{"title":"The bioarchaeology of a Japanese population from the Nozoji-ato site in Kamakura City, Japan","authors":"T. Nagaoka, Keigo Hoshino, K. Hirata","doi":"10.1537/ASE.180319","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1537/ASE.180319","url":null,"abstract":"The Japanese medieval period encompassed almost 400 years, between 1185 and 1573 AD. Previous research of human skeletal remains from medieval Kamakura City has shown that medieval people had a poor level of health and general living conditions because of malnutrition and interperson al violence. The aims of this study are to apply bioarchaelogical analyses to a new series of human skeletal remains from the Nozojiato site in Kamakura City and to test the hypothesis that the bioarchae ological features that characterize medieval Japanese people are commonly seen in the new skeletal series. The Nozojiato site has been dated to a chronological age of between 1500 and 1700 AD based on the known sequence of coins and vessels, but most of these artefacts belonged to the medieval period. A sample size of 45 individuals was used in this study from individual graves. The results of this study indicate that the sample from Nozojiato is characterized by an old ageatdeath distribution and high number of carieslesion and antemortem tooth loss frequencies. Individuals from the Nozojiato site also tend to lack evidence for lethal trauma, a phenomenon that is frequently observed in other comparative medieval populations. The results presented in this study led to the conclusion that the Nozoji-ato exhibit different bioarchaeological features compared to the populations from the first half of the medieval period and that living conditions at this site were less severe than expected.","PeriodicalId":50751,"journal":{"name":"Anthropological Science","volume":"126 1","pages":"89-100"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1537/ASE.180319","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67029899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recent debrachycephalization in Japan","authors":"M. Kouchi","doi":"10.1537/ASE.171129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1537/ASE.171129","url":null,"abstract":"This study aimed to show secular changes in the cephalic index (CI) in Japan when brachycephalization was reported to have ceased, and examined possible causes of the observed changes. Head length and breadth data measured on 4034 Japanese adults, born between 1910 and 1996, were used to examine the association between birth year and CI using linear and quadratic regression analyses. Possible causes of secular changes in CI were investigated by examining the secular changes in eight body-size variables and 16 environmental indicators, obtained from the government statistics records. Results showed that a trend reversal from brachycephalization to debrachycephalization occurred among the generation born in 1960–1964, followed by trend reversals in birth length (BL), energy intake, and birth weight (BW) in that order. Previous studies showed that the reverse trend in BW was related to a reduction in fetal growth rate, which resulted from worsening fetal nutritional status, which was also attributable to decreasing maternal energy intake. Since the head measurement at birth is approximately 60% of the adult size, the main cause of debrachycephalization may be worsening fetal nutritional status. From the maternal nutritional perspective, reverse trends in CI and BL began with rapid recovery from the post-war food shortage. However, the body mass index (BMI) of 20-year-old females decreased due to the very small increase in weight despite a rapid increase in height, which was partly achieved by weight loss after the age of 17. As speculated, debrachycephalization began when the negative effects of decreasing BMI among the young adult females outweighed the positive effects of the post-war recovery of the food situation. The results of this study may help to understand the plasticity of the human body.","PeriodicalId":50751,"journal":{"name":"Anthropological Science","volume":"126 1","pages":"43-63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1537/ASE.171129","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67029846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Preface to the Featured Reviews: new studies for understanding the evolutionary process of human speech","authors":"Takeshi Nishimura","doi":"10.1537/ASE.180308","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1537/ASE.180308","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50751,"journal":{"name":"Anthropological Science","volume":"126 1","pages":"1-1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67029897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A female human skeleton from the Initial Jomon period found in the Iyai rock shelter in mountainous Kanto, Japan","authors":"O. Kondo, M. Yoneda, Y. Taniguchi","doi":"10.1537/ASE.180730","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1537/ASE.180730","url":null,"abstract":"A new excavation of the Iyai rock-shelter site has uncovered more than a dozen human skeletal remains from the Initial Jomon period. We describe here an almost complete female skeleton (Iyai 1), and examine this in the context of morphological variation in Jomon females, especially those of the Initial Jomon period. Two radiocarbon dates based on the Iyai 1 skeletal samples show a calibrated date c. 8300–8200 calBP, belonging to the later part of the Initial Jomon period. The Iyai 1 skeleton was found in a burial pit with an unusual body placement. Although it was a flexed burial with the both arms and limbs flexed, the upper and lower body was disconnected at the waist and the two portions placed on top of each other: the upper body was laid on its abdomen with the head faced into the pelvis, and the lower body was found under the upper trunk in a supine position. The individual is a young female, 146 cm in height using Sasou–Fujii method, and the age at death is estimated as c. 20–40 years. The neurocranium is long (cranial index = 79.9) and high (length–height index = 77.1), the face is wide and low (upperfacial index = 43.4). The dentition shows nearly horizontal heavy wear but no dental caries with an edgeto-edge bite occlusion. The postcranial long bones are gracile, although they exhibit clear musculature impressions in some attachment areas. No paleopathological bone modification was found. The talus exhibits a ‘squatting’ facet at the anterior contact of the talocrural joint. The stable isotopic signature of Iyai 1 falls among those of the inland Initial Jomon people, indicating that her proteins mainly came from C3 plants and terrestrial animals.","PeriodicalId":50751,"journal":{"name":"Anthropological Science","volume":"126 1","pages":"151-164"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1537/ASE.180730","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67029911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E. Woo, P. Waghmare, Yong Jun Kim, Nilesh Jadhav, Go‐Un Jung, Won‐Joon Lee, Y. Yadav, Avradeep Munshi, M. Chatterjee, Amrithavalli Panyam, J. Hong, C. Oh, D. Shin, V. Shinde
{"title":"Assessing the physical and pathological traits of human skeletal remains from cemetery localities at the Rakhigarhi site of the Harappan Civilization","authors":"E. Woo, P. Waghmare, Yong Jun Kim, Nilesh Jadhav, Go‐Un Jung, Won‐Joon Lee, Y. Yadav, Avradeep Munshi, M. Chatterjee, Amrithavalli Panyam, J. Hong, C. Oh, D. Shin, V. Shinde","doi":"10.1537/ASE.180612","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1537/ASE.180612","url":null,"abstract":"The Rakhigarhi site is the location of the ruins of an ancient megacity of the Harappan civilization and had not previously been investigated thoroughly. We tried to examine the physical and pathological traits of human skeletons ( n = 37) from the cemetery at the site. In our study, a cranial index was calculated from one male skull (dolichocranic; index value = 65.78). The mean statures estimated by long bone length were 175.8 cm (male) and 166.1 cm (female). The indices of femoral diaphyseal shape were 79.8 (males) and 90.31 (females) for the platymeric index; and 113.78 (males) and 112.74 (female) for the pilasteric index. The dental health of the subjects appeared to be good as the overall prevalence of oral pathologies (caries and antemortem tooth loss) was generally low. Periosteal reactions were found in tibias and possible evidence of osteomyelitis was also observed in a femur. Some joint parts showed signs of osteoarthritis. Although various pathologies have been identified, we could not find any specific lesions suggestive of leprosy and tuberculosis in these skeletons. Although our study has added invaluable data to the existing information pool on the health and disease status of Harappan society, more accurate conjecture on the structure of Harrappan society based on bioarchaeological evidence will need additional research based on future excavations at Rakhigarhi cemetery.","PeriodicalId":50751,"journal":{"name":"Anthropological Science","volume":"126 1","pages":"111-120"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1537/ASE.180612","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67029903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tomo Takano, M. Nakatsukasa, Y. Kunimatsu, Y. Nakano, N. Ogihara, H. Ishida
{"title":"Forelimb long bones of Nacholapithecus (KNM-BG 35250) from the middle Miocene in Nachola, northern Kenya","authors":"Tomo Takano, M. Nakatsukasa, Y. Kunimatsu, Y. Nakano, N. Ogihara, H. Ishida","doi":"10.1537/ASE.181022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1537/ASE.181022","url":null,"abstract":"This paper provides a thorough description of humeral, ulnar, and radial specimens of the Nacholapithecus holotype (KNM-BG 35250). A spool-shaped humeral trochlea (and keeled sigmoid notch of the ulna) is a hallmark of elbow joint evolution in hominoids. In lacking this feature, the elbow of Nacholapithecus is comparatively primitive, resembling that of proconsulids. However, the humeroulnar joint in Nacholapithecus is specialized for higher stability than that in proconsulids. The humeroradial joint (humeral capitulum) resembles that of extant apes and Sivapithecus. This condition may represent an intermediate stage leading to the fully modern elbow in extant apes. If this is the case, specialization of the humeroradial joint preceded that of the humeroulnar joint. Nacholapithecus elbow joint morphology suggests more enhanced forearm rotation compared to proconsulids. This observation accords with the forelimb-dominated positional behavior of Nacholapithecus relative to proconsulids, which has been proposed on the grounds of limb proportions and the morphology of the phalanges, shoulder girdle, and vertebrae.","PeriodicalId":50751,"journal":{"name":"Anthropological Science","volume":"126 1","pages":"135-149"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1537/ASE.181022","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67029952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Excised larynx experimentation: history, current developments, and prospects for bioacoustic research","authors":"Maxime Garcia, C. Herbst","doi":"10.1537/ASE.171216","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1537/ASE.171216","url":null,"abstract":"The study of sound production mechanisms is a crucial, yet understudied, aspect of vocal communication research in vertebrates. In excised larynx experimentation (ELE), phonation is simulated ex vivo by forcing air through a larynx specimen mounted on a laboratory bench. The method provides unique insights into vocal production and allows inference of in vivo conditions. Here, we provide a historical overview of how this technique has been implemented, from antiquity to current state-of-theart setups. We review the advances made by applying ELE to human voice and biophysics research. We then highlight the promising research output resulting from ELE in animal bioacoustics, a research field that has largely overlooked the use of this method until very recently, but is now increasingly relying on this tool. We continue by discussing the limitations of ELE, depending on the focus of investigation. Finally, we suggest how this approach should be implemented and can be applied to various research questions. We conclude by underlining the value that ELE contributes to the comprehension of human voice as well as mammalian and avian vocal communication within an interdisciplinary approach.","PeriodicalId":50751,"journal":{"name":"Anthropological Science","volume":"126 1","pages":"9-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1537/ASE.171216","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67029848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The descended larynx and the descending larynx","authors":"Takeshi Nishimura","doi":"10.1537/ASE.180301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1537/ASE.180301","url":null,"abstract":"Our understanding of the evolution of human speech has been expanded by an increased knowledge of vocal anatomy and physiology in non-human primates. Comparative approaches provide evidence supporting the primate origins of many speech faculties. The descent of the larynx enables the two-tube configuration of the supralaryngeal vocal tract (SVT) in humans; however, this configuration is also found in chimpanzees and macaques. The acoustic properties of voices produced in helium gas support the view that vocalizations are usually produced through SVT resonance, with the sound source generated by vibration of the vocal folds in gibbons and marmosets, as seen in human speech. Nonhuman primates produce a wider range of vocal repertoire than previously thought, reflecting their varied manipulations of the vocal apparatus to modify SVT topology. These species often actively descend the hyoid and larynx to produce calls. This ‘active’ descent is one of the options for SVT modification in non-human primates. However, this is distinct from human speech, where a ‘static’ descended larynx moves in a restricted range during speech. Instead, humans modify SVT configuration by combinations of contraction and relaxation of the tongue muscles, to produce their vocal acoustics. The components of the vocal apparatus act under the constraint of anatomy, and various associations of anatomy and vocal actions are expected to be found in a variety of types of vocalization in non-human primates. Increasing knowledge of their anatomy and physiology promises better understanding of primate origins and of the evolutionary history of physical faculties in human speech.","PeriodicalId":50751,"journal":{"name":"Anthropological Science","volume":"126 1","pages":"3-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1537/ASE.180301","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67029856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Oh, D. Shin, J. Hong, Soong Deok Lee, Eunju Lee
{"title":"Single-nucleotide polymorphism analyses on ABCC11, EDAR, FGFR2, and ABO genotypes of mummified people of the Joseon Dynasty, South Korea","authors":"C. Oh, D. Shin, J. Hong, Soong Deok Lee, Eunju Lee","doi":"10.1537/ASE.180302","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1537/ASE.180302","url":null,"abstract":"Although previous studies have demonstrated successful single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of modern samples, the potential applicability of this methodology to ancient human specimens has not been confirmed. With regard in particular to the SNPs in the ABCC11, EDAR, FGFR2, and ABO genes, all of which are commonly analyzed in biomedical research, only a relatively limited number of papers on ancient specimens are currently available. We thus studied the SNP genotypes in the ABCC11, EDAR, FGFR2, and ABO genes of mummies from the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. Those SNP genotypes in brain samples (n = 5) were determined using multiplex single-base extension (SBE) primers in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses of each gene locus. SNP analysis revealed the mummies’ ABCC11 genotype was revealed to be 538AA (dry-type earwax and low risk for axillary osmidrosis). In the EDAR and FGFR2 genes, the variant alleles rs3827760-CC (EDAR) and rs4752566TT (FGFR2), indicative of thick and straight hair, were identified. In addition, the ABO genotypes BO02 (SN1-2), O01O02 (Sapgyo), AO01 (Hadong2), BB (Yongin), and O02O02 (SN PK) were identified. Our SNP genotyping of Korean mummies provided us with specific insight into the potential of this methodology for application to the analysis of ancient human specimens. This study fills a gap in our knowledge of the use of SNP genotyping in forensic medicine by proving that it can help to reveal the physical traits of ancient individuals.","PeriodicalId":50751,"journal":{"name":"Anthropological Science","volume":"126 1","pages":"67-73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2018-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1537/ASE.180302","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67029894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}