Latest Miocene Hominin From Kenya, Orrorin tugenensis, Exhibits Intermediate Femoral Morphology Between Earlier Miocene Apes and Later Bipedal Hominins

S • A3 More Insights From Above: Comparison of Upper Deciduous Second Molar and Permanent First Molar Morphology in Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens Shara Bailey, CSHO/Department of Anthropology, New York University, USA Stefano Benazzi, Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionar Anthropology, GERMANY Claudia Astorino, The Graduate Center, City University of New York & NYCEP, USA Kathleen Paul, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, USA Jean-Jacques Hublin, Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute, GERMANY Comparative dental studies often focus on the permanent first molar (M1) because it is presumed to be the most evolutionarily conservative of the permanent molars. Deciduous teeth, however, comprise a significant portion of the fossil record and in some cases are the only hominin remains recovered. The deciduous second molar (dm2) is considered the analogue of the permanent M1 and is generally thought to be morphologically similar. On the other hand, the dm2 is often considered to be even more phylogenetically conservative and/or under stronger genetic control than the M1 due to its early development. Therefore, while we expect the morphology of the two teeth to be significantly correlated, we predict the dissimilarity between dm2 and M1 to be higher in species with derived M1 morphology than in species that retain primitive M1 morphology. The shape of the upper M1 (UM1) serves as a test of this hypothesis since it has been suggested to be derived in Neandertals. Here we use geometric morphometric analysis to study oriented UM1 and upper dm2 (udm2) crown outlines of the same individuals. Our sample included 37 udm2/UM1 pairs: five H. neanderthalensis, seven fossil H. sapiens (30,000–10,000 BP), and 25 recent H. sapiens representing Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) shows that the H. sapiens udm2/UM1 pair sample largely overlaps in shape space, whereas the Neandertal udm2s separate from UM1s along PC1. Indeed, Procrustes distances calculated between udm2/UM1 pairs showed that the average distance for H. sapiens (mean=0.032; range=0.022–0.046) was significantly lower (p=0.02; permutation test, n=1000) than the distances obtained for each individual H. neanderthalensis pair (mean=0.040; range=0.036–0.049). However, Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis showed a similar pattern of covariation between Neandertal and H. sapiens udm2/UM1 pairs (r2=0.471; p<0.001), suggesting that allometry may be responsible for the differences observed. Acknowledgements: This work has been supported by the LSB Leakey foundation and the Max Planck Society. Symmetry in Levantine Mousterian Levallois points and the Implication for Neanderthal Cognition: Comparison between Two Analytical Methods Colleen A Bell, Anthropology, University of Tulsa, USA Donald Henry, Anthropology, University of Tulsa, USA Miriam Belmaker, Anthropology, University of Tulsa, USA The interaction between Neanderthal and Modern Humans during the MP/UP Transition raises the question of how the two taxa differed in cognitive abilities and if this played a role in the demise of the Neanderthals. It has been argued that the degree of standardization of symmetry within an assemblage can be used as a marker of cognitive ability (Hodgson 2009). However, other factors may lead to a similar pattern (Chase and Dibble 1986). Kerry and Henry (2000) studied the deviation from symmetry with an assemblage of Mousterian Levallois points from the site of Tor Faraj, Jordan (ca. 55 ka) using linear measurements. They concluded that the low standard deviation supports a high-level Neanderthal cognition. Crompton (2007) argued that linear measurements could not accurately capture symmetry in lithics, leaving room for reevaluation of the results. To test this hypothesis within a single assemblage, we present a comparative study using the two alternative methods of lithic analysis on a sub-sample from the Tor Faraj collection studied by Kerry and Henry (2007). We measured the deviation of symmetry within a single assemblage in a sample of 50 Levallois points following the protocol applied by Kerry and Henry (2000). Symmetry was measured by: 1) angle of deviation from direction of impact, 2) left versus right proportions from point of impact; and, 3) length, width, and thickness ratio. The same specimens were scanned in the Next Engine 3D scanner and symmetry was measured by aligning the computed center of gravity with maximum length. Results indicate discrepancies in deviation from symmetry when using the different methods. The 3D method does not suggest a low standard deviation, as do the linear measurements. This indicates that we need to reevaluate the relationship between lithic analysis method and cognition and warrants additional study of current lithic analytical methods. Acknowledgements: We would like to thank the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, the Center of Oriental Research in Amman for their generous assistance during the excavation of Tor Faraj, and the Office of Research at The University of Tulsa for research grants for CAB. References Cited: Chase, Philip G., and Harold L. Dibble. 1987. Middle Paleolithic symbolism: a review of current evidence and interpretations. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 6.3: 263–296. Crompton, Shirley. 2007. 3D lithic analysis. Proceedings 2007 Congress on Computer Applications in Archaeology. Hodgson, Derek. 2009. Evolution of the visual cortex and the emergence of symmetry in the Acheulean technocomplex. Comptes Rendus Palevol 8.1: 93–97. Kerry, Kristopher W. and Donald O. Henry. 2000. Conceptual Domains, Competence, and Chaîne Opératoire in the Levantine Mousterian. In The Archaeology of Jordan and Beyond, Lawrence E. Stager, Joseph A. Greene, and Michael D. Coogan (eds.). Eisenbrauns, Winona Lake, Indiana. A4 • PaleoAnthropology 2013 Paleoecological Evidence for Humid and Arboreal Environment at the Levantine Early UP and its Implication for Modern Human Dispersal from Africa: Micromammal Evidence from the Mugar el Hamamah, Ajlun District, Jordan Miriam Belmaker, Anthropology, The University of Tulsa, USA Jamie L. Clark, Anthropology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, USA Rosa Maria Albert, Department of Prehistory, Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Barcelona, SPAIN Trina L. Arpin, Archaeology, Boston University, USA Dan Cabanes, Department of Prehistory, Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Barcelona, SPAIN Gideon Hartman, Anthropology, University of Connecticut, USA Fuad Hourani, Archaeology, University of Jordan, JORDAN Jason A. Rech, Geology, University of Miami, USA John J. Shea, Anthropology, Stony Brook University, USA Chantel E. White, Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, USA Liv Nilsson Stutz, Anthropology, Oxford College of Emory University, USA Aaron J. Stutz, Anthropology, Oxford College of Emory University, USA The role of climate in the dispersal of modern humans from Africa between 50–30 ka is debated. Paleoclimatic data suggested that the Last Glacial was either cold/dry (Bar-Matthews et al. 2003), or cold/wet (Frumkin et al. 2011). Paleoecological data from the mesic Mediterranean region has supported the cold/wet interpretation (Belmaker and Hovers 2011). To date, there is little paleoecological evidence from Semi Arid and Arid regions in the Levant to refine our understanding of local paleoecology of the region. Here we provide the first evidence of paleoecology from the Eastern flanks of the Lisan Catchment area dated to ca. 40 ka based on micromammal assemblage retrieved from Mughr el-Hamamah (MHM), Jordan. Located on the eastern slopes of the Jordan Valley (Ajlun District), MHM exhibits in situ deposits dated to the Levantine EUP. The samples include micromammal fauna from squares B5 and C5. Sediments were dry screened with 2mm mesh. Micromammals were identified to species and a detailed taphonomic study conducted. Results suggested that the assemblage is highly dominated by the Syrian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus), typical of cool and humid climate. It is common in Late Glacial fauna of the Mediterranean of the Levant in sites such as Kebara UP and Amud. Today it is known only from high elevation in Turkey, Syria and Jordan. Other taxa include several genera of murids, further supporting woodland habitats. Taphonomic analysis indicates that the assemblage is consistent with a predatory origin. These results support analysis of Dead Sea speleothems indicating a high stand of Lake Lisan and an increase in humidity ca. 40 ka (Sorin et al. 2010). This study suggests that the Eastern flanks of the central Jordan Valley, a semi-arid region, supported an arboreal habitat during the EUP. This may have been a contributing factor for AMH dispersal into the region. Acknowledgements: Funding for this project was made possible by generous grants from NSF High Risk Research in Anthropology awarded to AJS and LNS, Oxford College of Emory University’s Faculty Development Committee, The President’s Fund for the Support of Research, the Pierce Institute for Leadership and Community Engagement, and a Gregory-Rackley Career Development Award to AJS, and the Leakey Foundation grant to AJS, LNS, TA and JLC.