PaleoAnthropology

A Reinvestigation of the Upper Paleolithic Postcranial Human Remains from the La Rochette Rock Shelter (Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, France)

David Naumann, Katerina Harvati — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

One of the lesser-known Paleolithic sites in the famous Vézère river valley in south-western France is the rock-shelter of La Rochette, where presumed Upper Paleolithic adult postcranial remains were found during excavations by O. Hauser in 1910. A first study of these remains was published in 1914. Since then, no comprehensive reinvestigation of the postcranial morphology has been carried out. Here we present a review of the history of research at the site and on these remains, as well as new data on osteometry, the association of skeletal elements, and estimations of body proportions and body size.

Morphological examinations of the joint articulation of the right humerus cast with the original radius and ulna indicate that these skeletal elements very likely belonged to the same individual. Although the upper limb overall size and morphology is consistent with that of the femora, suggesting that all remains may indeed represent one individual, an assessment of the association of the upper and lower limbs was impossible. Therefore, the presence of another adult individual at the site cannot not be excluded at present.

As the current location of the humeri and femora is unknown, the original anatomy was only possible to study for the radius and ulna; casts were used to collect data for the humeri and femora. To assess the reliability of casts for the study of Pleistocene remains, we compared data from the original radius and ulna to equivalent measurements obtained from their casts. We show that the casts are affected by slight to modest deformation and that, while some linear distances are similar, others show substantial deviations. Furthermore, the virtual superimpositions of 3D surface models and the meshDist models of casts and originals showed that the casts reproduced the originals unevenly, with some areas shaped slightly disproportionately or showing differences in curvatures.

Comparisons of measurements obtained from the original La Rochette radius and ulna with other Upper Paleolithic individuals placed these skeletal elements at the region of overlap of males and females. Similarly, body mass and stature estimates calculated based on measurements from the right femoral cast also fell in this range and within the variation of Upper Paleolithic females. Even though La Rochette’s small skeletal proportions might create an impression of gracility, examinations on the skeletal bone robusticity found overall well-developed muscle markings that indicate intense physical activities influenced the skeletal morphology. This is also indicated by the strong asymmetry found between the left and right humerus casts.

Does Point Size Matter? How Morphometric Arguments Impact Evolutionary Models of Paleolithic Weaponry

Justin Coppe, Veerle Rots — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The invention of long-range weaponry has been a pivotal technological change with significant implications for Palaeolithic subsistence strategies and is assumed to have been a crucial factor facilitating the spread of anatomically modern humans while migrating out of Africa. Over the last years, a prevailing hypothesis seems to have emerged that long-range weaponry appeared somewhere at the end of the Middle Stone Age and dispersed over the rest of the world together with modern humans. However, organic remains testifying to the use of long-range weaponry are far more recent and the early-appearance model is therefore inferred primarily from morphometric analyses of the stone points. Metrics such as tip cross-sectional area (TCSA) and tip cross-sectional perimeter (TCSP) are argued to be reliable proxies for inferring the penetration capacity of points and the diameter of the shaft and have been used to hypothesise the use of a particular weapon system. Despite the popularity of TCSA/TCSP in projectile studies, the reliability of using morphometric values to infer a particular weapon system remains insufficiently explored through experimental approaches. To further assess the validity of these proxies, we use the results of a comprehensive multiparameter shooting experiment, the design of which permits to test the reliability of using TCSA/TCSP values as proxies for weapon technology. Our results indicate that the TCSA/TCSP value of a point does not correlate with its penetration depth, which proves more influenced by other morphological parameters and by the hafting system and propulsion mode. Additionally, we show that small points, often interpreted as arrow tips, can effectively function with larger shafts across different propulsion modes thereby disproving an exclusive relation between small points and the use of arrows. These findings raise important concerns regarding the reliability of the arguments that are currently used to support an early appearance of long-distance weaponry. We encourage an approach that draws more from use-wear studies and sequential experimental programs, to permit the development of more fine-grained models for the emergence of long-range weapon systems.

Taphonomic Analysis of Early Pleistocene Fossil Localities of the Olteţ River Valley, Romania

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Though the best documented first appearance of hominins in Eurasia is from Dmanisi, Georgia, there are several earlier sites with traces of hominin presence. Here were present taphonomic analyses of sites from the Olteţ River Valley in Romania, with particular attention to Grăunceanu, which preserves the earliest evidence of hominins in Europe in the form of cut-marked bones. The Grăunceanu assemblage (n=4,524) is extremely well preserved with highly visible bone surfaces, very little weathering or reworking, and high numbers of nearly complete specimens. Large mammals, especially artiodactyls and perissodactyls, dominate the assemblage, though many smaller taxa are also represented. Carnivores are diverse and well represented, and there is evidence of carnivore modifications on 9.5% of the assemblage. Most specimens show some level of root etching and post-depositional damage; other taphonomic alterations are rare. There is evidence of density-mediated attrition, especially for the Artiodactyla, though in the Perissodactyla the pattern points toward utility-driven attrition. Sedimentological analysis indicates that sediments recovered inside bones from the assemblage are silty sands. Our analyses suggest that the Grăunceanu assemblage was likely accumulated near the paleo-Olteţ river in the Early Pleistocene, perhaps during overbank flooding events in an alluvial plain, capturing evidence of large ungulates, carnivores and their food remnants, and even a small contribution from hominin activities.

A Refined Chronology for the Middle–Upper Paleolithic Transition at Kozarnika Cave (Bulgaria) 40–50,000 Years Ago

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The site of Kozarnika in Bulgaria is a key, deep (~6m) archaeological sequence spanning the Lower, Middle and Upper Paleolithic of Europe. In its latter phases, it documents the transition from a Neanderthal-dominated Europe to one in which only modern humans are present. The process of this transition is of major importance to understanding the timeline of hominin dispersals, extinctions and replacement in Europe. We obtained 37 new AMS radiocarbon dates to build a robust chrono-stratigraphy for the site through sampling humanly modified bones, artifacts and human remains. We focussed particularly on dating the Initial Upper Paleolithic phase of the occupation, in geological layer 6/7, because of its potential link with early dispersing Homo sapiens populations and the presence of co-mingled human remains in the layer itself. The latter phases of human occupation at Kozarnika comprised five distinct periods, dated between about 50–26,000 years ago. We found that the 6/7 phase ranged from 48,500–44,050 cal BP, probably starting from about 49,960 cal BP. The stone tool evidence from the layer contains some Levallois pieces with echoes of the earlier Middle Paleolithic. One possible scenario is that both Neanderthals and early modern humans alternated in their use of the site during this period. Aside from the evidence from Apidima (Greece) which has been argued to evidence Homo sapiens at about 210,000 years ago (Harvati et al. 2019), Kozarnika is the earliest site found in southeastern Europe from the last 100,000 years which contains evidence for the presence of modern humans.

The New Neanderthal Fossil Sample from Grotta Guattari, Monte Circeo (Italy): A Preliminary Synopsis

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Grotta Guattari is a prehistoric site located on the Tyrrhenian coast in central Italy. It has been renowned since 1939 for the discovery of a typical Neanderthal cranium and two mandibles. Recent excavations conducted between 2019 and 2023 have yielded important new findings, revealing a significant geo-paleontological and archaeological assemblage. These discoveries provide new insights into the site’s stratigraphy and chronology, dating back between 121.5 ± 5.8 and 65.0 ± 2.8 thousand years ago. As a result of these new findings, the human fossil collection now includes 22 remains, some of which are almost complete while others are fragmentary. Some of these specimens have been grouped together as a single specimen only when their connection could be proven beyond doubt. The collection encompasses eleven cranial remains, four postcranial bones, and seven dental specimens, named from Guattari 1 to Guattari 18. This paper systematises, contextualises, and briefly describes the entire collection of human fossil specimens from the site to facilitate future analytical and comparative studies, as well as their long-term conservation. The preliminary results presented in this paper confirm the exceptional significance of Grotta Guattari. Together, the new and old findings represent the most substantial Neanderthal human fossil sample in Italy. They provide valuable evidence for understanding Neanderthal morphology and human evolution in Europe during the Late Pleistocene, as well as the exploitation of the region by Neanderthals, and the taphonomy and site formation processes.

New Insights on the Dietary Ecology of Paradolichopithecus (Cercopithecidae, Mammalia) from Dafnero-3 (Greece)

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Paradolichopithecus was a large-bodied monkey with a predominantly terrestrial lifestyle that inhabited Eurasia from the Middle Pliocene to the Early-Middle Pleistocene. Its species level taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships, to other extant and extinct large cercopithecines, remain however, unresolved. Clarifying its ecological profile is therefore crucial for understanding its evolutionary history.

Here, we investigate the dietary ecology of a specimen of Paradolichopithecus from Dafnero-3, Greece (DFN3-150). We assessed its dental capabilities and potential dietary adaptations through dental topographic and enamel thickness analyses, comparing the virtual mesh of its second upper molars with 28 corresponding molars representing 13 cercopithecid species across five extant papionin genera (Cercocebus, Lophocebus, Macaca, Mandrillus, Papio, and Theropithecus) with known dietary ecology. We then examined its dietary habits prior to death using dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA), comparing DFN3-150 with eight extant species from the same five genera and other fossil specimens of Paradolichopithecus from sites in Greece, France and Romania.

Our results show that the molar morphology of Paradolichopithecus is most similar to that of Papio, suggesting opportunistic feeding strategies. This interpretation is supported by DMTA, which indicates consumption of tough and abrasive vegetation. Such a dietary profile implies ecological flexibility, potentially facilitating the genus’ wide biogeographic distribution and persistence in increasingly seasonal Plio-Pleistocene Eurasian environments. However, its abrupt disappearance after the Early–Middle Pleistocene raises further questions, hinting that climate change and ecological dynamics may have contributed to its eventual demise.

Mandibular Specimens of Stirtonia victoriae From the La Victoria Formation, La Venta, Colombia

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The earliest evidence for the alouattine clade, howler monkeys, can be found at the Middle Miocene site of La Venta in Huila Department, Colombia. La Venta has yielded over 100 vertebrate species including 12 primates representing all extant platyrrhine families and is notable as the site that provides the earliest evidence of a proto-Amazonian primate community. Currently, two alouattine species have been described: Stirtonia victoriae and Stirtonia tatacoensis. Stirtonia victoriae is found in the older La Victoria Formation and was previously known only from maxillary and cranial fragments. Stirtonia tatacoensis has been recovered from sediments in the younger Villavieja Formation and is primarily known from isolated teeth and partial mandibular remains. Here, we report the first mandibular specimens of S. victoriae, which preserve canines, premolars, and molars as well as the mandibular symphysis and portions of the mandibular ramus. We use three-dimensional geometric morphometric (3DGM) analysis of second lower molars to reconstruct diet as well as 3DGM analysis of mandibular shape to examine S. victoriae morphology within the evolutionary context of the platyrrhine radiation. Our dental analyses indicate that S. victoriae likely consumed leaves as a substantial portion of its diet. Its mandibular shape is broadly similar to that observed among atelids and howler monkeys, genus Alouatta, more specifically. Body mass reconstruction using lower first molar area and a phylogenetic least squares regression approach indicate that S. victoriae was around 6.6–8.7 kg. New body mass estimates using this method are also provided for other extinct platyrrhine species. The fossil evidence of S. victoriae described here provides the earliest example of committed leaf-eating among platyrrhines.

The Late Miocene Colobine Monkey Mesopithecus (Primates, Cercopithecidae) of Greece

George Koufos — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The genus Mesopithecus a colobine monkey, represents the earliest known cercopithecoid in Eurasia. Mesopithecus is very common in the Late Miocene of Greece and the field work in several fossiliferous sites provided a rich collection from the Turolian (uppermost Late Miocene); especially the Pikermi collection of Mesopithecus is the richest one. The Greek material was examined with respect to cranial, dental and postcranial morphology using transitional morphometric and geometric morphometric approaches. The results suggested the presence of four species: M. pentelicus (type species), M. delsoni, M. monspessulanus, and Mesopithecus sp. The comparison of the Greek material with that from other countries indicated close relationships, indicating that it was a widespread taxon. Mesopithecus has a wide palaeogeographic distribution extended from Iberian Peninsula to the southeastern China. Its main presence is restricted in the southern Balkans (Greece, Bulgaria, North Macedonia). Its great palaeogeographic distribution together with its well-known stratigraphical context and age, as well as its specific differentiation allow to use it as a biostratigraphic tool for the uppermost Late Miocene (Turolian). The study of the dietary and locomotor behavior of Mesopithecus, determined by different methods, suggested a semi-terrestrial monkey living in open habitats, like savannah- bushlands or savannah-grasslands with some trees, schrubs and thick grassy substrate. In conclusion the Greek record, due to its richness and stratigraphic context, provides a critical framework for reassessing the taxonomy, biostratigraphy, paleobiogeography, and palaeoecology of Mesopithecus.

Symbolism Without Symbols? The Unsoundness of the Artifact to Symbol Inference in Paleolithic Archaeology

Karel Kuipers, Marie Soressi, Hub Zwart — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Behavior mediated by symbols—commonly termed ‘symbolic behavior’—is widely recognized as a defining feature of human cognition. In deep history, its emergence is frequently inferred from artefacts or features that appear to lack utilitarian function and are thus interpreted as ornamental or representational artefacts potentially carrying symbolic meaning. However, such interpretations have been contested and have become a topic of increasing scrutiny due to the inherent ambiguity of both the archaeological data and the conceptual frameworks used to analyze them. Despite these critiques, few alternative models to the prevailing interpretations have been proposed.

A central issue lies in the difficulty of defining and identifying ‘symbols’ in Paleolithic contexts. This paper explicitly outlines and interrogates this problem. We argue that dominant theoretical frameworks fail to establish a coherent inference chain from ‘artefact to symbol’. These approaches are often either ad hoc or grounded in Peircean semiotics, which relies heavily on the role of the interpretant, a process that poses significant challenges in prehistoric contexts, given its dependence on knowledge of social conventions. As such, we argue that archaeologists often fail to reconstruct symbols, but rather construct new ones. Moreover, if the criteria for identifying symbolic behavior were consistently applied across species, many non-human animals would qualify. This undermines the analytical utility of symbolism as a marker of humanness. We contend that the prevailing symbolic framework is symptomatic for a deeper issue, namely a longstanding research tradition marked by a problematic nature/culture dualism.

To move beyond these limitations, we advocate for a longue durée perspective that integrates recent developments in evolutionary theory, particularly the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, with insights from the philosophy of technology, especially the work of Simondon and Boëda. In doing so, we aim to move away from the fixation on discrete symbolic objects and toward a more processual and theoretically robust understanding of early human behavior.

Book Review of Our Ancient Youth: A Perspective on Evolutionary Phylogeny and Ontogeny

Niccolo Caldararo — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

This is a review of a book on the developmental aspects of fossil hominins. It focuses attention on the ontogeny of morphological traits that define the hominin physiology and reviews in tandem the information available on the ontogeny of the brain. Few books have addresses these elements of human evolution, especially regarding the existing fossil neonatal and infant as well as remains of children in one monograph.

Paleoanthropology Society Meeting Abstracts, Denver, CO, 17-18 March 2026

PAS: Paleoanthropology Society — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

These are the abstracts for the 2026 Paleoanthropology Society meetings.