A late Neandertal femur from Les Rochers-de-Villeneuve, France
Erik Trinkaus Cédric Beauval Bruno Maureille François Lacrampe-Cuyaubère Jean-Guillaume Bordes David Cochard Isabelle Couchoud David Dubrasquet Véronique Laroulandie Arnaud Lenoble Jean-Baptiste Mallye Sylvain Pasty Jérôme Primault Nadin Rohland Svante Pääbo
Abstract:
In 2002, a Neandertal partial femoral diaphysis was discovered at Les Rochers-de-Villeneuve (Vienne, France). Radiocarbon dated to ≈40,700 14C years before present, this specimen is one of the most recent Middle Paleolithic Neandertals. The diaphysis derives from an archeological level indicating alternating human and carnivore (mostly hyena) occupation of the cave, reinforcing the close proximity and probable competition of Middle Paleolithic humans with large carnivores for resources and space. Morphological aspects of the diaphysis and ancient DNA extracted from it indicate that it is aligned with the Neandertals and is distinct from early modern humans. However, its midshaft cortical bone distribution places it between other Middle Paleolithic Neandertals and the Châtelperronian Neandertal from La Roche-à-Pierrot, supporting a pattern of changing mobility patterns among late Middle Paleolithic Neandertals on the eve of modern human dispersals into Europe.
Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on the 17th of May, 2005.
PMID: 15878988
Specimens
- RdV 1, a Homo neanderthalensis specimen from Les Rochers-de-Villeneuve, France.
