The People of Sunghir: Burials, Bodies, and Behavior in the Earlier Upper Paleolithic (Human Evolution Series)

"In this latest volume in the Human Evolution Series, Erik Trinkaus and his co-authors synthesize the research and findings concerning the human remains found at the Sunghir archaeological site. It has long been apparent to those in the field of paleoanthropology that the human fossil remains from the site of Sunghir are an important part of the human paleoanthropological record, and that these fossil remains have the potential to provide substantial data and inferences concerning human biology and behavior, both during the earlier Upper Paleolithic and concerning the early phases of human occupation of high latitude continental Eurasia. But despite many separate investigations and published studies on the site and its findings, a single and definitive volume does not yet exist on the subject. This book combines the expertise of four paleoanthropologists to provide a comprehensive description and paleobiological analysis of the Sunghir human remains. Since 1990, Trinkaus et al. have had access to the Sunghir site and its findings, and the authors have published frequently on the topic. The book places these human fossil remains in context with other Late Pleistocene humans, utilizing numerous comparative charts, graphs, and figures. As such, the book is highly illustrated, in color. Trinkaus and his co-authors outline the many advances in paleoanthropology that these remains have helped to bring about, examining the Sunghir site from all angles"-- Provided by publisher Content: Cover The People of Sunghir HUMAN EVOLUTION SERIES Copyright Contents Preface Contributors The People of Sunghir 1Assessing the Paleobiology of the Sunghir People 2The Site of Sunghir: Contents and Chronology Introduction The Site of Sunghir Radiocarbon Dating of the Site and the Burials Summary 3The Mortuary Behavior at Sunghir Introduction The Isolated Sunghir 5 Cranium Grave 1 and Sunghir 1 Grave 2 and Sunghir 2 and 3 Grave 2bis plus Sunghir 6 and/or Sunghir 7 Sunghir 8 Time Investment in the Sunghir Burials Burial Versus Everyday Clothing. The Mid Upper Paleolithic Mortuary ContextAdditional Considerations Sunghir and its Human Remains 4 The Sunghir Human Skeletal Remains Introduction The Skeletal Inventory of Sunghir 1 The Skeletal Inventory of Sunghir 2 The Skeletal Inventory of Sunghir 3 The Sunghir 4 Femoral Diaphysis The Sunghir 5 Cranium The Sunghir 6 Hemi-Mandible Sunghir 7 to 9 An Isolated Human Patella 5Comparative Materials and Methods for the Sunghir Human Remains Comparative Samples Data Sources Comparative Methods A Note on Accuracy and Precision 6The Ages-at-Death and Sexes of the Sunghir Humans. IntroductionThe Ages-at-Death The Sexes of the Sunghir Individuals Summary and Considerations 7 The Neurocrania from Sunghir 1, 2, 3, and 5 Introduction The Sunghir Neurocrania Neurocranial Size and Overall Proportions Sutural Patterns Neurocranial Contours The Nuchal Plane and Adjacent Structures The Temporal Region Summary 8The Human Facial Skeletons from Sunghir Introduction The Sunghir Facial Skeletons Prognathism The Orbital Region The Nasal Region Masticatory Morphology Miscellaneous Variations Summary 9The Sunghir Dental and Alveolar Remains Introduction. The Sunghir 1 Dentoalveolar RemainsThe Sunghir 2 and 3 Dentoalveolar Remains The Sunghir 5 Alveolar Remains The Sunghir 6 Alveolar Remains Dental Metrics Dental Occlusal Discrete Morphology (Shara E. Bailey and Alexander A. Zubov) Variations in Number Summary 10The Axial Skeletons of Sunghir 1, 2, and 3 Introduction The Cervical Vertebral Column The Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebrae The Sacra The Costal Skeletons Summary 11The Body Sizes and Proportions of the Sunghir People Introduction Body Mass Estimation Body Proportions Stature Estimation Summary. 12The Shoulders and Arms of Sunghir 1 to 3Introduction Issues of Asymmetry The Shoulder Diaphyseal Hypertrophy Cubital Aspects Forearm Pronation/Supination Summary 13The Sunghir Human Hands Introduction Carpals and the Carpal Tunnel Hand Length Proportions The Pollex Ulnar Carpometacarpal Configurations Manual Hypertrophy Summary 14 The Pelves of Sunghir 1, 2, and 3 Introduction The Sunghir Pelvic Remains The Pubic Region The Ischia The Ilia Summary 15The Leg Remains from Sunghir 1 to 4 Introduction Sunghir 1 to 4 Length Considerations. This work discusses the research and findings concerning the human remains found at the Sunghir archaeological site. It has long been apparent to those in the field of paleoanthropology that the human fossil remains from the site of Sunghir are an important part of the human paleoanthropological record, and that these fossil remains have the potential to provide substantial data and inferences concerning human biology and behaviour, both during the earlier Upper Paleolithic and concerning the early phases of human occupation of high latitude continental Eurasia. This book combines the expertise of four paleoanthropologists to provide a comprehensive description and paleobiological analysis of the Sunghir human remains