The Neanderthal taxonomic position: models of intra- and inter-specific craniofacial variation

摘要: The Neanderthal taxonomic position is a matter of wide disagreement among paleoanthropologists. Some workers consider this fossil human group to represent different species, Homo neanderthalensis, while others see it as subspecies sapiens. This study developed two models morphological variation be applied comparison between Neanderthals and modern humans: populations provided measure intra-specific variation, the species Pan measures both intra- inter-specific differences. Although such an approach has been advocated strongly, not systematically undertaken until recently. techniques geometric morphometrics were used collect data in form three-dimensional coordinates craniofacial landmarks. processed using generalized procrustes analysis, analyzed by array multivariate statistical methods, including principal components canonical variates analysis Mahalanobis D 2 . distances humans, Late Paleolithic/early anatomically specimens, are consistently greater than recent populations, chimpanzee species. Furthermore, no strong similarities found Paleolithic Europeans. does find evidence for contribution evolution Results consistent with recognition distinct 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.