Physical Anthropology

H. Meller, Goldene Locken für harte Kerle – die Haartracht als Statusanzeiger. Reiche frühbronzezeitliche Bestattung von Osmünde. In: H. Meller/K. Gärtner (Hrsg.), Schönheit, Macht und Tod II. 275 Funde aus dem Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle (Halle [Saale] 2023) 248–249.

In the past one hundred years physical anthropology has recourse to more and more efficient methods, which provide several new information regarding, human evolution and biology. Apart from the molecular approach, the introduction of new computed assisted techniques gave rise to a new concept of morphometry. Computed tomography and 3D-imaging, allowed providing anatomical description of the external and inner structures exceeding the problems encountered with the traditional morphometric methods. Furthermore, the support of geometric morphometrics, allowed creating geometric models to investigate morphological variation in terms of evolution, ontogeny and variability. The integration of these new tools gave rise to the virtual anthropology and to a new image of the anthropologist in which anatomical, biological, mathematical statistical and data processing information are fused in a multidisciplinary approach. Introduction .

In the past one hundred years physical anthropology has recourse to more and more efficient methods, which provide several new information regarding, human evolution and biology. Apart from the molecular approach, the introduction of new computed assisted techniques gave rise to a new concept of morphometry. Computed tomography and 3D-imaging, allowed providing anatomical description of the external and inner structures exceeding the problems encountered with the traditional morphometric methods. Furthermore, the support of geometric morphometrics, allowed creating geometric models to investigate morphological variation in terms of evolution, ontogeny and variability. The integration of these new tools gave rise to the virtual anthropology and to a new image of the anthropologist in which anatomical, biological, mathematical statistical and data processing information are fused in a multidisciplinary approach. Introduction .

Yağlı ve yağsız vücut dokularının incelenmesi olarak tele alınan vücut kompozisyonu analizleri spor bilimlerinde gerek uygulama alanında gerekse akademik araştırmalarda kullanılan önemli bir ölçme ve değerlendirme yöntemidir. Yapılan çalışmalar vücut kompozisyonu değerlendirmelerinin genel sağlık ve atletik performans açısından önemli olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Sporcular üzerinde değerlendirmeler yapmak için günümüzde birçok farklı formda ölçme tekniği geliştirilmiş bunlardan bazıları daha yüksek doğrulukla veri sağlar ancak ölçüm zorlukları içerir. Bazıları ise daha kolay uygulanabilir fakat geçerlilik-güvenilirlilik problemleri gibi önemli sınırlılıkları vardır. Çift enerjili X-ışını absorbsiyometrisi (DEXA), hidrometri, hidro-dansitometri veya havadeplasmanı pletismografisi ve görüntüleme yöntemleri (MRI, tomografi) yüksek doğrulukta ölçme ve değerlendirme olanağı sağlar, ancak pahalıdır ve yalnızca sahada kullanılmaya uygun olmayan laboratuvarlarda yapılabilir. Diğer taraftan ucuz ve pratik olan ancak geçerlilik-güvenilirlik sorunlarıyla ilgili bazı sınırlılıklar içeren biyoelektrik impedans analizi (BIA) ve antropometrik değerlendirmeler uygulama alanında daha çok tercih edilebilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı en yaygın vücut kompozisyonu analiz yöntemlerinin spor bilimcilere ve spor hekimlerine sunduğu avantajları ve dezavantajları sunmaktır. İlgili literatür ışığında, spor bilimlerinde vücut kompozisyonu ölçme ve değerlendirme için önerilebilecek yöntemler imkân ve koşullara göre farklılıklar göstereceği görülmektedir. Vücut kompozisyonunun ana parametre olduğu kapsamlı araştırmalarda DEXA'nın hala en ideal ölçüm yöntemi olduğu görülmektedir. BIA ölçümlerinin de pratik, maliyeti düşük ve kolay uygulanabilir olması yönüyle avantajları olduğu görülmektedir. Bilimsel çalışmalar dışında, uygulama sahasındaki sınırlılıklar göz önüne alındığında (çok sayıda katılımcının olduğu sahada yapılması gereken durumlar) ölçüm prosedürlerine dikkat edilerek antropometrik ölçümlerle veya BIA yöntemi ile değerlendirmeler yapılabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Dental eruption schedules have been closely linked to life history variables. Here we examine a sample of 50 perinatal primates (28 species) to determine whether life history traits correlate with relative tooth size at birth. Newborn primates were studied using serial histological sectioning. Volumes of deciduous premolars (dp(2) -dp(4) ), replacement teeth (if any), and permanent molars (M(1-2/3) ) of the upper jaw were measured and residuals from cranial length were calculated with least squares regressions to obtain relative dental volumes (RDVs). Relative dental volumes of deciduous or permanent teeth have an unclear relationship with relative neonatal mass in all primates. Relative palatal length (RPL), used as a proxy for midfacial size, is significantly, positively correlated with larger deciduous and permanent postcanine teeth. However, when strepsirrhines alone are examined, larger RPL is correlated with smaller RDV of permanent teeth. In the full sample, RDVs of deciduous...

Introduction: According to India's national family health survey 5 (NFHS-5), In 2019-2020, 32.1% of children under five years of age were found to be underweight. 19.3% were wasted and 35.5% were stunted as per the NFHS-5 data, the prevalence of underweight and stunting was 21.2% and 30%, respectively. The current under-five mortality rate in India is 28/1000, and under nutrition is one of the significant. Malnutrition among under-five children is a major public health problem in India. According to WHO malnutrition is divided into two main types like under-nutrition, over-nutrition, nutritional deficiency malnutrition contributors to under-five mortality in India. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted to assess the prevalence of malnutrition among under-five children. Prior permission was obtained to conduct a study. Informed consent was obtained from parents of all the under five children. The study comprised of 100 samples. The samples who met with inclusion criteria were selected by convenient sampling technique-a type of non-probability method, in which the participants were selected according to the convenient of researcher. The data collection was conducted at sanatorium and Kelambakkam. The participants were screened for malnutrition using weighing scale, the malnutrition was calculated by various formulas and interpreted with GOMEZ'S classification of malnutrition. The obtained data was analyzed and interpreted using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The present study revealed that the prevalence of malnutrition among 100 under-five children, 44(44%) of them had I-degree malnutrition, 28(28%) of them had II-degree malnutrition, 3(3%) of them had III-degree malnutrition, 5(5%) of them had obesity, 20(20%) of them were normal. Conclusion: Assessing the degree of malnutrition among children under five years old is crucial for identifying and addressing nutritional deficiencies that can have long-term effects on their health and development. Therefore, the community was educated about malnutrition and its preventive measures, awareness program and counselling to parents to prevent malnutrition for under-five children.

If blood with antigens you do not possess enters your body, your immune system will produce antibodies against it. However, some individuals can safely receive blood not their exact type, provided the transfused blood does not carry antigens that would be recognized as foreign. Here is how blood donations work (Jean et al., 1993):  Type O: Individuals with type O blood can donate to anyone because their blood has no antigens. However, they can only receive blood from other type O individuals, as any blood with antigens would be perceived as foreign.  Type A: Individuals with type A blood can donate to other type A and type AB individuals. They can receive blood only from type A and type O individuals.  Type B: Individuals with type B blood can donate to other type B and type AB individuals. They can receive blood only from type B and type O individuals.  Type AB: Individuals with type AB blood can donate only to other AB individuals but can receive blood from any type. Blood types are further categorized by the Rh factor (Kathleen et al., 2005):  Rh-positive: Individuals with Rh-positive blood have Rh antigens on their red blood cells and can receive both Rh-positive and Rh-negative blood.  Rh-negative: Individuals with Rh-negative blood lack Rh antigens and can only receive Rh-negative blood.

H. Meller/R. Schwarz, Die steinerne Axt als Waffe und Symbol. Streitaxt der Schnurkeramikkultur. In: H. Meller/K. Gärtner (Hrsg.), Schönheit, Macht und Tod II. 275 Funde aus dem Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle (Halle [Saale] 2023) 194–195.

Relative to the life history of other great apes, that of humans is characterized by early weaning and short interbirth intervals (IBIs). We propose that in modern humans, birth until adrenarche, or the rise in adrenal androgens, developmentally corresponds to the period from birth until weaning in great apes and ancestral hominins. According to this hypothesis, humans achieved short IBIs by subdividing ancestral infancy into a nurseling phase, during which offspring fed at the breast, and a weanling phase, during which offspring fed specially prepared foods. Imprinted genes influence the timing of human weaning and adrenarche, with paternally expressed genes promoting delays in childhood maturation and maternally expressed genes promoting accelerated maturation. These observations suggest that the tempo of human development has been shaped by consequences for the fitness of kin, with faster development increasing maternal fitness at a cost to child fitness. The effects of imprinted...

The authors report on the recent find of a funerary context from Tâncăbești, attributed, based on pottery finds and cultural analogies to the end of the 2nd millennium BC. At the base of a pit feature lay the skeletons of two human individuals, with flexed upper and lower limbs, one on ventral decubit and the second on dorsal decubit position. All features excavated at the mentioned site were pits (no dwellings were identified) but none of the others yielded human remains. The only grave goods in both cases were the so-called spindlewhorls/cart wheels, each found in what might be considered the right hip area. Under the skeletons was a thin layer of charcoal, covering most of the pit-base. The anthropological study indicated both individuals were mature males, of small/sub–medium height. They showed advanced dental attrition, osseous anomalies at the shoulders, elbows, forearm, hips, knees and feet (triggered by age and occupational factors), as well as various signs of trauma, although none of them death-threatening. In the wait of the 14C results, final discussions on their cultural affiliation and context of death can only be preliminary.

The Ngaloba specimen (LH 18) from Lateoli, Tanzania, includes a partial maxilla and largely intact cranial vault. LH18 represents an important stage in the mid-Pleistocene Homo fossil record (205 ± 17 ka or 290 ± 25 ka) and expresses several primitive and derived craniofacial features. Although the cranium was found in several pieces and underwent post-mortem deformation, reconstructions have allowed for morphological comparisons. Some researchers argue that Ngaloba's general maxillary shape, reduced prognathism, and reduced robusticity align the specimen with modern humans, while others argue that intermediate alveolar prognathism and short maxilla place it in the archaic grade. Taxonomic placement of LH 18 is further complicated by the ever-changing shape of the specimen. Here, we demonstrate four events in which a portion of the right zygomaticoalveolar crest is originally attached, then re-attached incorrectly, is absent, and then is re-attached and further rotated incorrectly. The left portion of the maxilla also demonstrates post recovery wear and breakage, with palate expansion. Through analyses of 3D surface and CT scans in Geomagic Design X, we qualitatively and quantitatively assess the various shapes the maxilla has taken. Implications for comparative studies utilizing this specimen are also discussed. While this research highlights recent changes in LH 18, it also demonstrates the importance of scanning original specimens, and the need for supporting proper curation techniques at museums. Accordingly, this research also demonstrates the particular needs of the National Museum of Tanzania to safeguard fossil specimens for future research.

Thi s pape r presents , fro m a bioarchaeol o gica l approach , pr o g res s o n th e applicatio n o f di f ferent analytical methods to the study of anthropological remains from the necropolis of “Motilla del Azuer”. An assessment  of the funeral ritual and the spatial and chronological  organization  of the tombs  at the site is  done. Until now, there has been made complete  paleodemographical analysis,  dental  anthropology  studies,  and  an evaluation  of the  different  pathologies  of the population.  We have paid special  attention  to the activity  patterns  documented  from muscle attachments. There has also been studying the diets of people in the site through the analysis of trace  elements  and  stable  isotopes.

cas 1968), ha debido sufrir en los últimos 15 años la et al. 2004) y al desarrollo de un programa de (Hornos et al. 1998; Castro et al. 2010), una gran parte urbano y suburbano, incluyendo parte de la Zona Ar-et al. 2010), Este trabajo ofrece información sobre tres aspectos dentro de la complejidad arqueológica del yacimiento de Marroquíes (Jaén, España): 1) la composición de la población inhumada en las estructuras excavadas en la roca y el diferente tratamiento que los individuos sufrieron especialmente en cuanto a su integración en enterramientos múltiples o colectivos y su afección o no por estrategias de remoción de los huesos; 2) la composición de la cabaña ganadera y el uso diferencial de ésta en cuanto al ritual; 3) la contextualización cronológica de las inhumaciones como paso imprescindible para elaborar (y sobre todo sustentar) cualquier hipótesis sobre las poblaciones prehistóricas, y para comprender las alteraciones que muchos cadáveres sufrieron a lo largo del periodo de culto que les afectó. Las dataciones han mostrado que estas estrategias se desarrollaron fundamentalmente a partir de la segunda mitad del III milenio A.C.

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This study focuses on the multidisciplinary investigation of three stucco-shrouded mummies with mummy portrait from Egypt dating from the late 3 rd to the middle of the 4 th century AD, corresponding to the late Roman Period. These three mummies were excavated in the early 17 th and late 19 th centuries in the Saqqara necropolis near the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. Two of them experienced an interesting collection history, when they became part of the collection of the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland August II in Dresden, Germany, in 1728. The investigation includes information about the mummies' discovery, collection history and shroud decoration obtained through Egyptological expertise. In addition, information on the state of preservation, technique of artificial mummification, age at death, sex, body height and health of the deceased was achieved through computed tomography (CT) analysis. Research yielded an adult male, a middle-aged female and a young female. Due to the rather poorly preserved bodies of the male and middle-aged female, a specific technique of artificial mummification could not be ascertained. Brain and several internal organs of the well-preserved young female were identified. Wooden boards, beads of necklaces, a hairpin, and metal dense items, such as lead seals, nails and two coins or medallions were discovered. Paleopathological findings included carious lesions, Schmorl's nodes, evidence of arthritis and a vertebral hemangioma. The study revealed insights on the decoration and burial preparation of individuals of upper socioeconomic status living in the late Roman Period, as well as comprehensive bioanthropological information of the deceased.

This work aims to bring the reader closer to some anthropological investigations that have been developed under different interdisciplinary approaches and within which methodologies emanating from auxiliary disciplines to anthropological sciences have been implemented.

Age at death is one of the key elements of the "biological profile" prepared when analysing unidentified human remains. Biological age is determined according to physiological indicators and developmental stage, which can be determined by bone assessment. It is worth remembering that the researcher must interpret each case individually and in accordance with the current state of knowledge. One of the most developed tools for analysing human remains is postmortem computed tomography. This allows for the visualization not only of bones without maceration but also of the entire body under various altered states, including corpses in advanced stages of decomposition and burnt bodies. The aim of this review is to present the current methods for age estimation based on postmortem computed tomography evaluation, comparing the results presented in 18 research projects published between 2013 and 2023 on foetuses, children, and adults from contemporary populations. Recent literature includes assessment of bones and characteristics such as skulls, teeth, vertebrae, pelvises, and long bones to estimate age at death. We cover the methods used in this recent literature, including machine learning, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of them. Key points • Postmortem computed tomography allows the analysis of several areas of the body at the same time, which may not be possible in the case of clinical trials (where the examination area should be limited). • Postmortem computed tomography may enable the collection of data from people whose clinical examinations are relatively rare (e.g., pregnant women, children). • Artificial intelligence should increasingly be used in studies on age estimation. • Further research on modern populations is necessary to verify and refine the methods used to estimate age at death.

In this paper the osteobiography of an elderly woman recovered from a cemetery tomb where she was buried in 1850, affected by hip fracture and osteoporosis, is described. The overall anthropological characteristics of the individual have been investigated. Macroscopic, radiographic, tomographic, microscopic, and chemical and structural examinations have been performed to give a detailed account of the condition of the skeleton. A non-union pertrochanteric fracture not surgically treated and probably due to senile osteoporosis was diagnosed. The consequences of the fracture to the bones show that this individual likely survived several years following the injury. The osseous features we describe (remodelled bone at the fracture site, asymmetry of entheseal changes likely related to the particular walking pattern of the individual) may be useful in personal identification of skeletons of legal interest. Regarding the recognition of osteoporosis in unearthed skeletons, our study underl...

The article examines anthropological materials from burials at the settlement of Khynysly (Shamakhi region) – ancient
Shamakhi – which mainly belong to the period of Antiquity, with the exception of one female skull of the Early Bronze Age.
The craniological material consists of 9 skulls of varying degrees of preservation. A female skull from an Early Bronze Age
burial belongs to a representative of the Mediterranean race. The burials of the Khynysly necropolis, from which the skulls were
studied, belong to the types of funerary monuments of Caucasian Albania: ground, jar, and pit. On some skulls it was possible
to determine the anthropological type. In particular, the skulls from ground burials (No. 28, 49, 53) belong to the Caspian
anthropological type; the male skull from pit burial No. 14 belonged to a representative of the Mediterranean race. Regarding
the anthropological type of the female skull from jar burial No. 60, it also belonged to the Mediterranean race; however, it is
possible that Mongoloid characteristics are also recorded on it. The female skull from the museum collection of the Scientific
Fund and Exposition department of the Institute of archaeology and anthropology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
belongs to the southern branch of the Caucasoid race; however, an admixture of the northern race is also possible. Probably, the
features “alien” for the population of Albania (Mongoloid, northern) can be explained by contacts with the Sarmatians and/or
Huns or their residence on the territory of Azerbaijan at the time under study. Beshik unintentional deformation was noted on
some skulls from Khynysly, a tradition of which in this part of Azerbaijan dates back to the Early Bronze Age. The population
of Khynysly in ancient times was mainly autochthonous in origin, and archaeological materials do not contradict this. Various
pathologies were identified on the skulls, as well as discrete signs.

The present study applies a dental morphological perspective to the understanding of the complex population history of pre-contact South-Central Andes, the detection of the underlying dynamics, and the assessment of the biological ties among groups. It takes into account 1665 individuals from 16 sites that date from the Archaic to the Late Intermediate located along the coast, on the altiplano, and in the coastal valleys of both Chile and Peru. The results obtained highlight the need for wider perspectives capable of taking into account both the different micro-regional realities and the region in its ensemble. The population dynamics and mobility patterns detected indicate the widely accepted interpretations and distinctions based on cultural affiliations might be insufficient to comprehend the complex population history of the region, especially because the results obtained in the present study indicate the presence of a general and widespread common morphological background for t...

The article is devoted to the publication of a craniological series from the territory of the former Chernihiv governorate. The anthropological materials collected by V. Alekseev belong to the period between 18th and 19th centuries and contain mainly well-preserved human skulls. There is a total of 12 male skulls in the collection. They were measured by V. Alekseev according to the complete craniometric program using the standard R. Martin’s technique, according to which the numbering of features was indicated. The software for performing multidimensional analysis was developed by B. Kozintsev and A. Kozintsev in 1991. The purpose of the work is to introduce into scientific circulation the general characteristics of the male population of this territory collected by V. Alekseev against the background of adjacent ethnic groups of Ukraine and Eastern Europe, to determine the distance between individual series of the 14th – 19th centuries using multidimensional canonical and cluster analysis, and to find out the place of people inhabiting Chernihiv governorate within the system of craniological types of Eastern Europe and pheno-geographical anthropological zones of Ukraine. For the first time, a male series was created from Chernihiv governorate of the 18th – 19th centuries, in which 12 skulls were involved. According to the average value of the craniometric features, the group can be characterized as moderately brachycranial. The vertical diameter of the skull is moderate, as is the ear height. The forehead and back of the head are wide. The face is moderately wide, orthognathic, low and sharply profiled. The orbits are low, the nose is moderately wide, its protrusion is strong. The bridge of the nose is high. By comparing the square deviations of 40 main features and indices of male skulls from the former Chernihiv governorate with the standard ones, it can be assumed that the studied sample is heterogeneous in its composition. When comparing the studied male group of the 18th – 19th centuries with synchronous series and samples of the 16th – 19th centuries from the territories of Eastern, Central and Western Europe by the method of multidimensional canonical and cluster analysis, its partial similarity was noted both to the urban groups of Slobozhanshchyna and to the series from the Kyivan Arsenal.

Background and aim: The effect of socio-economic factors (living conditions) and parental smoking habits on development of facial morphology and body measurements was studied on a longitudinal Czech sample of 25 girls and 25 boys. Subjects and methods: A set of studied digitalized photographs taken from 0.5 to 18 years in intervals of 6 months originated in the Brno Longitudinal Study. Facial shape changes of sub-adult participants were described using a configuration of 27 landmarks and further studied by using methods of geometric morphometric and multivariate statistics. In order to localize growth-related shape changes within the face, the studied region was divided into upper, middle and lower facial units and analyzed separately. Results and conclusion: The results show that in the course of ontogenesis there is a strong correlation between facial shape change and body measurements, height included (r=0.10 and r=0.24 in boys and in girls, respectively). The pubertal spurt of t...

Abdera was founded in the broader context of the colonization of Aegean Thrace during the Archaic period as a colony of two neighbouring coastal Ionian cities, successively: Clazomenae (mid 7 th century BC) and Teos (mid 6 th century BC). 1 The selection of this particular site was dictated by economic factors, since the area was rich in metals, timber and horses, its fertile plains were ideal for the cultivation of vines and cereals as well as for animal breeding, especially cattle and sheep, and finally, it was easy to obtain slaves from the Thracian hinterland. 2 Moreover, the site had a gulf protected from the winds and the privilege of being near to the then outfall of river Nestos and to the end of the land passageways leading to the hinterland. The early habitation site ("North Enclosure") is ca 1 km 2 in size, and protected by a large fortification wall (fig. 1-A). 3 Political factors played an important role for the second wave of colonisers because the Teians left their homeland due to the Persian expansionism. One of the first things they did was remodelling the fortification walls along the route of the earlier wall (with some modifications), emphasising the importance of security against the Thracians. In the last quarter of the 6 th century BC a sanctuary just outside the walls, possibly dedicated to Demeter and Kore, 4 was elaborated with a monumental staircase and probably a building (fig. 1-B). This type of monumentalisation reveals the economic success of the Teians already from their first generation. In the same period a shipshed, specialised for warships, was constructed at the northeast edge of the harbour, parallel to the city wall at a distance of 6 m (fig. 1-C). 5 During the Megabazos' campaign in 512-510 BC 6 Abdera came under the Persian rule that lasted until 476/475 BC. The port of Abdera acted as a base of the Persian fleet, while in 479 BC the city of Abdera had the economic capability to host Xerxes and his large army. 7 Soon afterwards, an enormous supply of clastic sediments from river Nestos was observed in the port facilities suggesting that a process of port silting was under way. 8 A strong water break has been constructed in the mid 5 th century BC; large unworked boulders of granite were employed probably coming from the northern part of Xanthi and the Rhodopi mountains; moreover, two main local sandstone (psammite) quarries were also used in this period (fig. 2). 9 For the rest of the 5 th century BC Abdera was allied to Athens and became democratic regarding its political system. 10 The list of the Delian League members (last quarter of the 5 th century BC) shows that Abdera paid the second highest tax to the alliance thus suggesting the particular wealth of the city. 11 However, the Abderitans were always at

According to last findings, one of the most commonly studied polymorphisms in psychiatry-Taq1A is located in the ANNK1 (Ankyrin Repeat and Kinase Domain containing 1) gene, not in the dopamine receptor 2 (DRD2) gene. This polymorphism has been extensively studied in relation to alcohol, nicotine and drugs addiction, eating disorders, ADHD, schizophrenia and pharmacogenetics. The ANKK1 gene contains single serine/threonine kinase domain and 11 ankyrin repeats. ANKK1 belongs to RIP (Receptor-Interacting Protein) serine/threonine kinase family. These kinases are important in cell proliferation, differentiation and activate transcription factors. DRD2 gene is probably regulated by ANKK1 through NF-kappaB (Nuclear Factor-kappaB). ANKK1 is activated by apomorphine-dopaminergic agonist, which indicates another link with the dopaminergic system. It seems accurate to search for associations of polymorphisms in ANKK1 gene with dopaminergic system disorders.

In the last few years, a tight network of archaeological museums has been developing in the Apulia Region as a result of local thrusts aimed at enhancing the territory. Despite a willingness on the part of territorial administrations to support the strong identity value of these initiatives, there are frequent phenomena of a low liveliness of the created structures. Here I propose an analysis of the state of the matter and suggest some
considerations regarding possible future developments.

Le programme franco-allemand « Biolographes », soutenu et financé par l'Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) et la Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) s'est développé de 2014 à 2018. Il a réuni à la Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme de Paris et à l'université de Fribourg-en-Brisgau puis à l'université de Zurich une équipe de chercheurs spécialistes de littérature française, d'histoire des sciences et d'humanités numériques qui appartiennent à des universités ou des institutions de recherche diverses (CNRS, École polytechnique, École pratique des hautes études, universités de Bâle,

Facial approximation has an important role in the forensic field aiding the identification process and in the archaeological context leading to the humanisation of human remains displayed in museums. It contributes to the knowledge of our present and our past. Since facial reconstruction is based on modelling the soft tissue lying over the skull, these layers’ thicknesses have been investigated to see the impact on the final appearance.
The case study of this research is an Egyptian mummy dubbed “Mysterious Lady” (National Museum in Warsaw no. 236805/3 MNW) using non-invasive radiological and physical anthropology methods to shed light on her story. The study highlights the 3D reconstruction process of the individual’s face by exploring the anthropological profile, the facial approximation methodology and the impact of the variability of soft tissue thickness selection on the resulting facial reconstruction. It discusses the application of written sources and imagery from her times to craft a “statistical likeness” useful in conveying information about her society, using them as powerful educational tools to promote knowledge about past societies. It underlines the importance of narrating stories of the characters from the past in a museum context while ensuring they remain understandable and, consequently, evoke empathy, to show ancient mummies as once-living individuals.

The purpose of the study is to list the population types and their movements in Xinjiang from the neolithic to the beginning of the Turkic period. The data and the conclusions are based on modern Chinese archaeological research as well as on ancient Chinese, and Western historical records. Many peoples have lived--as many still do--in this immense territory, The study will also try to shed light upon whence these ancient peoples could have come to Xinjiang, and who the descendents of these peoples are today.

The identification of sex in human remains is often met with challenges due to poor preservation of the remains. In this research we address the question of sex determination using proteome analysis of tooth enamel of a Byzantine burial that exhibited the practice of asceticism (bodily punishment). This practice has generally been associated with males, an issue we wanted to confirm. We applied peptidomic analysis of tooth enamel to determine the sample's sex and confirmed our results by Label Free Quantification (LFQ). We analyzed also AmelX hydrolysis patterns. The absence of an AmelY unique spectra enabled us to classify the remains as very probably those of a female. Our findings indicate that the ancient AmelX exhibited non-enzymatic hydrolysis, which is also reflected in significantly shorter peptides. Additionally, we look further into the specificity actual places of cleavage. Our research shows that a simple peptidomics workflow is capable of determining sex and provides a robust solution for the analysis of samples from contexts suffering from poor bone preservation. The presence of a female ascetic introduces the necessity for additional studies of this phenomenon and its sociological implications.

At the Treblinka extermination and forced labor camp only a few SS soldiers and around a hundred watchmen kept guard over thousands of prisoners. Despite their lower rank in the Nazi hierarchy than SS soldiers, watchmen were vital to implementing "Operation Reinhard" in the field. Prisoners in Nazi camps were terrified by their brutality and ruthlessness. The guards were intermediaries between the camp's inmates and the commanding crew, so in cases of a prisoners' riot, they were the first target. The historical records mention several incidents where the watchmen died at the hands of the captives. However, little is known regarding how the dead bodies of the guards were treated nor what the funeral customs looked like in the camps. In 2019, a row of individual burials was discovered at the former Treblinka extermination and forced labor camp. Seven of those graves were explored to identify the people buried in such an unusual manner and to find out what had caused their deaths. A thorough multidisciplinary study, combining the forensic disciplines of archaeology, anthropology, medicine, and genetics provided the answer. Considering archaeological findings, it can be deduced that the graves belong to the Treblinka guards. The analysis conducted by an anthropologist indicates that the assessed biological profile aligns with the antemortem data of the Treblinka watchmen. Moreover, a study examining perimortem trauma has unveiled that out of the seven men studied, at least two met a violent demise. These findings are crucial in narrowing down the identification process. The results of our study contribute to a general understanding of the funerary customs prevalent in concentration camps worldwide. Prior to this work, there had never been any analysis or publication of the characteristics of watchmen graves at Nazi camps, making our results unique.

Background: According to the WHO Global Report (2020), 45 percent of deaths among preschool children are linked to undernutrition. In the Indian context, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), 2022 reports that 19 percent, 36 percent, and 32 percent of children are wasted, stunted, and underweight, respectively. This report was published 47 years after the establishment of the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS). Therefore, it can be concluded that the objectives of the ICDS have not been satisfactorily fulfilled. Aims & Objective: The present study was designed to assess overall undernutrition among rural preschool children in Medinipur, West Bengal, India, using the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF). Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 303 preschool children were examined, comprising 146 boys and 157 girls, aged 2-5 years, residing in the rural villages of Medinipur Sadar block. Two anthropometric variables, height (cm) and weight (kg), were collected through standard anthropometric procedures. Undernutrition indicators, including height-forage , weight-forage , and height-for-weight Z-scores, were calculated using WHO's 2006 cutoff values. If any value was found to be <-2 standard deviations (SD), it was considered undernutrition, and the condition was termed wasting, stunting, or underweight, respectively. Subsequently, all these failures were evaluated using CIAF (Svedberg and Nandy, 2005). Results: The overall prevalence of wasting, stunting, underweight, and CIAF are 20.5 percent, 65.0 percent, 57.1 percent, and 76.9 percent, respectively. Girls exhibit a higher prevalence of stunting, underweight, and CIAF compared to boys, and these differences are statistically significant (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001). There is a significant difference in height-forage (HAZ) by sex. Out of the 303 respondents, 233 (76.9 percent) fall under the CIAF category, with 54.0 percent of girls classified as malnourished (B-Y). Conclusion: This study reveals that 3-year-old girls are the most vulnerable to all anthropometric failures, while boys across all age groups are less prone to failures compared to girls. The total anthropometric failure rate remains at 76.9 percent, representing a very serious condition. Urgent intervention is needed to evaluate the health infrastructure provided by various health services, such as ICDS, and to conduct awareness programs that educate parents about caring for their child's healthy future.

The present study examined the correlation between nutritional status and body composition in rural preschool children aged three to five years in Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. A total of 276 children, including 132 boys and 144 girls, were included in the study. Nutritional status, particularly undernutrition, is assessed using the standard cutoff values recommended by the World Health Organisation (<-2 SD). The present study found that stunted, underweight, thinness, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)-based undernourished children had a lower mean value in all body composition parameters compared to adequately nourished children. Height and weight both showed a higher positive correlation with fat-free mass than with fat mass. MUAC showed a higher positive correlation with arm fat area (r = .786; p < .001) than with arm muscle area. BMI showed a higher positive correlation with fat-free mass index (r = .980; p < .001) than with fat mass index. The study found a significant increase in height, weight, fat mass, and fat-free mass with age. Boys had higher body size, fat mass, and fat-free mass, while girls had a higher body fat proportion. The study concludes that gender differences in body composition don't start with the hormonal changes of puberty but begin much earlier.

The present study examined the correlation between nutritional status and body composition in rural preschool children aged three to five years in Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. A total of 276 children, including 132 boys and 144 girls, were included in the study. Nutritional status, particularly undernutrition, is assessed using the standard cutoff values recommended by the World Health Organisation (< -2 SD). The present study found that stunted, underweight, thinness, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)-based undernourished children had a lower mean value in all body composition parameters compared to adequately nourished children. Height and weight both showed a higher positive correlation with fat-free mass than with fat mass. MUAC showed a higher positive correlation with arm fat area (r = .786; p < .001) than with arm muscle area. BMI showed a higher positive correlation with fat-free mass index (r = .980; p < .001) than with fat mass index. The study found a significant increase in height, weight, fat mass, and fat-free mass with age. Boys had higher body size, fat mass, and fat-free mass, while girls had a higher body fat proportion. The study concludes that gender differences in body composition don't start with the hormonal changes of puberty but begin much earlier.

Metric analysis of skeletal material is integral to the analysis and identification of human remains, though one commonly used measuring device, the osteometric board, has lagged in recent advancement. Traditional boards are bulky and require manual measurement recording, potentially generating intra-and interobserver error. To address these limitations, we tested the reliability, validity, and error rates of a novel device, the Portable Osteometric Device Version 1 (PODv1), which measures distance using laser sensors with time-of-flight technology. Forty-five volunteers measured four skeletal elements with the PODv1 and a PaleoTech osteometric board in three rounds. Comparison of tibia, humerus, and femur measurements with both devices showed no significant differences, although the maximum length of the ulna did differ, potentially because of observer confusion regarding the PODv1's user instructions for this element. Our results suggest that the PODv1 is a reliable, valid measurement device compared to traditional osteometric boards. Although both device types can produce calibration, transcription, and observer errors, the time-of-flight technology and the absence of manual recording built into the PODv1 may limit those errors. These advancements and their potential positive impacts on the accuracy of osteometric data collection may have far-reaching benefits for osteological, bioarchaeological, paleopathological, and forensic anthropological data collection.

Recent studies show that, in the 3rd millennium BC, the highlands in the basin of the upper reaches of the Khovd (Kobdo) River constituted a ritual zone, which was of particular importance for the population inhabiting the western foothills of the Mongolian Altai Mountains. Its cultural singularity was due to the so-called Chemurchek cultural phenomenon — a set of characteristics of West European origin, which appeared there no later than 2700–2600 BC. Three large-scale ritual complexes-‘shrines’ attributed to this period were discovered in the area of Lake Dayan Nuur. Excavations conducted by the expedition of A.A. Kovalev and Ch. Munkhbayar revealed that these structures constituted fences consisting of vertical stone slabs, decorated all-over on the outside with the images of fantastic anthropomorphic creatures and animals. The excavation of Hulagash 1 (one of these sanctu-aries), radiocarbon dated to the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, revealed a single grave in the centre of t...

The enactments and normative principles are different in the countries of the Balkan region, but the legal investigation is a procedural instrument for collecting and verification of the evidence in criminal and civil cases. The aim of this study is to present the organization, structure and procedural principles of medicolegal investigation in Bulgaria, and its current problems to solve.

Undernutrition has always been a significant public health challenge in middle and lower-income countries. However, due to improved socio-economic conditions and lifestyle changes, undernutrition is decreasing while overnutrition is increasing rapidly. This has led to a dual burden of malnutrition, particularly among women. This cross-sectional study was conducted in two phases in 2019 and 2022, among adult women (18 to <60 years) in the Midnapore municipal area of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India, with the aim of assessing the nutritional status of adult women in the area. The study also aimed to examine the socio-economic factors that influence the nutritional status of the study population. Primary data were collected using structured surveys and interviews, and anthropometric measurements were taken using standard procedures. Total 200 participants were included in the study using purposive  sampling method. Statistical significance was considered at p-values ≤0.05. The study found that overnutrition is highly prevalent among the participants (45%), while undernutrition is also a concern, affecting a significant number of women (8%). Additionally, central obesity is high among the participants. Factors such as age, education, occupation, and physical activity were found to be statistically associated with the nutritional status of the participants. In India, the focus of academic and awareness programs has historically been on combating undernutrition. However,  with the changing circumstances, there is a need to realign the focus and promote healthy eating and lifestyle habits.

Introducción: el objetivo de esta investigación fue valorar si los métodos de Moyers(M) percentil (p) 75, p85, p95 y Tanaka-Johnston(TJ), usados para predecir el diámetro mesiodistal de caninos y premolares no erupcionados, sobreestiman o subestiman el diámetro de sus respectivos sucedáneos. Métodos: estudio de evaluación tecnológica diagnóstica en 56 modelos de yeso de escolares de Medellín, clase I esquelética, incisivos, caninos y bicúspides permanentes erupcionados, seguidos desde 6 a 12 años de edad. Se midió el diámetro mesiodistal de los dientes y se aplicaron los métodos predictivos de Tanaka-Johnston, Moyers p75, p85, p95. Se comparó el valor predicho y el real, utilizando la prueba t-Student relacionada y la de Wilcoxon. La reproducibilidad de los métodos se calculó con los coeficiente de correlación intraclase (CCI) (IC95%), y el nivel, de acuerdo con los límites Bland y Altman al 95%. Resultados: en el arco superior se observaron diferencias significativas con el valor real en las mediciones de T-

As a result of mining activities, two related graveyards dating from the last decade of the 19 th century and first half of the 20 th century had to be relocated. This provided the opportunity to study 47 skeletons of black South Africans, with the aim of obtaining information on the health status and life style of people from a rural area in a mostly pre-antibiotic era. Although the sample is too small to do a proper palaeodemographic analysis, the age spread of the individuals indicates a high infant mortality rate and generally low life expectancy. Medical services were available, as could be seen from the surgically treated forearm fracture of one individual. One individual had signs of a possible treponemal infection, while subperiosteal bone growth on the ribs of another may indicate tuberculosis. High incidences of arthritic disease and joint degeneration probably indicate a high work load. Enlarged fontanelles with delayed closure were noted in some of the infants. Data on long bone lengths also indicate that the growth of the children may have been retarded in comparison to other similarly aged children. It thus seems as though this was a community under considerable stress. A surprising find was the unusually high incidence of individuals with dental abnormalities and variations.

Background: Early stone tools provide direct evidence of human cognitive and behavioral evolution that is otherwise unavailable. Proper interpretation of these data requires a robust interpretive framework linking archaeological evidence to specific behavioral and cognitive actions. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we employ a data glove to record manual joint angles in a modern experimental toolmaker (the 4 th author) replicating ancient tool forms in order to characterize and compare the manipulative complexity of two major Lower Paleolithic technologies (Oldowan and Acheulean). To this end we used a principled and general measure of behavioral complexity based on the statistics of joint movements. Conclusions/Significance: This allowed us to confirm that previously observed differences in brain activation associated with Oldowan versus Acheulean technologies reflect higher-level behavior organization rather than lower-level differences in manipulative complexity. This conclusion is consistent with a scenario in which the earliest stages of human technological evolution depended on novel perceptual-motor capacities (such as the control of joint stiffness) whereas later developments increasingly relied on enhanced mechanisms for cognitive control. This further suggests possible links between toolmaking and language evolution.

Anthropological examination of the Starčevo culture graves excavated at the site of Alsónyék-Bátaszék. In this paper the results of the physical anthropological and paleopathological analysis of 25 Early Neolithic (Starčevo culture) graves are presented, which were excavated at the site of Alsónyék-Bátaszék (South-East Hungary). Among them 7 children, 1 juvenile, 6 males, 10 females and 2 adults of indeterminable sex could be distinguished. Due to the low number of the excavated graves, the detailed paleodemographic analysis (e.g. the estimation of the life expectancy at birth, etc.) could not be compiled. The morphometric analysis, the estimated stature and the taxonomic analysis presented a significant heterogeneity, with the dominance of the leptodolichocran gracile Mediterranean type. The systematic investigations of pathological alterations showed a relatively low ratio of traumatic lesions, non-specific inflammations and osteoarthrosis deformans. Beside these, a rare disease was also recorded. On the skeletal remains of three individuals we found morphological alterations that refer to the occurrence of an infectious disease, namely tuberculosis. In the future, it will be necessary to carry out further investigations. If the presence of tuberculosis pathogenes will be proved by molecular biological analyses, these cases will provide the earliest European incidence of this infection.