162 Evolutionary Anthropology

NEWS

Paleoanthropology Society’s Eighth Annual Meeting

he Society the ecomorphology and community old was a hybrid between Neander- held its eighth annual meeting structure of bovids and some suids. thals and modern humans. The late Tin Columbus, Ohio, April 27 to Both sources of ␦13C indicated that date, younger by 3,000 to 4,000 years 28, 1999, during the two days preced- Bed I sites were intermediate between than any dated , was taken ing the meeting of the American Asso- expected values for ‘‘pure’’ C3 or C4 to imply a lengthy period of such ciation of Physical Anthropology. As plants, suggesting that both open and hybridization. Members of the audi- usual, there was only a plenary ses- closed habitats were present. Previous ence questioned both the meaning of sion, with 39 talks scheduled over the work interpreted alcelaphine and ante- tibial robusticity and the likelihood two days. Abstracts for these talks lopine bovids as indicators of strongly that individuals beyond the first few were published in the April 1999 issue open environments, but ecomorpho- hybrid generations would continue to of the Journal of Human logical analysis revealed greater diver- preserve such clearly diagnostic char- (vol. 36, no. 4). The topics ranged sity in the adaptations of these groups. acter states without showing interme- widely, from early australopiths to late Olduvai Bed I assemblages suggest diate conditions. The description of , covering human paleon- greatest similarity to moister west- this specimen has now been formally tology, Paleolithic archaeology, tapho- central African environments. Similar published,1 accompanied by a com- nomy, biochronology, and paleoenvi- studies at Kanjera South indicate more mentary that questions the interpreta- ronments. Not all of the presentations open habitats that were analogous to tion provided.2 can be summarized here, so I will those of the modern Serengeti, with Gilliane Monnier (University of concentrate on points not covered in more zebra but fewer suids than were Pennsylvania) evaluated the reality of the abstracts. present at Olduvai. the distinction between Lower and Three groups of researchers re- At Olorgesailie, Richard Potts Middle Paleolithic phases in Europe ported on new studies at Olduvai (Smithsonian Institution) and col- by seeking evidence of increased ‘‘mod- Gorge, where a long-term project is leagues found that Member 7 deposits ernization’’ of selected lithic compo- currently directed by Robert Blumen- yielded several large concentrations of nents across the putative boundary schine (Rutgers) and Fidelis Masao bone and stone but almost no ‘‘back- between these intervals. Her study was (Open University of Tanzania). Niko- ground’’ scatter, suggesting that sites carried out on a series of reasonably laas van der Merwe (Harvard) and there were not natural but of human well-dated stratified site units ranging colleagues examined stable isotope ra- origin. Perhaps the (both in age from 400 to 50 Ka. So far, this tios in fauna in order to assess Homo and Theropithecus) were at- work has been restricted to France paleoenvironments. They reported that tracted to a local resource such as and Britain, but the database will be modern C3 plants vary greatly in their water. By comparison, there was far expanded to include other regions. ␦13C content, while C4 plants generally greater scatter in Member 1, probably are less variable. However, different indicating natural origin. The frequencies of both bifaces and grazers may prefer plants that empha- Erik Trinkaus (Washington Univer- ‘‘choppers’’ varied randomly rather size alternative enzyme composition sity) was scheduled to give a paper on than decreasing through time as would and height, so that alcelaphines eat paleopathology of Dolni Veˇstonice Pav- be predicted from theory. The fre- NADP plants and show ␦13C ca. Ϫ11.5, lovian skeletons but, under pressure quency of Levallois technology did while zebras, which prefer NAD plants, from colleagues, he agreed to give an increase after 300 Ka, but not system- appear more negative at Ϫ13. Speci- informal talk on the new Portuguese atically. There were always some as- mens of Paranthropus boisei in Oldu- find, which had just hit the news. The semblages with a low frequency of vai Beds I and II have ␦13C levels Lagar Velho 1 child skeleton was asso- artifacts, but the occurrence of samples comparable to that of pigs, suggesting ciated with a typical Gravettian burial with higher frequency was restricted that they probably ate neither grass and dated to about 24,500 BP. The to later intervals. Thus, the range of nor meat, but that perhaps tubers combination of anatomically modern variation increased through time. A were an option. tooth size and proportions, chin struc- series of tests for greater ‘‘standardiza- Complementary research by Tom ture, and morphology of the radius tion’’ of flake shape in a limited subset Plummer (University of California at and pubic ramus with the claimed of collections failed to demonstrate Los Angeles) and others on Bed I Neanderthal-like inclination of the any consistent pattern. Monnier’s in- material collected by Mary Leakey ex- mandibular symphysis and tibial pla- terim conclusion was that there is no amined ␦13C from soil carbonates and teau and, especially, tibial robusticity clear evidence of a significant break in mammalian tooth enamel, as well as suggests to Trinkaus that this four-year- lithic technology across the Lower- NEWS Evolutionary Anthropology 163

Middle Paleolithic transition in west- asian cold-adapted taxa in the later, ings implied a diffusion model. But ern Europe. Neanderthal levels. when Tostevin combined several Euro- Paola Villa and Francisco d’Errico In contrast, Osbjorn Pearson pean assemblages into a ‘‘Bohunician (University of Bordeaux) examined the (George Washington University) found behavioral package,’’ he determined a evidence of nonlithic technology (bone few similarities between Skhul-Qafzeh pattern of change from Boker (47 Ka, or ivory points) in the same interval. postcranial and any modern Israel) through Temnata (45 Ka, Bul- They rejected essentially all claimed group. He suggested that patterns of garia), and to Stranska´ Ska´la´ (42 Ka, bone and ivory hafted points prior stature, activity, and, perhaps, cli- Central Europe) and Khorolevo (38 to the final Middle Paleolithic (Uluz- matic adaptation, rather than histori- Ka, Eastern Europe). A comparable zian and Chaˆtelperronian) as natural cal connections, might explain the dif- but unrelated pattern suggested that occurrences. In conclusion, d’Errico ferences observed. by 38 Ka an ‘‘Aurignacian behavioral reiterated his interpretation of the P. Nehoroshev and L. Vishnyatsky package’’ had arrived in Central Eu- Chaˆtelperronian as an independent de- (Institute of the History of Material rope, as well as France and northern velopment from the Mousterian rather Culture, St. Petersburg) discussed sev- Spain, perhaps also from the Levant. than an example of acculturation. This eral seasons of research at the Middle Another talk about European lithic view was criticized from the floor by Paleolithic workshop site of Shlyakh, technology, by Zachary Davis (State Paul Mellars. in the Middle Don region. Oxford Ac- University of New York, Stony Brook), Stanley Ambrose (University of Illi- celerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) examined the costs and benefits of 14 nois, Urbana) gave a fill-in talk (no C dates of about 46 Ka contrast with lithic reduction and curation patterns abstract) in which he argued that the Moscow thermoluminescence (TL) es- based on a model of logistic versus Ϯ development of was con- timates of 160 to 175 35 Ka. In residential mobility in Mt. Carmel comitant with that of compound, addition to a variety of typical Middle Mousterian site units. hafted lithic tools, basing his argu- Paleolithic forms, the site yielded a Mike Black (Duke University) sug- few blades that were suggested to gested a trunk torsion hypothesis to ment on the analogy of their shared presage the local Upper Paleolithic. explain unique aspects of Neanderthal complexity. Although the authors suggested that pubic ramus morphology as part of an Alan Morris (University of Cape perhaps other blades had been re- adaptation to powerful manual thrust- Town) and Frederick Grine (State Uni- moved for use, audience members ing of stabbing spears while hunting. versity of New York, Stony Brook) noted that various Middle Paleolithic Thus, males would be expected to re-examined the Hofmeyr skull, which assemblages contained similar blades. show the traits involved to a greater was found in southeastern South Af- Marvin Kay (Miami University, degree than would females if, indeed, rica in the 1950s without significant Ohio) and Bruce Hardy (University of male Neanderthals hunted with spears context, but probably is of Late Pleis- Arkansas) reported on their respective more often than did their female coun- tocene age. This skull has a high, analyses of organic residues and lithic terparts. The torque generated by turn- rounded vault but a rather large brow use-wear in Mousterian assemblages ing the body to deliver a thrust would ridge and an ‘‘archaic’’ mid-face; in from Crimea. At Staroselie and Kiik- in turn lead to torsion requiring coun- multivariate analyses, it approaches Koba, several points showed evidence terforce from the thigh adductor the skulls of modern South African of hafting striations and the presence muscles. A change in proportion of blacks and whites, but not Khoisan. If of starch grains and other vegetable parts of the pubis, said to be at the it dates to the 40 to 20 Ka range, as matter indicative of hafting mastic. intersection of various muscle forces, Morris preferred, perhaps it preceded Microscopic fragments of feathers, per- would allow an increase in the size of the origin of Khoisan morphology. On haps from waterfowl or falcon-like these muscles while resulting in the the other hand, if it were 100 to 80 Kyr birds, suggested the hunting of avian morphology found in Neanderthals, old, it might be in some ways ‘‘transi- prey with projectiles, a claim not previ- especially males. tional’’ from late archaic to anatomi- ously made for Neanderthals. At Buran The nasal complex and upper respi- cally modern humans. Kaya, an early Szeletian level yielded ratory tract were discussed in a series Trenton Holliday (Tulane Univer- foliates and small trapezoids showing of complementary but conflicting pre- sity) reported on his use of multivari- evidence of hafting and perhaps wood- sentations by Jeffrey Laitman (Mount ate analysis to study limb proportions working. Sinai School of Medicine) and col- and resulting body shape in southwest Gilbert Tostevin (Harvard Univer- leagues, Stephen Churchill (Duke Uni- Asian Late Pleistocene humans. Speci- sity) examined aspects of lithic opera- versity) and colleagues, and Robert mens generally termed Neanderthals tional sequences and attributes across Franciscus (University of Iowa). The were closest to Europeans in body the ‘‘Middle-Upper Paleolithic transi- first and last of these studies argued shape, while most of the Skhul-Qafzeh tion’’ (60 to 40 Ka) between the Levant from somewhat different data for a group more closely resembled sub- and central Europe in order to com- reasonably strong morphological dis- Saharan and, less clearly, North Afri- pare predictions based on models of tinction between Neanderthals and can humans. An African source for the diffusion versus in-situ evolution. He modern humans in this region. Skhul-Qafzeh group fits with paleogeo- found few examples of continuity in Churchill experimentally examined graphic links between associated mam- the Levant at, for example, Kebara 6 fluid-flow dynamics. mal fauna and Africa steppe taxa as versus Boker Tachtit 1, or in eastern or Paul Mellars (University of Cam- opposed to a preponderance of Eur- central Europe. These negative find- bridge) reviewed the Chaˆtelperronian 164 Evolutionary Anthropology NEWS industry and compared the two cur- rable to those from the Middle Awash students and overseas colleagues rent views of its origin: by accultura- and Olorgesailie. The two hominin whose abstracts were accepted. As a tion through late Mousterian contact mandibles differ in size, with BK 8518 result of such a large balance, how- with early Aurignacians or indepen- having larger teeth (especially P3 and ever, it has become necessary for the dent development of Upper Paleolithic- M3) and a more robust corpus than Society to formally incorporate as a like elements. Mellars suggested that does BK 67. The ulna, BK 66, is also 501C3 tax-exempt organization, with the Aurignacian may have dispersed large, suggesting a stature of approxi- a constitution and at least three offic- from the Levant via the Mediterra- mately 175 cm (5’ 9Љ), and shows ar- ers: a president, secretary, and trea- nean coast of Europe into northern chaic features comparable to those of surer. Spain and perhaps separately along the Klasies ulna. No definitive taxo- John Yellen was immediately nomi- the Danube valley into France, reach- nomic identification is yet feasible. nated to serve as president and elected ing the former by 42? Ka and the latter Jeffrey McKee (Ohio State Univer- by acclamation. His request for volun- by ca. 39 Ka (converted from 36,000 sity) reported on continuing analyses teers to serve as secretary and trea- BP 14C). Mellars dated the earliest of the age of African Plio-Pleistocene surer elicited instant quiet. I eventu- Chaˆtelperronian to an age slightly site units using faunal seriation. Unit ally volunteered to serve as secretary, younger than the Aurignacian and sup- ages were adjusted based on the pres- hoping for another candidate to whom ported the acculturation hypothesis ence of species that contradicted their I could defer, but my offer was ac- (or a modified ‘‘pillow-talk’’ version). F. preliminary placement, such as taxa cepted. After further silence, Alison d’Errico argued from the audience for usually occurring in younger or older Brooks was nominated and elected (in independent development, continuing assemblages. Ages were derived from absentia) for the post of treasurer in published disagreement between these East African dated assemblages with order to keep control of the funds two workers; similar comments had comparable faunal lists. The age of ca. within the family. appeared previously.3 3.5 to 3 Ma for Sterkfontein Member 2 Next year’s meeting will be in Phila- P. Vishnayatsky reviewed the status was questioned as it resulted in many delphia on April 3–4, preceding the of the pre-Aurignacian and Amudian taxa occurring earlier than in any other annual meeting of the Society for industries in light of their supposed locality (but see reference four). American Archaeology. More informa- role as precursors of the Upper Paleo- Kaye Reed (Institute of Human Ori- tion about next year’s meeting, about the Society and its organization, and lithic. Although these assemblages at gins/Arizona State University), Matt selected news items can be found at Yabrud and Tabun are characterized Sponheimer, and Julia Lee-Thorp (Uni- www.paleoanthro.org, a website set by a predominance of blade tools such versity of Cape Town) presented an up by Shannon McFerron (Bishop Mu- as burins and endscrapers, with a integrated analysis of ecomorphologi- seum, Hawaii). strong reduction to absence of Lower- cal and stable isotopic data to estimate Middle Paleolithic types, there are no the paleoenvironment of Makapans- REFERENCES true prismatic cores. Neither the pre- gat bovids, which I consider to have Aurignacian nor Amudian are Upper been one of the highlights of the meet- 1 Duarte C, Maurico J, Pettit P, Souto P, Trinkhaus Paleolithic industries or their precur- ing. In most cases, there was good E, van der Plicht H, Zilhao J. 1999. The early Upper Paleolithic human skeleton from the Abrigo sors. They are probably locally derived agreement between environmental do Lager Velho (Portugal) and modern human from the Yabrudian and may repre- proxies derived from the two comple- emergence in Iberia. Proc Natl Acad Sci 96:7604– sent an ‘‘intra-Yabrudian’’ episode of mentary approaches but morphology 7609. 2 Tattersall I, Schwartz JH. 1999. Hominids and blade production analogous to the was better at detecting special types of hybrids: the place of Neanderthals in human Howiesons Poort and Seclinian. grazers, while isotope data were better evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci 96:7117–7119. Sally McBrearty (University of Con- at discerning when morphological 3 d’Errico F et al. 1998. Neanderthal accultura- tion in Western Europe. Mellars P. 1999. The necticut) and colleagues gave an up- mixed feeders were focusing only on Neanderthal problem continued. Zilha˜o J, date on their research in the Kapthurin leaves. It was suggested that there is d’Errico F. 1999. Response. Curr Anthropol 40: Formation of the Baringo Basin-Tu- something distinctive about the 341–350, 355–364. 4 Partridge TC, Shaw J, Heslop D, Clarke RJ. gen Hills sequence, Kenya. On the Makapansgat habitat, as it supported 1999. The new hominoid skeleton from Sterkfon- basis of new argon-argon analyses, the many more browsing animals than tein, South Africa: age and preliminary assess- upper (K4) horizon dates to 280 Ka any modern community. ment. J Quartern Sci 4:293–298. and the Grey Tuff in unit K3 just above Following the paper session, John Eric Delson the human fossils dates to about 500 Yellen called to order the Business Department of Anthropology Ka, while the K2 tuff below the fossils Meeting of the Paleoanthropology So- Lehman College and the Graduate School dates to about 550 Ka. A large collec- ciety. He reported that there is cur- City University of New York and tion of mainly broken-up faunal ele- rently about $15,000 in the Society’s Department of Vertebrate Paleontology ments derives from the K3 unit. Arti- bank account, based on receipts from American Museum of Natural History New York, NY 10024 facts are relatively rare but mainly of membership fees. Some of the funds E-mail: [email protected] mode 1 character, perhaps compa- had been awarded as travel grants to ௠ 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.