Journal of Anthropological Sciences最新文献

{"title":"The ghost and the machine: disentangling the fundamental distinctions between human and artificial intelligence.","authors":"Alberto Oliverio","doi":"10.4436/jass.10313","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.10313","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48668,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anthropological Sciences","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145808078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How useful is human intelligence for evaluating artificial intelligence?","authors":"Francesco Ferretti","doi":"10.4436/jass.10317","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.10317","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48668,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anthropological Sciences","volume":"66 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145808059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"AI through the lens of social anthropology.","authors":"Maria Sapignoli","doi":"10.4436/jass.10314","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.10314","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48668,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anthropological Sciences","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145808056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"AI and the human condition: between evolutionary continuity and ontological rupture.","authors":"Fabio Di Vincenzo","doi":"10.4436/jass.10312","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.10312","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48668,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anthropological Sciences","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145808057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The mosaic of lactase persistence in Africa: from geneculture coevolution to continental demography.","authors":"Alessia Ranciaro","doi":"10.4436/jass.10306","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.10306","url":null,"abstract":"Lactase persistence (LP), the genetically determined capacity to digest lactose beyond infancy, stands as a prime example of rapid, recent human adaptation and gene-culture coevolution. Across Africa, the distribution of genetic variants associated with LP reveals intricate patterns reflecting a complex interplay between the cultural innovation of dairying, intense positive selection, adaptation to varied environments, and diverse, continent-spanning migratory events. This review synthesizes current knowledge from genetics (including ancient DNA), anthropology, and archaeology (including lipid residue analysis of pottery and paleo proteomics of ancient dental calculus) to explore how LP variants function as powerful bioarcheological tracers of African demographic history, dietary shifts, and cultural transitions within the African continent. By integrating evidence from these multiple disciplines, I aim to illustrate how the evolution and dispersal of LP alleles mirror significant demographic events and cultural innovations throughout Africa's prehistory, highlighting one of the strongest examples of recent human adaptation.","PeriodicalId":48668,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anthropological Sciences","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145808063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geometric morphometric data in cladistics: comparison with phylogenies inferred from morphological data.","authors":"Margaux Simon-Maciejewski,Giorgio Manzi,Valéry Zeitoun,Aurélien Mounier","doi":"10.4436/jass.10307","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.10307","url":null,"abstract":"The development of protocols integrating 3D geometric morphometric data into cladistic analyses offers powerful tools to reassess previously established phylogenies. We examine evolutionary relationships within the genus Homo by comparing results from recently developed cladistic protocols using 3D data with an approach based on morphological characters. We applied both to 78 hominid calvaria - comprising 9 great apes, 45 Homo sapiens, and 24 fossil specimens (2 australopithecines and 22 Homo) - grouped into 23 operational taxonomic units. The sample is described using 347 landmarks and 59 discrete characters, from which three datasets were generated. The first uses Procrustes-aligned 3D landmark coordinates. The second uses principal component coordinates from a Principal Component Analysis run on the aligned landmarks. The third dataset includes coded morphological features. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using TNT software following a three-step protocol. Firstly, a phylogenetic search using the heuristic algorithm under equal weight was performed. Secondly, the consistency and rescaled consistency indices for each character were extracted. Finally, a second phylogenetic search using the heuristic algorithm after reweighting of the characters was performed. The cladistic analyses of 3D data and discrete morphological traits yield different yet mostly congruent results, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each approach, and bringing new insight on long standing discussions in palaeoanthropology.","PeriodicalId":48668,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anthropological Sciences","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145808079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Model-based inferring of Neanderthal upper cervical spine motion.","authors":"Carlos Aurelio Palancar,Markus Bastir,Benoit Beyer","doi":"10.4436/jass.10304","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.10304","url":null,"abstract":"The primary aim of this pilot study is not to provide definitive statements on Neanderthal kinematics, but rather to illustrate the potential of Procrustes Motion Analysis (PMA) combined with predictive modelling as a robust tool for addressing questions of functional morphology in the fossil record. We use this novel approach to model and compare the potential upper cervical spine (UCS) flexion-extension kinematics of the La Ferrassie 1 Neanderthal and modern humans. The study material comprised the 3D virtual morphology of the occipital base, atlas (C1), and axis (C2) of La Ferrassie 1 and the corresponding kinematic and morphological data from seven unembalmed modern human cadaveric specimens. We first used the PMA framework to analyze the shape-motion relationship in the modern human sample. This relationship was then used to build a predictive model. We applied this model to the UCS morphology of La Ferrassie 1-inferring its potential motion trajectory rather than measuring direct fossil kinematics-and statistically compared the results to the modern human mean. Contrary to previous hypotheses based solely on morphological inference, our model-based results challenge the assumption of reduced Neanderthal neck mobility. The inferred trajectory of flexion-extension for La Ferrassie 1 were statistically comparable to that of the modern human sample, suggesting no significant difference in this specific movement. This study demonstrates the utility of integrating empirical motion data, geometric morphometrics, and predictive modelling in paleoanthropology, offering a significant advance over traditional morphological inference. By successfully illustrating the application of PMA, this research provides a new framework for investigating hominin kinematics, while simultaneously emphasizing that the kinematics presented for the Neanderthal specimen were predicted and modelled, not directly measured.","PeriodicalId":48668,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anthropological Sciences","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145704604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Arene Candide: an ancient modified cranium and the shape of cognition.","authors":"Fabio Di Vincenzo","doi":"10.4436/jass.10301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.10301","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48668,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anthropological Sciences","volume":"132 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145704643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural diversity, functional plasticity: the role of de-generacy in Human Evolution.","authors":"Paul Howard Mason","doi":"10.4436/jass.10302","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.10302","url":null,"abstract":"This review article explores the concept of de-generacy as a fundamental yet underutilised principle in evolutionary anthropology. De-generacy, defined as structurally distinct elements performing overlapping functions, is widely recognised in genetics, neurobiology, and immunology but remains overlooked in cultural evolution. Distinguishing de-generacy from redundancy-where identical structures fulfill the same role-is crucial for understanding adaptability, resilience, and innovation in both biological and cultural systems. Despite its explanatory potential, de-generacy has been largely absent from anthropological discourse due to historical baggage and terminological confusion. The misuse of \"degeneracy\" in colonial and eugenic narratives has hindered its application, even as contemporary evolutionary theory-particularly the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis-highlights structural variation as a driver of adaptive complexity. Consequently, an opportunity to refine methodologies in anthropological research, particularly in modelling cultural transmission, has been overlooked. De-generacy is a distributed property of complex adaptive systems that, in many circles of science, has been hidden in plain sight, overlooked because of a reductionist bias, and ignored because the term itself is misleading. This article clarifies the distinction between de-generacy and redundancy and demonstrates its significance in biological anthropology. Empirical examples illustrate degeneracy across multiple domains, including linguistic variation, kinship terminologies, and ritual practices. A comparative case study of Indonesian Silek and Brazilian Capoeira provides a snapshot of how structurally distinct yet functionally similar cultural formations emerge across diverse contexts. These examples reinforce de-generacy as a key explanatory principle in cultural resilience and transformation. By integrating degeneracy into evolutionary anthropology, this article advances a more nuanced understanding of cultural transmission and transformation. Recognising structurally diverse yet functionally coherent practices enhances models of cultural evolution, moving beyond strictly adaptationist explanations. Ultimately, degeneracy provides a robust conceptual tool for analysing variation, complexity, and persistence in human evolutionary systems, warranting greater attention in interdisciplinary research.","PeriodicalId":48668,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anthropological Sciences","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145704654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New signs of skeletal trauma in the Upper Paleolithic \"Principe\" from Arene Candide Cave (Liguria, Italy) bear novel insights into the circumstances of his death.","authors":"Vitale Stefano Sparacello,Irene Dori,Nico Radi,Patrizia Garibaldi,Irene Molinari,Julien Riel-Salvatore,Claudine Gravel-Miguel,Marta Zunino,Fabio Negrino,Elisabetta Starnini","doi":"10.4436/jass.10303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.10303","url":null,"abstract":"Despite ample evidence that Paleolithic humans hunted large and dangerous carnivores, such as lions, leopards, and bears, skeletal evidence of negative interactions with wild fauna is extremely rare in the Homo sapiens paleobiological record. To date, the only individual for whom an animal attack has been hypothesized based on their pattern of traumatic lesions is the Gravettian adolescent buried at Arene Candide Cave in Liguria (northwestern Italy; 27,900-27,300 cal BP) nicknamed \"Il Principe\" (The Prince) due to the rich grave goods placed in the burial. Since its excavation in 1942, it was noted that this individual was missing part of the mandible and half of the left clavicle, leading to the hypothesis of an attack by a large animal, likely a bear. However, this claim was never fully investigated. We reanalyzed these lesions and systematically examined the skeleton for additional evidence to reconstruct the manner and circumstances of death. Our analysis confirmed the perimortem nature of the mandibular and shoulder lesions and identified other possible fractures related to the violent event in the cranium, dentition, and possibly the cervical spine. Additional perimortem trauma, including a linear marking on the left parietal and a puncture mark in the fibula, supports the hypothesis of animal mauling. Given the overall traumatic pattern, a bear attack - Ursus arctos or Ursus spelaeus - remains the most plausible explanation. The study also revealed that the Principe had sustained traumatic injuries to his feet - a fracture of the left little toe and osteochondritis dissecans in the right talus - which support the hypothesis that prehistoric foragers experienced limited survival following lower limb injuries. Despite the thoraco-facial trauma and disfiguring wounds, the microscopic analysis suggests that the Principe survived for a few days. The violent event and the long agony may have been reflected in the elaborate burial, following the presumed Gravettian use of formally burying exceptional individuals and exceptional events.","PeriodicalId":48668,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Anthropological Sciences","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145704605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}