfacepresentespeciallylaterally. Maximum thickening of the medial cortex. The maximum medial cortical
length: 86.0mm, maximum depth: 46.0mm, maximum breadth: thickness of 8.0mm is slightly larger than those of the adjacent
62.7mm.
anterior(5.7mm) andposterior(7.5mm) corticalbone. Itrepresents
M.54145 (GC 87 79) one ofthe larger morphs.
Side indeterminate MidDiaphysis (Nos. M.54081, M.54123 & M.54124)
Latejuvenile orearly adolescentfemoral diaphyseal piece (Fig. 8). This region is represented by two diaphyseal pieces of the larger
Maximum length: 60.0mm. morph(M.54081 andM.54124)andtwothatareindeterminateasto
Morphology relativesize.Oneofthempreservesthemoreproximalportionofthe
posterior midshaft (M.54124) whereas the other two appear to be
ProximalMedialEpiphysis (Nos. M.54115 & M.54116) generally closerto midshaft.
Thetwopiecesrepresentedincludealargermorph (M.54116) anda Each ofthe three specimens (Figs 7, 9, 10) presents a relatively
smaller one (M.54115), which are otherwise very similar in their rugose linea aspera, with an adjacent concave lateral subperiosteal
preserved portions (Figs 1^4). They are notable primarily for their diaphyseal surface andthe formation ofapilaster. On the specimen
impliedrelativelyhighneck-shaftangles. Onbothofthem, estimat- with the strongest development of the linea aspera, M.54081, the
ing the proximal diaphyseal and neck axes provides neck-shaft linea aspera is 8.6mm wide at the level ofthe nutrient foramen and
anglesinthevicinityof130°andprobablygreaterthan 130°.Inthis, 11.1mmwidemoredistally,whereitisbrokenpostmortem(Fig. 10).
they are withintherangeofEuropeanlate UpperPaleolithic human The two specimens with the linea aspera preserved near midshaft
remains [125.0° ± 5.8°, N = 7 (Trinkaus, 1993)] but towards the present posterior cortical thicknesses (across the linea aspera) of
upperend ofthat range. 9.7mm (M.54081) and 9.3mm (M.54123, Fig. 7), which can be
ProximalDiaphysis (Nos. M.54117 to M.54122) comparedtoalateralthicknessof5.0mmontheformerandamedial
There are five pieces of proximal lateral femoral diaphysis which one of5.5mm on the latter.
preserve portions of the gluteal tuberosity and adjacent proximal DistalDiaphysis (Nos. M.54085, M.54125)
lateraldiaphyseal(orgluteal)buttress,fourleftandonerightandall Thetwospecimensofdistalposteriorfemoraldiaphysispresentlittle
representing the smallermorph (Figs 5, 6). ofnote morphologically, and one ofthem (M.54085) is sufficiently
All of these pieces are notable for their prominent, rugose, and amorphous that its identification as a distal posterior femoral shaft
medio-laterally concave gluteal tuberosities. The available dimen- can be questioned.
sionsofthesetuberositiesareinTable 1,evenasminimumdimensions Themorecompletespecimen(M.54125)isfromalatejuvenileor
early adolescent (Fig. 11), with clear formation ofthe metaphyseal
Table 1 Glutealtuberositydimensionsofproximalfemora. surface but an uncertain degree (given preservation) ofinterdigita-
tion between the metaphysis and the epiphysis. The only feature of
Tuberosity Tuberosity
mm mm note is the presence ofporous periosteal new bone on the posterior
breadth (max.), depth(max.),
surface above the medial condylemetaphyseal surface, covering an
M.54117 9.0 2.1 area extending proximally 32.1mm from the epiphyseal line and at
M.54118 >9.5 1.5 least 18.7mmwide (its medialboundaryextendsbeyondthe medial
M.54119 >8.0 >2.1 postmortem break). Given the isolated nature of this specimen, it
M.54120 >8.3 >1.6
remains unclear whether the periosteal reaction is the result of a
M.54121 >10.2 >1.8
localized infection orpartofa systemic disorder.
.
158 E.TRINKAUS
Table3 Anteriorand medialcortical thicknessesofmidshafttibial
TIBIAE
diaphyseal fragments.Theproximo-distal locationofmidshaftis
approximategivenfragmentation. Measurementsinmillimeters.
Inventory
Anteriorcortical thickness Medialcorticalthickness
M.54088 (GC 87 60B)
M.54092 12.9 3.2
Right
M.54126 14.6 5.8
Posterior halfofan immature (unfused) medial condyle. Maximum M.54127 10.3
depth: 19.2mm. maximum breadth: 27.2mm. M.54129 6.9 3.3
M.54089(GC87 122A)
Lett
present gentle medio-lateral concavities of the articular surface,
Postero-lateral section of an immature medial condyle. Maximum
small and blunt intercondylar eminences, and clear M. semimem-
depth: 25.7mm. maximum breadth: 22.4mm.
branosus sulci posteriorly.
M.54091 (GC87 119E)
AnteriorDiaphysealSections (Nos. M.54092, M.54126, M.54127,
Left
M.54129).
Diaphyseal section with the interosseus line fromjust distal ofthe
The four preserved sections of anterior, approximately midshaft,
tibial tuberosity to near midshaft (Fig. 16). Maximum length: crest represent two large individuals (M.54092 & M.54126) and
17.8mm, maximum breadth: 18.8mm.
1 two smallerones (Figs 12-15). They exhibit considerable variabil-
M.54092 (GC 87 76) ity in anterior cortical thickness (Table 3), with the ratio between
Left the maximum anterior and medial thicknesses varying from 2.1 to
Midshaft anterior crest, medial surface and a small amount of the 2.5 to 4.0. One of the specimens, M.54127, has a relatively sharp
lateral surface (Fig. 15). Maximum length: 173.8mm, maximum anterior margin, whereas the others exhibit clearbut blunt anterior
breadth: 28.5mm. crests.
M
M.54093(GC87 119B) PosteriorandLateralDiaphysealSections(Nos M.5409 .54093
. 1,
Right & M.54128)
Portionoftheposteriordiaphysiswiththesoleallineandthenutrient These three pieces include an otherwise amorphous piece ofproxi-
foramen. Maximum length: 67.5mm, maximum breadth: 27.9mm. maldorsaldiaphysealsurface,apieceofthelateralproximaldiaphysis
with avery clearand slightly raised interosseus line (Fig. 16), anda
M.54126(GC 50-51)
proximal dorsal piece with a modest soleal line associated with a
Side indeterminate
clear flexor line between the M. tibialis posterior and M. flexor
Midshaftsectionwiththeanteriorcrestandthemedialside(Fig. 12). digitorum longus proximal origins.
Maximum length: 99.2mm, maximum breadth: 31.9mm.
M.54127(GC87 43)
Side indeterminate
FIBULA
Anteriorcrestofamidshaftsection,withlittleofthemedialorlateral
surfaces (Fig. 14). Maximum length: 105.9mm.
Inventory
M.54128(GC87 60D)
Side indeterminate M.54094 (GC 87 42/54/55)
Mid posterior proximal epiphyseal bone, with the irregular surface Left
bone fromjust below the capsular line. Maximum length: 39.3mm, Diaphyseal section, mostly preserving the soleal and peroneal sur-
maximum breadth: 27.6mm. faces (Fig. 17). Maximum length: 162.7mm, maximum breadth:
M 54129 (GC - no number) 12.4mm.
Side indeterminate
Heavily encrusted anteriormidshaft section, which is possibly non- Morphology
human (Fig. 13).
Thefibulardiaphysealpiece(Fig. 17)preservesareasfortheM. soleus
Morphology and M. peroneus longus, but the preserveddorsal surface is smooth
and presents no clear muscle markings. Otherwise, the diaphysis
Proximal Epiphysis (Nos. M.54088 & M.54089) appears relatively straight, but it not sufficiently intact to indicate
The two pieces ofimmature (unfused) medial epicondyleepiphysis whetherthere is mid ordistal shaft lateral convexity.
Fig. 10 Posterior view right femoral midshaft, M.54081
Kin. 1 1 Posterior view ofleft immaturedistal femoral metaphysis, M.54125.
Figs 12-15 Anterior views oftihial anteriordiaphyseal pieces; 12,M.54126; 13,M.54129; 14, M.54127; 15,M.54092.
fin. 16 I..iier.il viewofamid/proximal lateral diaphyseal pieceofa lefttibia, M.54091.
I-ig. 17 Posteriorviewofleft fibulardiaphysis. M.54094.
fit;. 18 Dorsal viewofleftanteriorcalcaneus, M.54095.
Yig. 19 Medial viewofmedial cuneiform bone. M.54096.
20-22 Lateral views ofleft metatarsals 3 to 5; 20, M.54I44; 21, M.54097; 22, M.54098.
All figures x0.95.
.
CRESWELLIAN HUMANLOWER LIMB REMAINS 159
J
' '"
-:
wT^i^lSH
1
i
1^
I
I
it
)
me^$$&'-^?h
BaWl6r 1 Arm
33j£3S ,« ,
10
<*]
/ fP
»»«>
J
ft; i^v ^^fc^__ji3 |™i| Ifcfe
HlHi^^:ll
18
|
16
160 E.TRINKAUS
Tabic4 Osteometries and midshaftcross-sectional geometryofthemetatarsal proximalepiphysesanddiaphyses.Cross-sectional geometricpropertiesare
computed from radiographically determinedexternaldiametersandcortical thicknesses(corrected forparallax) usingellipseformulae(seeRunestadet
al.. 1993). All measurements in millimeters.
MT3-M.54144 MT4-M.54907 MT5-M.54098
Midshaft height 9.9 10.0 8.0
Midshaft breadth 6.2 9.0 9.9
Shaft curvaturechord* 31.1
Shaftcurvature subtense* 0.8
Total area(mm:) 48.2 70.7 62.2
Cortical area 37.9 48.0 44.3
Medullary area 10.3 22.6 17.9
MAPoenldtaieror-oml-aoptomesertnaelrti2oonrtd2arnmedoamm(eomnmmte4no)tfaorfeaar(eIa%)(I(xm)(mm4)m4) 231971081...359 373911879...396 253275484...682
Proximal articularheight6 - 16.9 -
Proximal articularbreadthh - 9.7 -
MT4 facetheight- 11.1
MT5 facetheight" 12.3
M
15 facet length' 10.0
*Chordand subtensealongthe medial (ordorso-medial)diaphysisbetweentheepiphyseal swellings, withapositive subtenseindicatingmedialconvexity.
"Dorso-plantarheightand medio-lateral breadthofthetarsal articulation.
1 Dorso-plantarheightandproximo-distal lengthofthe intermetatarsal facets.
CALCANEUS METATARSALS
Inventory
Inventory
M.54095 (GC 87 60C) M.54144(GC87 30)
Left
Left
Fragment preserving the medial and posterior portion ofthe poste- Metatarsal 3 diaphysis with the proximal epiphysis largely lost to
riortalar surface and the posteriorportion ofthe sustentaculum tali damage and the distal epiphysis unfused and lost (Fig. 20). Maxi-
and medial articular surface (Fig. 18). Maximum AP: 29.7mm, mum length: 51.7mm.
maximum breadth: 33.3mm. M.54097 (GC 87 145)
Left
Morphology Metatarsal4diaphysisanddamagedproximalepiphysis,missingthe
unfused distal epiphysis (Fig. 21). Maximum length: 57.8mm.
There is little of morphological note on this piece (Fig. 18), other
than that the margins forthe posterior and medial talar facets along M.54098(GC87 210)
the sulcus tali appear sharp and distinct, and there is no porosity Left
betweenthem.Althoughstandardosteometriesarenotpossible,this Metatarsal5diaphysislackingtheunfuseddistalepiphysisandmost
bone appears to derive from a large individual. of the proximal epiphysis to damage (Fig. 22). Maximum length:
47.1mm.
Morphology
MEDIAL CUNEIFORM
Thethreepreservedmetatarsal specimensderivefromthesamefoot
(Table4; Figs 20-22). They show little muscular marking, possibly
Inventory due to their immature status. The metatarsal 4 and 5 diaphyses are
relativelyround,andthemetatarsal5diaphysispresentslittlemedial
M.54096 (GC 87 199)
diaphyseal convexity.
Left
Largely intact bone, with damage to the plantar surface (Fig. 19).
Maximumantero-posteriorlength:22.2mm,maximumdorso-plantar
DUBIOUS FRAGMENTS
height: 23.1mm.
Morphology The following diaphyseal fragments have been included with the
human material. They are eitherclearly non-human or so fragmen-
Theone surfaceofnoteon this specimen (Fig. 19) is itsmetatarsal 1 taryastobe insufficienttodetermine whethertheyarehuman.They
facet, which is smooth, medio-laterally flat, and shows no sign of do not provide morphological information even if they are in fact
being divided intodorsal and plantar portions. Its superior length is hominid, and are therefore not included in the above descriptions,
20.0mm and its middle length is 20.6mm. but are listed here for future reference.
A
J
CRESWELLIANHUMAN LOWERLIMB REMAINS 161
Cat. no. Excavation no. REFERENCES
M.54082 GC 87 154
M.54083 GC87 221A
M.54084 GC87 110 Runestad,J.A., Ruff, C.B., Nieh, J.C., Thorington, R.W. & Teaford, M.F. 1993.
Radiographicestimationoflongbonecross-sectionalgeometricproperties.Ameri-
M.54086 GC 16 1950-51 canJournalofPhysicalAnthropology, NewYork, 90: 207-213.
M.54099 GC87 5 Trinkaus,E. 1976.TheevolutionofthehominidfemoraldiaphysisduringtheUpper
M.54100 GC 87 40 Pleistocene in Europe and the Near East. Zeitschrift fur Morphologie und
M.54101 GC 87 153B Anthropologic, Stuttgart, 67: 291-319.
1993.Femoralneck-shaftanglesoftheQafzeh-Skhulearlymodernhumans,and
M.54102 GC87 118C.GC87 118D activity levelsamongimmatureNearEasternMiddlePaleolithichominids.Journal
M.54103 GC 87 1221, GC 87 122 ofHumanEvolution, London, 25: 393^16.
M.54104 GC 87 123
M.54105 GC 86 23
M.54106 GC 87 226C
M.54107 GC 87 173A
M.54108 GC 87 173-B
M.54109 GC 87 173-C
M.54110 GC#1021.0
M.54111 GC 86 6 #1002.0
M.54112 GC89 001
M.54113 GC 89 016
M.54114 GC 87 165B