Original scientific paper

Scapular Axillary Border Morphology in Modern Humans and Neandertals

HARTLEY ODWAK ; Departments of Anthropology & Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London, England, WC1E 6BT

Abstract

It has been nearly 100 years since Gorjanović-Kramberger published his seminal Krapina scapular axillary border study. The current study attempts to build on Gorjanović-Kramberger's work and that of the many researchers who have attempted to unlock the significance of axillary border variation before and since. The high frequency of dorsal sulci on Neandertal axillary borders and their relatively low frequency among recent humans has more recently been interpreted as indicative of overall greater Neandertal robusticity and reflective of a steady decrease in the levels of biomechanical stress across the shoulder, corresponding to increases in the level of cultural efficiency during the Upper Pleistocene. This study examines (1) the robusticity of axillary border shape and (2) the relationship between axillary border length and thickness to overall scapular, infraspinous, and
scapular spine size in modern humans and two Neandertals (Kebara 2 and Tabun C1). The results suggest that the bisulcate axillary border condition, present in high frequency among modern humans, appears to represent greater robusticity (i.e, able to resist greater biomechanical forces) than either the dorsal or ventral types. Additionally, the results confirm the hypothesis that axillary border length and thickness correlate highly to scapular size and scapular spine measures. These results do not challenge the notion that Neandertal post-crania are characteristically robust. Rather, the
potential plasticity of the scapula suggests that caution should be implemented when utilising it in phylogenetic interpretations.

I do not know what range of variation a great series of the scapulae
of the larger felidae might present, but a small one shows nothing
like that of the human race... (2: p. 23)

Keywords

scapula; axillary border; dorsal sulcus; bisulcate; Neandertal

Hrčak ID:

83148

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/83148

Publication date:

31.10.2006.

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