Trauma among the Shanidar Neandertals

Four of the adult Neandertals from Shanidar Cave, Iraq, Shanidar 1, 3, 4, and 5, show evidence of antemortem trauma. Shanidar 1 sustained injuries to the right frontal squama, the left lateral orbit, the right humerus and right fifth metatarsal. Associated with this trauma are hypoplasia or atrophy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of physical anthropology 1982-01, Vol.57 (1), p.61-76
Main Authors: Trinkaus, Erik, Zimmerman, M. R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Bone and Bones - injuries
Bone and Bones - pathology
Bony Callus - pathology
Extremities - injuries
Female
History of medicine
History, Ancient
Human evolution
Humans
Iraq
Male
Neandertals
Paleopathology
Shanidar
Skull - injuries
Trauma
Wounds and Injuries - history
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Summary:Four of the adult Neandertals from Shanidar Cave, Iraq, Shanidar 1, 3, 4, and 5, show evidence of antemortem trauma. Shanidar 1 sustained injuries to the right frontal squama, the left lateral orbit, the right humerus and right fifth metatarsal. Associated with this trauma are hypoplasia or atrophy of the right clavicle, scapula, and humerus, osteomyelitis of the right clavicle, degenerative joint disease at the right knee, ankle, and first tarsometatarsal joint, and remodeling of the left tibia. Shanidar 3 experienced trauma‐related degenerative joint disease at the right talocrural and talocalcaneal joints and sustained a penetrating wound across the left ninth rib. Shanidar 4 suffered a fracture of the right seventh or eighth rib, and Shanidar 5 had a scalp wound over the left frontal. A high frequency of antemortem trauma associated with the survival of the injured individuals appears to have been characteristic of the Neandertals.
ISSN:0002-9483
1096-8644
DOI:10.1002/ajpa.1330570108