The early Upper Paleolithic human skeleton from the Abrigo do Lagar Velho (Portugal) and modern human emergence in Iberia

Abstract

The discovery of an early Upper Paleolithic human burial at the Abrigo do Lagar Velho, Portugal, has provided evidence of early modern humans from southern Iberia. The remains, the largely complete skeleton of a approximately 4-year-old child buried with pierced shell and red ochre, is dated to ca. 24,500 years B.P. The cranium, mandible, dentition, and postcrania present a mosaic of European early modern human and Neandertal features. The temporal bone has an intermediate-sized juxtamastoid eminence. The mandibular mentum osseum and the dental size and proportions, supported by mandibular ramal features, radial tuberosity orientation, and diaphyseal curvature, as well as the pubic proportions align the skeleton with early modern humans. Body proportions, reflected in femorotibial lengths and diaphyseal robusticity plus tibial condylar displacement, as well as mandibular symphyseal retreat and thoracohumeral muscle insertions, align the skeleton with the Neandertals. This morphological mosaic indicates admixture between regional Neandertals and early modern humans dispersing into southern Iberia. It establishes the complexities of the Late Pleistocene emergence of modern humans and refutes strict replacement models of modern human origins.

Figure 1

Lagar Velho 1 in situ, with damaged skull and left forearm elements already removed.

Figure 2

Lingual view of the mandible and dentition, showing the degrees of dental development, the symphyseal retreat, and the prominent right tuberculum laterale. (Black bar and white bar = 1 cm each.)

Figure 3

Anterior view of the mandibular symphysis showing the development of the mentum osseum. Symphyseal height = 24.7 mm.

Figure 4

Anterior view of the long bones. (Black and white bars = 1 cm each.)

Figure 5

Midshaft circumference versus femoral intermetaphyseal diaphyseal length (Upper) and versus tibial intermetaphyseal length (Lower). Black hexagon, Lagar Velho 1; gray pentagons, European Neandertals; gray squares, Qafzeh-Skhul humans; open triangles, cool-temperate recent humans.