scholarly journals Human Evolution in the Center of the Old World: An Updated Review of the South Asian Paleolithic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parth R. Chauhan
Keyword(s):  
Iron Age ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Upper Paleolithic ◽  
Middle Paleolithic ◽  
Hominin Evolution ◽  
Indigenous Groups ◽  
Absolute Dating

The Indian Subcontinent was an important geographic region for faunal and hominin evolution in Asia. While the Oldowan as the earliest technocomplex continues to be elusive, the oldest Acheulean is dated to ~1.5 Ma and the early Middle Paleolithic is ~385 ka (from the same site). New Late Pleistocene dates have been reported for the Middle Paleolithic which continues up to 38 Ka in southern India. The Upper Paleolithic remains ambiguous and requires critically multidisciplinary investigations. The microlithic evidence appears to spread rapidly across the subcontinent soon after its emergence at ~48 Ka (though its origin is debated) and continues into the Iron Age. The timeline of the initial arrival of Homo sapiens continues to be debated based on the archaeology (advanced Middle Paleolithic vs. microlithic) and genetic studies on indigenous groups. Other issues that need consideration are: interactions between archaics and arriving moderns, the marginal occurrence of symbolic behavior, the absolute dating of rock art and the potential role of hominins in specific animal extinctions and ecological marginalization. The region does not appear to have been a corridor for dispersals towards Southeast Asia (although gene flow may have occurred). Instead, once various prehistoric technologies appeared in the Subcontinent, they possibly followed complex trajectories within relative isolation.

scholarly journals The châtelperronian Neandertals of Cova Foradada (Calafell, Spain) used Iberian imperial eagle phalanges for symbolic purposes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo ◽  
Juan Ignacio Morales ◽  
Artur Cebriá ◽  
Lloyd A. Courtenay ◽  
Juan L. Fernández-Marchena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Scale ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Specific Area ◽  
Upper Paleolithic ◽  
Middle Paleolithic ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Cultural Elements ◽  
Mediterranean Europe ◽  
Anatomically Modern Humans ◽  
Imperial Eagle

The use of personal ornaments by Neandertals is one of the scarce evidence of their symbolic behaviour. Among them stand up the eagle talons used presumably as pendants, in an analogous way than anatomically Modern Humans (Homo sapiens) did. Considering the broad range and time scale of Neandertals distribution across Eurasia, this phenomenon seems to be concentrated in a very specific area of Southwestern-Mediterranean Europe during a span of ca. 80 ka. Here we present the analysis of one pedal phalange of a large eagle recovered in Foradada cave site, Spain. Our research confirms the use of eagle talons as symbolic elements in Iberia, expanding geographically and temporally one of the most common evidence of symbolic behaviour among western European Neandertals. The convergence in use of large raptor talons as symbolic elements by one of the last Neandertal populations raises the survival of some cultural elements of the Middle Paleolithic into beginnings of the Upper Paleolithic.

scholarly journals Bones of Contention: Assorted Hypotheses on the Fate of the Neanderthals

1986 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Heilingbrunner
Keyword(s):  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Near East ◽  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Short Interval ◽  
Upper Paleolithic ◽  
Middle Paleolithic ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Anatomically Modern Humans

The disappearance of Homo sapiens neanderthalensis at the end of the Middle Paleolithic has evoked a plethora of explanations, ranging from carefully supported theories to bizarre or romantic speculation. The processes by which the Neanderthals were replaced by anatomically modern humans occurred in a relatively short interval of time, and have been obscured by a wide variety of disturbances. A review of some of the inferences drawn by various researchers tentatively suggests a combination of in situ technological and morphological evolution in the Near East with movement of Upper Paleolithic genes and technology into Europe.

How language evolved from manual gestures

Gesture ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Corballis
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Nonhuman Primates ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Human Language ◽  
Present Level ◽  
Cerebral Asymmetry ◽  
Hominin Evolution ◽  
Lines Of Evidence

Several lines of evidence suggest that human language originated in manual gestures, not vocal calls. These are the ability of nonhuman primates to use manual action flexibly and intentionally, the nature of the primate mirror system and its homology with the language circuits in the human brain, the relative success in teaching apes to communicate manually rather than vocally, the ready invention of sophisticated signed languages by the deaf, the critical role of pointing in the way young children learn language, and the correlation between handedness and cerebral asymmetry for language. A gradual switch from manual to facial and vocal expression may have occurred late in hominin evolution, with speech reaching its present level of autonomy only in our own species, Homo sapiens.

scholarly journals 3D enamel profilometry reveals faster growth but similar stress severity in Neanderthal versus Homo sapiens teeth

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate McGrath ◽  
Laura Sophia Limmer ◽  
Annabelle-Louise Lockey ◽  
Debbie Guatelli-Steinberg ◽  
Donald J. Reid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Stress ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Upper Paleolithic ◽  
Tooth Surface ◽  
Growth Increments ◽  
Anterior Teeth

AbstractEarly life stress disrupts growth and creates horizontal grooves on the tooth surface in humans and other mammals, yet there is no consensus for their quantitative analysis. Linear defects are considered to be nonspecific stress indicators, but evidence suggests that intermittent, severe stressors create deeper defects than chronic, low-level stressors. However, species-specific growth patterns also influence defect morphology, with faster-growing teeth having shallower defects at the population level. Here we describe a method to measure the depth of linear enamel defects and normal growth increments (i.e., perikymata) from high-resolution 3D topographies using confocal profilometry and apply it to a diverse sample of Homo neanderthalensis and H. sapiens anterior teeth. Debate surrounds whether Neanderthals exhibited modern human-like growth patterns in their teeth and other systems, with some researchers suggesting that they experienced more severe childhood stress. Our results suggest that Neanderthals have shallower features than H. sapiens from the Upper Paleolithic, Neolithic, and medieval eras, mirroring the faster growth rates in Neanderthal anterior teeth. However, when defect depth is scaled by perikymata depth to assess their severity, Neolithic humans have less severe defects, while Neanderthals and the other H. sapiens groups show evidence of more severe early life growth disruptions.

Role of routine nephrectomy for non-functioning kidneys due to genitourinary tuberculosis: Data from an Indian subcontinent

2021 ◽  
pp. 205141582098766
Author(s):  
Pradeep Prakash ◽  
Prabhjot Singh ◽  
Amlesh Seth ◽  
Rishi Nayyar ◽  
Brusabhanu Nayak
Keyword(s):  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Disease Recurrence ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Second Line ◽  
Sensitivity Testing ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Lower Blood ◽  
Anti Tubercular Therapy ◽  
Open Nephrectomy

Objective: To evaluate the role of routine nephrectomy for tuberculous non-functioning kidney (TNFK) after receiving anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) by demonstrating whether live tubercle bacilli persist in nephrectomy specimens after treatment or not. Materials and methods: Patients with TNFK who underwent nephrectomy after completion of at least 6 months of ATT were included in this prospective cohort study. We sent tissue/pus from a nephrectomy specimen for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture to look for live bacilli. Bacilli were considered alive only if AFB culture was positive. Results: Twenty-four patients underwent nephrectomy for TNFK between April 2015 and October 2017 (18 laparoscopic and 6 open nephrectomy). Laparoscopic nephrectomy was associated with lower blood loss (225 ml versus 408 ml, p = 0.0003) and shorter hospital stay (3 versus 3.8 days, p = 0.06) compared with open nephrectomy; however, mean operative time and overall complications were similar. Eight specimens were AFB smear and/or tuberculosis PCR positive, out of which three showed viable bacilli upon culture. Drug sensitivity testing showed multi-drug resistant strain in all three patients who were treated with second-line ATT. Conclusion: It is preferable to do routine nephrectomy for TNFKs as they are more likely to harbour live bacilli and lead to disease recurrence. Viability testing for AFB must be performed on all operated specimens to identify drug resistant bacilli so that patients may be treated with second-line therapy if required. Level of evidence: 4.

scholarly journals A Wolf in Another Wolf’s Clothing: Post-Genomic Regulation Dictates Venom Profiles of Medically-Important Cryptic Kraits in India

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kartik Sunagar ◽  
Suyog Khochare ◽  
R. R. Senji Laxme ◽  
Saurabh Attarde ◽  
Paulomi Dam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Venom Gland ◽  
Western India ◽  
The Common ◽  
Genomic Regulation

The Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus) shares a distribution range with many other ‘phenotypically-similar’ kraits across the Indian subcontinent. Despite several reports of fatal envenomings by other Bungarus species, commercial Indian antivenoms are only manufactured against B. caeruleus. It is, therefore, imperative to understand the distribution of genetically distinct lineages of kraits, the compositional differences in their venoms, and the consequent impact of venom variation on the (pre)clinical effectiveness of antivenom therapy. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted phylogenetic and comparative venomics investigations of kraits in Southern and Western India. Phylogenetic reconstructions using mitochondrial markers revealed a new species of krait, Romulus’ krait (Bungarus romulusi sp. nov.), in Southern India. Additionally, we found that kraits with 17 mid-body dorsal scale rows in Western India do not represent a subspecies of the Sind Krait (B. sindanus walli) as previously believed, but are genetically very similar to B. sindanus in Pakistan. Furthermore, venom proteomics and comparative transcriptomics revealed completely contrasting venom profiles. While the venom gland transcriptomes of all three species were highly similar, venom proteomes and toxicity profiles differed significantly, suggesting the prominent role of post-genomic regulatory mechanisms in shaping the venoms of these cryptic kraits. In vitro venom recognition and in vivo neutralisation experiments revealed a strong negative impact of venom variability on the preclinical performance of commercial antivenoms. While the venom of B. caeruleus was neutralised as per the manufacturer’s claim, performance against the venoms of B. sindanus and B. romulusi was poor, highlighting the need for regionally-effective antivenoms in India.

scholarly journals The Superior Visual Perception Hypothesis: Neuroaesthetics of Cave Art

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Per Olav Folgerø ◽  
Christer Johansson ◽  
Linn Heidi Stokkedal
Keyword(s):  
Visual Perception ◽  
Animal Movement ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Upper Paleolithic ◽  
Brain Anatomy ◽  
Normal Brain ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Cave Art

Cave Art in the Upper Paleolithic presents a boost of creativity and visual thinking. What can explain these savant-like paintings? The normal brain function in modern man rarely supports the creation of highly detailed paintings, particularly the convincing representation of animal movement, without extensive training and access to modern technology. Differences in neuro-signaling and brain anatomy between modern and archaic Homo sapiens could also cause differences in perception. The brain of archaic Homo sapiens could perceive raw detailed information without using pre-established top-down concepts, as opposed to the common understanding of the normal modern non-savant brain driven by top-down control. Some ancient genes preserved in modern humans may be expressed in rare disorders. Researchers have compared Cave Art with art made by people with autism spectrum disorder. We propose that archaic primary consciousness, as opposed to modern secondary consciousness, included a savant-like perception with a superior richness of details compared to modern man. Modern people with high frequencies of Neanderthal genes, have notable anatomical features such as increased skull width in the occipital and parietal visual areas. We hypothesize that the anatomical differences are functional and may allow a different path to visual perception.

A Mamluk-Venetian Memorandum on Asian Trade, AD 1503

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
FRANCISCO APELLÁNIZ
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Central European ◽  
Important Concern ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
Mixed Networks ◽  
A Company ◽  
Role Of Information

Abstract This article presents and discusses a source of unique importance for our knowledge of early modern global exchanges. Produced in 1503 by the Egyptian administration and found among the records of a Venetian company with global commercial interests, the document records hitherto unknown connections between the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, followed by cargo figures. By sending the Memorandum to the head office in Venice, the Company's agents in Egypt were labouring to solve the most important concern of Venice's information network, that of coordinating Indian with Mediterranean trading seasons. By analysing the document's context, namely, a company involved in the export of central European metals to Asia, this article focuses on the capacity of its agents to gather information through collaboration, networking and ultimately, friendship with Muslim partners and informers. The story of the 1503 Memorandum and its transmission raises questions about the mixed networks underpinning global exchanges, the role of information and the drive of the late Mamluk sultanate into the world of the Indian Ocean.

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