The Neolithic transition in Europe and North Africa. The functional craneology contribution

• Published in: Anthropologischer Anzeiger 2004-06, Vol.62 (2), p.129-145
• Main Authors: Sardi, Marina L., Rozzi, Fernando Ramírez, Pucciarelli, Héctor M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Africa, Northern; African Continental Ancestry Group - classification; African Continental Ancestry Group - history; African culture; Biological Evolution; Body Constitution; Bones; Cephalometry - methods; Cephalometry - statistics & numerical data; craniofacial morphology; Craniology; Europe; European Continental Ancestry Group - classification; European Continental Ancestry Group - history; Facial Bones - anatomy & histology; Female; History, Ancient; Human genetics; Humans; Hunter gatherers; kraniofaziale Morphologie; Male; Multiple regression; Neolithic transition; neolithische Transition; Optics; Originalarbeiten; Population migration; Pulmonary alveoli; Skull; Skull - anatomy & histology; Skull base
• ISSN: 0003-5548; 2363-7099
• DOI: 10.1127/anthranz/62/2004/129

The origin and mode of the process that led to food production in Europe and North Africa is a matter intensively discussed. It is not clear in the transition to the Neolithic in these regions if it results by a migration peoples from the Near East, by changes in the behaviour of local populations, or by an interaction of both processes. Morphological changes in Europe and North Africa, from the Upper Palaeolithic to modern periods were assessed. A method based on the Functional Matrix Hypothesis was carried out, which implies that the bone shape is modified by the related soft tissues. Absolute and relative size and shape changes were estimated on two major - neural and facial - and eight minor - anteroneural, midneural, posteroneural, otic, optic, respiratory, masticatory and alveolar - functional cranial components (FCC). ANOVA and Canonical Correlation analyses indicate that neither a temporal trend nor a pattern characteristic of each region is evidenced. But a shift is observed between the Upper Palaeolithic groups and the later samples. Size is greater in the Upper Palaeolithics. Shape is modified because Upper Palaeolithics have greater midneural and masticatory FCCs, and smaller optic FCC. The greater masticatory volume is associated to wider faces in hunter-gatherers. Our study cannot enable to conclude if the morphological shift is caused by a replacement or by a change in the local populations, however, the morphological changes can be attributed to the reduced mobility and the masticatory stress since the Neolithic period. Ursprung sowie Art und Weise des Prozesses, der zur Nahrungsmittelproduktion in Europa und in Nordafrika führte, ist nach wie vor Gegenstand intensiver Diskussion. Es ist nicht klar, ob in diesen Regionen die neolithische Transition durch Einwanderung von Populationen aus dem Nahen Osten bewirkt wurde, durch Veränderungen in der Lebensweise lokaler Bevölkerungen oder durch eine Interaktion béider Prozesse. In dieser Untersuchung werden die morphologischen Veränderungen in Europa und Nordafrika analysiert, und zwar vom oberen Paläolithikum bis hin zur Gegenwart. Dabei wurde eine Methode verwendet, die auf der funktionellen Matrixhypothese beruht, welche impliziert, daß die Knochenform durch das diese umgebende Weichgewebe modifiziert wird. Absolute und relative Knochengröße und Knochenformveränderungen wurden an zwei funktionalen kranialen Hauptkomponenten - neurale und faziale - sowie an acht kranialen Nebenkomponenten - ant