Palaeoanthropology and the study of pre-adult fossil remains

Debra R Bolter^{1

2}, Noel Cameron³, Christopher A Wolfe⁴, Julia C Boughner⁵, Patrick Mahoney⁶, Lawrence Schell⁷, Tesla A Monson⁸, Keneiloe Molopyane⁹, Lee Berger^{10

11

12}, Robin Bernstein¹³, Steven E Churchill¹⁴, Sarah Elton¹⁵, John Hawks^{10

16}, Angeline B Leece^{17

18}, Jill Pruetz¹⁹, Kyra E Stull²⁰

Affiliations

¹ Anthropology Department, Modesto Junior College, Modesto, CA, USA.
² Anthropology Department, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA, USA.
³ School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
⁴ Anthropology Department, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
⁵ Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of the Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
⁶ Chemistry and Forensic Science, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
⁷ Anthropology Department, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA.
⁸ Anthropology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA.
⁹ Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
¹⁰ Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
¹¹ National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USA.
¹² The Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, DC, USA.
¹³ Anthropology Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
¹⁵ Anthropology Department, Durham University, Durham, UK.
¹⁶ Anthropology Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹⁷ Department of Archaeology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
¹⁸ Geoarchaeology and Archaeometry Research group, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia.
¹⁹ Anthropology Department, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA.
²⁰ Anthropology Department, University of Reno, Nevada, USA.

PMID: 40586225
DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2025.2512021

Free article

Review

Palaeoanthropology and the study of pre-adult fossil remains

Debra R Bolter et al. Ann Hum Biol. 2025 Jun.

Free article

. 2025 Jun;52(sup1):2512021.

doi: 10.1080/03014460.2025.2512021. Epub 2025 Jun 30.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Anthropology Department, Modesto Junior College, Modesto, CA, USA.
² Anthropology Department, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA, USA.
³ School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
⁴ Anthropology Department, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
⁵ Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of the Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
⁶ Chemistry and Forensic Science, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
⁷ Anthropology Department, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA.
⁸ Anthropology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA.
⁹ Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
¹⁰ Centre for the Exploration of the Deep Human Journey, School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
¹¹ National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USA.
¹² The Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, DC, USA.
¹³ Anthropology Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
¹⁵ Anthropology Department, Durham University, Durham, UK.
¹⁶ Anthropology Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
¹⁷ Department of Archaeology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
¹⁸ Geoarchaeology and Archaeometry Research group, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia.
¹⁹ Anthropology Department, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA.
²⁰ Anthropology Department, University of Reno, Nevada, USA.

PMID: 40586225
DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2025.2512021

Abstract

Context: This review paper captures the topics and discussions during a workshop held in April 2023 in Minden, Nevada, USA regarding the study of pre-adult hominin fossil specimens.

Objective: Perspectives from diverse academic fields were merged to articulate, examine and clarify the many approaches available to interpret fossil remains and reconstruct our hominin ancestors.

Methods: The Wenner-Gren Workshop was organised to address the increasing collection of pre-adult hominin remains. Sixteen scientists from North America, Europe, Australia and Africa participated.

Results: The sizeable sample of immature fossil hominin specimens provided the opportunity to reflect on the state of maturity research, highlight multi-disciplinary advances, and identify future areas for study.

Conclusion: The workshop advanced efforts to understand human evolution, particularly the selective pressures shaping patterns of growth and maturity across a broad range of hominin species.

Keywords: Hominin; fossil; multi-disciplinary; paleoanthropology; pre-adult.

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Palaeoanthropology and the study of pre-adult fossil remains

Affiliations

Palaeoanthropology and the study of pre-adult fossil remains

Authors

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Abstract

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LinkOut - more resources

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Miscellaneous