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Hominid skull fragments from Late Pleistocene layers in Leine Valley (Sarstedt, District of Hildesheim, Germany)
A. Czarnetzki Department of Palaeoanthropology and Osteology, Institute of Anthropology and Human Genetics, University of Tu¨bingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tu¨bingen, Germany. E-mail: [email protected]
S. Gaudzinski Ro¨misch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz, Forschungsbereich Altsteinzeit, Schloß Monrepos, 56567 Neuwied, Germany
C. M. Pusch Molecular Genetics Laboratory, University Eye Hospital, 72076 Tu¨bingen, Germany Received 6 July 2000 Revision received 23 March 2001 and accepted 24 April 2001
Hominid skull fragments from Late Pleistocene layers in Leine Valley (Sarstedt, District of Hildesheim, Germany) Three cranial fragments were recovered from coarse-grained deposits dug up by a suction dredge from gravel pits on the Leine river flats in the vicinity of Sarstedt (northwestern Germany). Also recovered were a number of artefacts which, upon careful inspection, could be assigned to the Middle Paleolithic. The geological pattern of the Leine Valley in this region suggests that these fragments were deposited in the lower terrace during a yet undetermined warm period—possibly Bro¨rup or Odderade—during the Weichsel glaciation. However, attribution to the Eemian period or a Saale interstadial cannot be ruled out. The features of the Sarstedt (Sst) I infant temporal are known from Neanderthals (e.g., Weimar-Ehringsdorf, Engis, Krapina 1) and can be seen in specimens from the European late-Homo erectus group as well. Subadult individuals do not always exhibit full development of features characteristic for adults and—to some extent—anticipate the succeeding developmental stage (i.e., neoteny). The Neanderthal autapomorphies characterizing the fragments of the occipital and the parietal are certainly consistent with assigning both unequivocally to the species H. neanderthalensis. The presence of Middle Paleolithic artefacts recovered from the same deposits are commensurate with the presence of Neanderthals. However, there is no clear contextual association of any archaeological and fossil human material. Future DNA research will hopefully add up to the established morphological picture. 2001 Academic Press
Keywords: anatomically
modern human, early Late Pleistocene, hominid skull fragments, middle Paleolithic artefacts, Neanderthal evolution, Sarstedt.
Journal of Human Evolution (2001) 41, 133–140 doi:10.1006/jhev.2001.0484 Available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Introduction Human fossil remains are often not recovered during systematic excavations but unfortunately are either collected as surface finds, as is the case, for example, in Kenya by the Leakey group, or have been recognized at a later date (Grolle, 1998; Stoddard, 2000). In Germany, several potentially significant fossil human remains have been recovered in such circumstances, particularly from sand and/or gravel deposits dredged out of buried strata. Examples of 0047–2484/01/080133+08$35.00/0
such finds during the last two decades include the frontal from Hahno¨fersand (Bra¨uer, 1980), the parietal fragment from Neuwarendorf (Czarnetzki & Trelliso´ Carren˜o, 1999), and the posterior cranial vault from Reilingen (Czarnetzki, 1989; 1991; 1995). Here we report the recovery of three human cranial bone fragments from the same type of deposit by amateur collectors Otrud and Karl-Werner Frangenberg at the locality of Sarstedt in the District of Hildesheim, northwest Germany (Figure 1). 2001 Academic Press
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Hamburg
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Figure 1. Map showing the site of Sarstedt and further locations where Middle Paleolithic artefacts have been found. 1: Sarstedt (asterisk), 2: Jeinsen, 3: Reden/Hardenbleck/Rethen, 4: Hannover-Do¨ hren, 5: Lehder Berg, 6: Salzgitter-Lebenstedt, 7: Lichtenberg, 8: Bottrop, 9: Herne, 10: WarendorfNeuwarendorf (2–10; filled triangles).
The Sarstedt human remains comprise a relatively complete temporal bone (Sarstedt I=Sst I), an occipital fragment (Sst II), and a fragment of a left parietal (Sst III). These specimens were found on the surface of gravel pits located in the western part of the Sarstedt village. The site is 62 m above sea level and is located at coordinates 949 26.6 east and 5214 12 north. Sst II was discovered on 8 November 1997, in a gravel pit belonging to the company ‘‘Steinha¨ user’’. Sst I and Sst III were found on 2 January 1999, and 30 October 1999, respectively, in a gravel pit belonging to the ‘‘Kies und Bau Union (KBU)’’. Results and discussion Geology The site where the three cranial fragments were recovered lies on the Leine river flats, where the flats have an extension of
112–2 km. The site exhibits the following stratigraphic sequence (youngest to oldest) based especially on the detailed examination of drilling cores number S66, S328 and G17 (Schmid, 1983): layer 4, river flat loam of Holocene context (1–2 m thick); layer 3, gravel from the Leine lower terrace (5–7 m thick), older than the highest level of glaciation (25 ka BP after Schirmer, 1998, 1999); layer 2, fine meltwater sands and clays from the Saale glaciation to a depth of at least 9 m (only present in a narrow channel); and finally layer 1, clayey marl from the Santon Formation, Upper Cretaceous. In the valley incision formed by Saale-age meltwater, the Leine amassed the lower terrace. This occurred possibly even before the late Saale glaciation, but certainly no later than the Weichsel glaciation (Schmid, 1983). All calcified, decalcified, and ironbearing deposits from interglacials, interstadials, and warm oscillations were
135
S 66 E
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80 m
GLT Ls
MS
S G
70 m Sarstedt
Leine Valley SwG RL
SG 60 m
GLT MS
SC 50 m
100 m
500 m
1000 m
1500 m
Figure 2. Geology of the western Leine valley in vicinity of Sarstedt (redrawn by R. Czarnetzki from Schmid, 1983). Abbreviations used: RL=river flat loam of Holocene age, SG=sand and gravel of the Weichsel glaciation, GLT=gravel from lower terrace of Weichsel glaciation, Ls=Loess of Weichsel glaciation, S=sands of Weichsel glaciation, G=gravel of Saale glaciation, MS=Meltwater fine sands of Saale glaciation, SwG=sands with gravel of Elster glaciation, SC=Santon formation from the Upper Cretaceous.
essentially eroded away by subsequent glacial activity. Thus they are either not or negligibly represented in the core profiles. They are comparable to the Holstein-aged clay lenses in the upper Rhine valley, with their warm period fauna, particularly large mammals like Hippopothamus, Cervus elaphus or Elephas antiquus (Bartz, 1982). On the steep western edge of the valley, gravel deposits of the Elster-aged middle terrace (SwG in Figure 2) accumulated (Rauch, 1978). Layer 4 (RL, Figure 2) in this region was removed prior to the onset of dredging. Therefore, bones and artefacts recovered from the dredging activity belonged exclusively to layers 3 or 2 which are of
Pleistocene age (Schmid, 1983). Due to the adhering poor clay and fine sand granules, it can be established that Sst I was imbedded in a tiny residue of an Eem- (>115 ka) or Bro¨ rup- (>65 ka) or Odderade- (>58 ka) aged decalcified layer (Schmid, 1983; Probst, 1986; Frenzel et al., 1992; Schirmer, 1998, 1999), while Sst II and Sst III were imbedded in a nondecalcified residue. Moreover, there is no evidence that the fossil humans originated from humus deposits, which are unequivocal proof for warm periods in this region. The brownish coloring of the three Sst specimens stems from the iron-bearing gravel deposits at the site. According to Hamm (1949) such an effect is particularly characteristic of warm periods
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Figure 3. Different artefacts of erratic flint from Sarstedt. 1: handaxe, 2: bifacially worked scraper, 3: small oval handaxe. Gravel contusions are indicated separately.
and warm phases of the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Traces of incrustations of iron oxide deposits still adhere to Sst II. Hence, these must originate from the (older) horizon B of Saale-age rubble where such dark incrustations are frequently present. The coloring of the younger horizon A is characterized by a more light brownish color without incrustations (Hamm, 1949). Archaeology Field collection by O. and K.-W. Frangenberg (pers. comm.) was not only restricted to human remains. Nine artefacts also were recovered over a period of three years. The artefacts represent handaxes, bifacially worked scrapers and discoidal cores typical for a Middle Paleolithic context (Jakob-Friesen, 1949; Bosinski, 1967; Zedelius-Sanders, 1978; Veil et al., 1994; Pastoors, 1996) (Figure 3). The tools were made of grey erratic flint exhibiting various degrees of patination and gravel contusions.
These features indicate different taphonomic histories for the various artefacts. It remains unclear whether the finds are part of a single archaeological assemblage, originating from various more or less concurrent and/or nonconcurrent sites, or derive from concurrent and/or nonconcurrent so-called ‘‘off-site’’ activities (Roebroeks et al., 1992). Even though tool typology indicates a Middle Paleolithic context, the finds do not contribute to a more precise dating of the recovered human remains. Morphology Sarstedt I consists of an intact right temporal bone (Os temporale) [Figure 4(a)]. In all likelihood, it belongs to a female individual. This assessment is based on the evaluation of the internal acoustic meatus following the methodology of Wahl (1982) and Albrecht (1997) and the unpublished results of research on the petrous part (Pars petrosa) of early infant stage individuals
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Figure 4. Morphology of the three Sarstedt specimens. (a) Lateral view of temporal bone (os temporale) (Sst I). Note the course of the squamous suture (s. squamosa) and the large mastoid portion (pars mastoidea). (b) Rear view of the occipital bone fragment (os occipitale) (Sst II), showing the suprainiac fossa (fossa suprainiaca), the occipital torus (torus occipitalis), and the occipital bun. (c) Internal table (tabula interna) of the left parietal (os parietale) (Sst III) featuring three minor branches (rami minores) of the posterior branch (ramus posterior) of middle meningeal artery (arteria meningea media) and the parietal foramen (foramen parietale) (top=occipital, bottom=frontal portion).
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at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Tu¨ bingen (Graw, 1998; Forschner, 2001). The Sst I individual apparently died in the middle infant (Infans I) stage (approximately 2–4 years of age). The estimate is based on the ossified tympanic ring (anulus tympanicus), while the petrosal apex (apex partis petrosae) is not yet completely ossified. The temporal squama is characterized by a course of the squamosal suture that runs in a straight line from the parietal notch to the apex of this suture. A further feature is the relative length of the pars mastoidea, measured from the parietal notch to asterion, which comprises almost a third of the specimen’s total length in an antero-posterior direction. In both features, this temporal corresponds to the morphological pattern exhibited by temporal bones from Weimar-Ehringsdorf, Engis or Krapina 1, and diverges markedly from those of younger specimens of modern humans. The suture is rounded overall, and the relative size of the mastoid part is smaller which is typical for modern humans but is never observed in Neanderthals (Czarnetzki, pers. obs.; Minugh-Purvis et al., 2000). The mastoid process is small with a convex curvature and a broad single mastoid notch (fissura mastoidea). The curvature displaces the apex of the mastoid medially, as is the case in all representatives of the species Homo neanderthalensis (Czarnetzki, pers. obs.). The external acoustic porus (porus acusticus externus) is similar to that of the Krapina 1 specimen (Radovc˘ ic´ et al., 1988). The mandibular fossa exhibits nearly identical dimensions in antero-posterior and medio-lateral directions. Taking into account the likely age of the specimen, the tympanic part (pars tympanica) is very pronounced, measuring 2·64 mm in anterior thickness. The impressiones digitatae of the cerebral temporal lobes are distinctly formed. The sharp-edged form of the ridges suggests a weak pathogenic effect relating to
a hydrocephalus internus in this specimen (Psenner, 1974). Osseous porotic deposits on the tabula interna are pathological signs of foci of a nonspecific meningitis. These deposits are independent from the hydrocephalus internus in this specimen. Sarstedt II is an occipital fragment consisting almost entirely of the occipital squama and a portion (a few square centimeters) of the nuchal plane from the right side [Figure 4(b)]. Characteristic of this fragment is the noticeably strongly indented lambdoidal suture. The indentations are the result of lambdoid ossicles (Wormian bones), which were not recovered. The specimen also exhibits a distinct suprainiac fossa (28·05 mm long by 12·89 mm high) which is delimited inferiorly by a continuous torus [Figure 4(b)]. Standard radiography and CT scans exhibit continuous and pronounced shadowing on X-rays, which underscores that the torus is indeed present. The occipital squama is strongly distended to the occipital, forming a chignon or occipital bun. All these features are typical of Neanderthals (Stringer et al., 1984; Dean et al., 1998). Vestiges of a sulcus cerebri are formed at the tabula interna, running from inferior lateral to superior medial. A sulcus lunatus can also be observed, which lies further distal in modern humans and is normally located on the cerebellum. Sarstedt III is a posterior fragment of a left parietal [Figure 4(c)] from the region near lambda. It is characterized by arterial impressions (impressiones arteriosae), which could only derive from a prominent posterior ramus of the middle meningeal artery. This variant has been exclusively observed among ancestors of modern humans (Saban, 1979). These impressions are similarly formed to those on the fragment of the parietal recovered from Salzgitter-Lebenstedt (Hublin, 1984). On the other hand, a striking feature of this fragment is its curvature (conspicuously evident in CT scans) at the outer table, which
commences directly at the sagittal suture (sutura sagittalis) and extends laterally. Curvature of this kind is only documented for representatives of the species H. neanderthalensis (Sergi, 1974; Czarnetzki & Trelliso´ Carren˜ o, 1999). The outline of the parietal is totally rounded in Neanderthals, starting at the sagittal suture and ending at the squamosal or parieto–mastoideal suture, while in modern humans the upper part is straighter from the sagittal suture to the temporal line (Czarnetzki & Trelliso´ Carren˜ o, 1999).
Conclusion The three cranial fragments from Sarstedt are characterized by autapomorphies, indicating that they derive from Neanderthals, which are now classified by some researchers as H. neanderthalensis. However, an attribution of the Sst I infant temporal to a late variant of the European H. erectus (H. erectus reilingensis) or to a transitional stage to H. neanderthalensis (perhaps H. heidelbergensis) cannot be excluded with certainty. Although the morphology of H. neanderthalensis is evident in the examined specimens, further research is required to support this taxonomic attribution. Acknowledgements We are indebted to the private collector K.-W. Frangenberg and his wife for providing access to the bone fragments examined in this study, and to R. Czarnetzki for various technical and computational assistance. Furthermore, we would like to thank Dr F. Smith for his critical comments on the manuscript. References Albrecht, M. (1997). Geschlechtsdifferenzierung an der Pars petrosa ossis temporalis. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Tu¨ bingen.
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Bartz, J. (1982). Quarta¨ r und Jungtertia¨ r II im Oberrheingraben im Großraum Karlsruhe. Geol. Jb. A63, 3–237. Bosinski, G. (1967). Die mittelpala¨ olithischen Funde im westlichen Mitteleuropa. Ko¨ ln: Bo¨ hlau Verlag. Bra¨ uer, G. (1980). Die morphologischen Affinita¨ ten des jungpleistoza¨ nen Stirnbeines aus dem Elbmu¨ ndungsgebiet bei Hano¨ fersand. Z. Morph. Anthrop. 71, 1–42. Czarnetzki, A. (1989). Ein archaischer Hominidencalvariarest aus einer Kiesgrube in Reilingen, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis. Quarta¨ r 39/40, 191–201. Czarnetzki, A. (1991). Nouvelle de´ couverte d’un fragment de craˆ ne d’un hominid, archaı¨que dans le Sud-Ouest de l’Allemagne. L’Anthropologie 39, 103–112. Czarnetzki, A. (1995). Morphological evidence of adaptive characters in the genus Homo. In (H. Ullrich, Ed.) Man and Environment in the Palaeolithic, pp. 97–110. Liege: E.R.A.U.L. Czarnetzki, A. & Trelliso´ Carren˜ o, L. (1999). Le fragment d’un os parie´ tal du Ne´ nanderthalien classique de Warendorf-Neuwarendorf. L’Anthropologie 103, 237–248. Dean, D., Hublin, J.-J., Holloway, R. & Ziegler, R. (1998). On the phylogenetic position of the preNeandertal specimen from Reilingen, Germany. J. hum. Evol. 34, 485–508. Forschner, S. (2001). Geschlechtsbestimmung an juvenilen Partes petrosae im Kontext forensischer Identifikationsuntersuchungen. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Tu¨ bingen. Frenzel, B., Pe´ sci, M. & Velichko, A. A. (1992). Atlas of Paleoclimates and Paleoenvironments of the Northern Hemisphere. Late Pleistocene–Holocene. Stuttgart: Fischer. Graw, M., Weisser, H.-J. & Haffner, H. T. (1998). Identifikation eines skelettierten Kleinkinderscha¨ dels durch die molekularbiologischen Untersuchungen von Hirnresten. Rechtsmedizin 8, 109–111. Grolle, J. (1998). ‘‘Am Anfang eine Leiche’’: Pala¨ oanthropologe Phillip Tobias u¨ ber den Fund des a¨ ltesten Vormenschenskelettes in Su¨ dafrika. Spiegel 51, 202–203. Hamm, F. (1949). U } ber die eiszeitlichen Ablagerungen im Leinetal su¨ dlich von Hannover als Fundpunkte von Altpala¨ olithen. In (K. H. Jakob-Friesen, Ed.) Die Altsteinzeitfunde aus dem Leinetal bei Hannover, pp. 119–124. Hildesheim: August Lax Verlag. Hublin, J.-J. (1984). The fossil man from SalzgitterLebenstedt (FRG) and its place in human evolution during the Pleistocene in Europe. Z. Morph. Anthrop. 75, 45–56. Jakob-Friesen, K. H. (1949). Die Altsteinzeitfunde aus dem Leinetal bei Hannover. Hildesheim: August Lax Verlag. Minugh-Purvis, N., Radovcic, J. & Smith, F. (2000). Krapina 1: A juvenile Neandertal from the early late Pleistocene of Croatia. Am. J. phys. Anthrop. 111, 393–424.
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Pastoors, A. (1996). Die Steinartefakte von SalzgitterLebenstedt. Ph.D. Dissertation, Universita¨ t zu Ko¨ ln. Probst, E. (1986). Deutschland in der Urzeit. Von der Entstehung des Lebens bis zum Ende der Eiszeit. Mu¨ nchen: Bertelsmann. Psenner, L. (1974). Scha¨ del. In (H. R. Schinz, W. E. Baensch, W. Frommhold, R. Glauner, E. Uehlinger & J. Wellauer, Eds) Lehrbuch der Ro¨ ntgendiagnostik Bd. III, pp. 119–262. Stuttgart: Thieme. Radovc˘ ic´ , J., Smith, F. H., Trinkaus, E. & Wolpoff, M. H. (1988). The Krapina Hominids. An Illustrated Catalog of Skeletal Collection. Zagreb (Croatia): Mladost. Rauch, M. (1978). Umlagerungsvorga¨ nge bei der Sedimentation eiszeitlicher Flußablagerungen—ein Beispiel aus dem Terrassengebiet der Leine SE Hannover. Z. dt. geol. Ges. 129, 1–5. Roebroeks, W., de Loecker, D., Hennekens, P. & van Ieperen, M. (1992). ‘‘A veil of stones’’ on the interpretation of an early Middle Palaeolithic low density scatter at Maastricht-Belve´ de`re (The Netherlands). Analecta praehistoria Leidensia 25, 1–16. Saban, R. (1979). Les empreintes vasculaires de la face endocra´ nienne des fragments de calotte craˆ nienne des Hommes de la Chaise (Grottes BourgeoisDelaunay) et de Fonte´ chevade. C. r. Acad. Sci. Se´rie D Paris 288, 1379–1382. Schirmer, W. (1998). Garzweiler 4—eine Stecknadel im Heuhaufen der letzten Warmzeit und Eiszeit. Archa¨ ologie im Rheinland 1, 149–152.
Schirmer, W. (1999). Climate and stratigraphy of the last glacial in the Rheinland. Central and Eastern Europe from 50.000–30.000 B.P. Abstracts International Workshop Neanderthal Museum 00, 16–17. Schmid, F. (1983). Pleistoza¨ n. Erla¨ uterungen zu Blatt Nr. 3724 Pattensen. In (P. Rohde, Ed.) Geologische Karte von Niedersachsen 1: 25.000, pp. 43–94. Hannover: Kaestner, Rosdorf. Sergi, S. (1974). Il cranio neandertaliano del Monte Circeo (Circeo I). Roma: Accad. Naz. Lincei. Stoddard, E. (2000). South African apeman skull stirs scientific excitement. [WWW document] http:// dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000426/sc/apeman–safrica– 3.html. Stringer, C., Hublin, J.-J. & Vandermeersch, B. (1984). The origin of anatomically modern humans in Western Europe. In (F. H. Smith & F. Spencer, Eds) The Origins of Modern Humans: A World Survey of the Fossil Evidence, pp. 51–135. New York: Alan Liss. Veil, S., Breest, K., Ho¨ fle, H.-C., Meyer, H.-H., Plisson, H., Urban-Ku¨ ttel, B., Wagner, G. A. & Zoller, L. (1994). Ein mittelpala¨ olithischer Fundplatz aus der Weichsel-Kaltzeit bei Lichtenberg, Lkr. Lu¨ chow-Dannenberg. Germania 72, 1–66. Wahl, J. (1982). Leichenbranduntersuchungen. Pra¨ hist. Z. 57, 1–125. Zedelius-Sanders, M. (1978). Die pala¨ olithischen Funde aus dem Leinetal bei Jeinsen, Stadt Pattensen, Landkreis Hannover. Materialhefte zur Ur- und Fru¨ hgeschichte Niedersachsens 14. Hildesheim: August Lax Verlag.
S. Gaudzinski Ro¨misch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz, Forschungsbereich Altsteinzeit, Schloß Monrepos, 56567 Neuwied, Germany
C. M. Pusch Molecular Genetics Laboratory, University Eye Hospital, 72076 Tu¨bingen, Germany Received 6 July 2000 Revision received 23 March 2001 and accepted 24 April 2001
Hominid skull fragments from Late Pleistocene layers in Leine Valley (Sarstedt, District of Hildesheim, Germany) Three cranial fragments were recovered from coarse-grained deposits dug up by a suction dredge from gravel pits on the Leine river flats in the vicinity of Sarstedt (northwestern Germany). Also recovered were a number of artefacts which, upon careful inspection, could be assigned to the Middle Paleolithic. The geological pattern of the Leine Valley in this region suggests that these fragments were deposited in the lower terrace during a yet undetermined warm period—possibly Bro¨rup or Odderade—during the Weichsel glaciation. However, attribution to the Eemian period or a Saale interstadial cannot be ruled out. The features of the Sarstedt (Sst) I infant temporal are known from Neanderthals (e.g., Weimar-Ehringsdorf, Engis, Krapina 1) and can be seen in specimens from the European late-Homo erectus group as well. Subadult individuals do not always exhibit full development of features characteristic for adults and—to some extent—anticipate the succeeding developmental stage (i.e., neoteny). The Neanderthal autapomorphies characterizing the fragments of the occipital and the parietal are certainly consistent with assigning both unequivocally to the species H. neanderthalensis. The presence of Middle Paleolithic artefacts recovered from the same deposits are commensurate with the presence of Neanderthals. However, there is no clear contextual association of any archaeological and fossil human material. Future DNA research will hopefully add up to the established morphological picture. 2001 Academic Press
Keywords: anatomically
modern human, early Late Pleistocene, hominid skull fragments, middle Paleolithic artefacts, Neanderthal evolution, Sarstedt.
Journal of Human Evolution (2001) 41, 133–140 doi:10.1006/jhev.2001.0484 Available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Introduction Human fossil remains are often not recovered during systematic excavations but unfortunately are either collected as surface finds, as is the case, for example, in Kenya by the Leakey group, or have been recognized at a later date (Grolle, 1998; Stoddard, 2000). In Germany, several potentially significant fossil human remains have been recovered in such circumstances, particularly from sand and/or gravel deposits dredged out of buried strata. Examples of 0047–2484/01/080133+08$35.00/0
such finds during the last two decades include the frontal from Hahno¨fersand (Bra¨uer, 1980), the parietal fragment from Neuwarendorf (Czarnetzki & Trelliso´ Carren˜o, 1999), and the posterior cranial vault from Reilingen (Czarnetzki, 1989; 1991; 1995). Here we report the recovery of three human cranial bone fragments from the same type of deposit by amateur collectors Otrud and Karl-Werner Frangenberg at the locality of Sarstedt in the District of Hildesheim, northwest Germany (Figure 1). 2001 Academic Press
. ET AL.
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Hamburg
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All
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Figure 1. Map showing the site of Sarstedt and further locations where Middle Paleolithic artefacts have been found. 1: Sarstedt (asterisk), 2: Jeinsen, 3: Reden/Hardenbleck/Rethen, 4: Hannover-Do¨ hren, 5: Lehder Berg, 6: Salzgitter-Lebenstedt, 7: Lichtenberg, 8: Bottrop, 9: Herne, 10: WarendorfNeuwarendorf (2–10; filled triangles).
The Sarstedt human remains comprise a relatively complete temporal bone (Sarstedt I=Sst I), an occipital fragment (Sst II), and a fragment of a left parietal (Sst III). These specimens were found on the surface of gravel pits located in the western part of the Sarstedt village. The site is 62 m above sea level and is located at coordinates 949 26.6 east and 5214 12 north. Sst II was discovered on 8 November 1997, in a gravel pit belonging to the company ‘‘Steinha¨ user’’. Sst I and Sst III were found on 2 January 1999, and 30 October 1999, respectively, in a gravel pit belonging to the ‘‘Kies und Bau Union (KBU)’’. Results and discussion Geology The site where the three cranial fragments were recovered lies on the Leine river flats, where the flats have an extension of
112–2 km. The site exhibits the following stratigraphic sequence (youngest to oldest) based especially on the detailed examination of drilling cores number S66, S328 and G17 (Schmid, 1983): layer 4, river flat loam of Holocene context (1–2 m thick); layer 3, gravel from the Leine lower terrace (5–7 m thick), older than the highest level of glaciation (25 ka BP after Schirmer, 1998, 1999); layer 2, fine meltwater sands and clays from the Saale glaciation to a depth of at least 9 m (only present in a narrow channel); and finally layer 1, clayey marl from the Santon Formation, Upper Cretaceous. In the valley incision formed by Saale-age meltwater, the Leine amassed the lower terrace. This occurred possibly even before the late Saale glaciation, but certainly no later than the Weichsel glaciation (Schmid, 1983). All calcified, decalcified, and ironbearing deposits from interglacials, interstadials, and warm oscillations were
135
S 66 E
W RL
80 m
GLT Ls
MS
S G
70 m Sarstedt
Leine Valley SwG RL
SG 60 m
GLT MS
SC 50 m
100 m
500 m
1000 m
1500 m
Figure 2. Geology of the western Leine valley in vicinity of Sarstedt (redrawn by R. Czarnetzki from Schmid, 1983). Abbreviations used: RL=river flat loam of Holocene age, SG=sand and gravel of the Weichsel glaciation, GLT=gravel from lower terrace of Weichsel glaciation, Ls=Loess of Weichsel glaciation, S=sands of Weichsel glaciation, G=gravel of Saale glaciation, MS=Meltwater fine sands of Saale glaciation, SwG=sands with gravel of Elster glaciation, SC=Santon formation from the Upper Cretaceous.
essentially eroded away by subsequent glacial activity. Thus they are either not or negligibly represented in the core profiles. They are comparable to the Holstein-aged clay lenses in the upper Rhine valley, with their warm period fauna, particularly large mammals like Hippopothamus, Cervus elaphus or Elephas antiquus (Bartz, 1982). On the steep western edge of the valley, gravel deposits of the Elster-aged middle terrace (SwG in Figure 2) accumulated (Rauch, 1978). Layer 4 (RL, Figure 2) in this region was removed prior to the onset of dredging. Therefore, bones and artefacts recovered from the dredging activity belonged exclusively to layers 3 or 2 which are of
Pleistocene age (Schmid, 1983). Due to the adhering poor clay and fine sand granules, it can be established that Sst I was imbedded in a tiny residue of an Eem- (>115 ka) or Bro¨ rup- (>65 ka) or Odderade- (>58 ka) aged decalcified layer (Schmid, 1983; Probst, 1986; Frenzel et al., 1992; Schirmer, 1998, 1999), while Sst II and Sst III were imbedded in a nondecalcified residue. Moreover, there is no evidence that the fossil humans originated from humus deposits, which are unequivocal proof for warm periods in this region. The brownish coloring of the three Sst specimens stems from the iron-bearing gravel deposits at the site. According to Hamm (1949) such an effect is particularly characteristic of warm periods
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Figure 3. Different artefacts of erratic flint from Sarstedt. 1: handaxe, 2: bifacially worked scraper, 3: small oval handaxe. Gravel contusions are indicated separately.
and warm phases of the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Traces of incrustations of iron oxide deposits still adhere to Sst II. Hence, these must originate from the (older) horizon B of Saale-age rubble where such dark incrustations are frequently present. The coloring of the younger horizon A is characterized by a more light brownish color without incrustations (Hamm, 1949). Archaeology Field collection by O. and K.-W. Frangenberg (pers. comm.) was not only restricted to human remains. Nine artefacts also were recovered over a period of three years. The artefacts represent handaxes, bifacially worked scrapers and discoidal cores typical for a Middle Paleolithic context (Jakob-Friesen, 1949; Bosinski, 1967; Zedelius-Sanders, 1978; Veil et al., 1994; Pastoors, 1996) (Figure 3). The tools were made of grey erratic flint exhibiting various degrees of patination and gravel contusions.
These features indicate different taphonomic histories for the various artefacts. It remains unclear whether the finds are part of a single archaeological assemblage, originating from various more or less concurrent and/or nonconcurrent sites, or derive from concurrent and/or nonconcurrent so-called ‘‘off-site’’ activities (Roebroeks et al., 1992). Even though tool typology indicates a Middle Paleolithic context, the finds do not contribute to a more precise dating of the recovered human remains. Morphology Sarstedt I consists of an intact right temporal bone (Os temporale) [Figure 4(a)]. In all likelihood, it belongs to a female individual. This assessment is based on the evaluation of the internal acoustic meatus following the methodology of Wahl (1982) and Albrecht (1997) and the unpublished results of research on the petrous part (Pars petrosa) of early infant stage individuals
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Figure 4. Morphology of the three Sarstedt specimens. (a) Lateral view of temporal bone (os temporale) (Sst I). Note the course of the squamous suture (s. squamosa) and the large mastoid portion (pars mastoidea). (b) Rear view of the occipital bone fragment (os occipitale) (Sst II), showing the suprainiac fossa (fossa suprainiaca), the occipital torus (torus occipitalis), and the occipital bun. (c) Internal table (tabula interna) of the left parietal (os parietale) (Sst III) featuring three minor branches (rami minores) of the posterior branch (ramus posterior) of middle meningeal artery (arteria meningea media) and the parietal foramen (foramen parietale) (top=occipital, bottom=frontal portion).
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at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Tu¨ bingen (Graw, 1998; Forschner, 2001). The Sst I individual apparently died in the middle infant (Infans I) stage (approximately 2–4 years of age). The estimate is based on the ossified tympanic ring (anulus tympanicus), while the petrosal apex (apex partis petrosae) is not yet completely ossified. The temporal squama is characterized by a course of the squamosal suture that runs in a straight line from the parietal notch to the apex of this suture. A further feature is the relative length of the pars mastoidea, measured from the parietal notch to asterion, which comprises almost a third of the specimen’s total length in an antero-posterior direction. In both features, this temporal corresponds to the morphological pattern exhibited by temporal bones from Weimar-Ehringsdorf, Engis or Krapina 1, and diverges markedly from those of younger specimens of modern humans. The suture is rounded overall, and the relative size of the mastoid part is smaller which is typical for modern humans but is never observed in Neanderthals (Czarnetzki, pers. obs.; Minugh-Purvis et al., 2000). The mastoid process is small with a convex curvature and a broad single mastoid notch (fissura mastoidea). The curvature displaces the apex of the mastoid medially, as is the case in all representatives of the species Homo neanderthalensis (Czarnetzki, pers. obs.). The external acoustic porus (porus acusticus externus) is similar to that of the Krapina 1 specimen (Radovc˘ ic´ et al., 1988). The mandibular fossa exhibits nearly identical dimensions in antero-posterior and medio-lateral directions. Taking into account the likely age of the specimen, the tympanic part (pars tympanica) is very pronounced, measuring 2·64 mm in anterior thickness. The impressiones digitatae of the cerebral temporal lobes are distinctly formed. The sharp-edged form of the ridges suggests a weak pathogenic effect relating to
a hydrocephalus internus in this specimen (Psenner, 1974). Osseous porotic deposits on the tabula interna are pathological signs of foci of a nonspecific meningitis. These deposits are independent from the hydrocephalus internus in this specimen. Sarstedt II is an occipital fragment consisting almost entirely of the occipital squama and a portion (a few square centimeters) of the nuchal plane from the right side [Figure 4(b)]. Characteristic of this fragment is the noticeably strongly indented lambdoidal suture. The indentations are the result of lambdoid ossicles (Wormian bones), which were not recovered. The specimen also exhibits a distinct suprainiac fossa (28·05 mm long by 12·89 mm high) which is delimited inferiorly by a continuous torus [Figure 4(b)]. Standard radiography and CT scans exhibit continuous and pronounced shadowing on X-rays, which underscores that the torus is indeed present. The occipital squama is strongly distended to the occipital, forming a chignon or occipital bun. All these features are typical of Neanderthals (Stringer et al., 1984; Dean et al., 1998). Vestiges of a sulcus cerebri are formed at the tabula interna, running from inferior lateral to superior medial. A sulcus lunatus can also be observed, which lies further distal in modern humans and is normally located on the cerebellum. Sarstedt III is a posterior fragment of a left parietal [Figure 4(c)] from the region near lambda. It is characterized by arterial impressions (impressiones arteriosae), which could only derive from a prominent posterior ramus of the middle meningeal artery. This variant has been exclusively observed among ancestors of modern humans (Saban, 1979). These impressions are similarly formed to those on the fragment of the parietal recovered from Salzgitter-Lebenstedt (Hublin, 1984). On the other hand, a striking feature of this fragment is its curvature (conspicuously evident in CT scans) at the outer table, which
commences directly at the sagittal suture (sutura sagittalis) and extends laterally. Curvature of this kind is only documented for representatives of the species H. neanderthalensis (Sergi, 1974; Czarnetzki & Trelliso´ Carren˜ o, 1999). The outline of the parietal is totally rounded in Neanderthals, starting at the sagittal suture and ending at the squamosal or parieto–mastoideal suture, while in modern humans the upper part is straighter from the sagittal suture to the temporal line (Czarnetzki & Trelliso´ Carren˜ o, 1999).
Conclusion The three cranial fragments from Sarstedt are characterized by autapomorphies, indicating that they derive from Neanderthals, which are now classified by some researchers as H. neanderthalensis. However, an attribution of the Sst I infant temporal to a late variant of the European H. erectus (H. erectus reilingensis) or to a transitional stage to H. neanderthalensis (perhaps H. heidelbergensis) cannot be excluded with certainty. Although the morphology of H. neanderthalensis is evident in the examined specimens, further research is required to support this taxonomic attribution. Acknowledgements We are indebted to the private collector K.-W. Frangenberg and his wife for providing access to the bone fragments examined in this study, and to R. Czarnetzki for various technical and computational assistance. Furthermore, we would like to thank Dr F. Smith for his critical comments on the manuscript. References Albrecht, M. (1997). Geschlechtsdifferenzierung an der Pars petrosa ossis temporalis. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Tu¨ bingen.
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