Alimentation and nutrition applied to the new fitness disciplines in Italian gym.

Background: The energy balance between inputs and outputs is essential to avoid a reduction in performance, recovery difficulties, hormonal problems, an increased risk of fatigue, injuries and illnesses. Aim: The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether the energy intake assumed by non-professional sportsmen of the new fitness disciplines on the basis of the guidelines present in the literature, meets the needs required by their sporting activity. Methods: The sample consist of 20 non-competitive adult sportsmen (n.10 females; n.10 males) that were voluntarily enrolled in a gym, belonging to the various fitness disciplines: bodybuilders (n = 2); calisthenics (n = 3); crossfitters (n = 15). The subjects underwent an anamnestic-nutritional interview and used a photographic atlas to estimate the energy intake in the training day (in terms of macronutrients, micronutrients and H2O). Results: The results of the study reported: a lower energy intake, the breakdown of macronutrients was suitable for the nutritional indications reported by bibliographic sources, with the exception for protein intake that was higher than the other macronutrients; a lower intake of fibers, mono/polyunsaturated fatty acids; an higher intake of simple sugars, proteins and H2O, and by a normal parameters of carbohydrates, fats and saturated fatty acids. Conclusions: Generally the study has shown that the sample energy intake is extremely low in the training day. Therefore, it is useful to educate sportsmen, coaches and families in order to avoid deficiencies/excess of calories and nutrients which may not be functional for the sporting activity performed.

Generalized dermatitis in the natural mummy of the Roman Catholic nun Marie-Léonie Martin (France, 1863-1941).

OBJECTIVE: To document skin lesions on a mummified individual from the XIX century and to diagnose the pathology based historical documentation and physical examination. MATERIALS: Marie Leonie Martin (1863-1941) was a Roman Catholic nun. Her naturally mummified body is currently preserved in the Monastery of the Visitation in Caen (France). On the occasion of her beatification, the body was exhumed, studied and restored for conservation purposes. METHODS: The mummy was analyzed histologically and with CT imaging. RESULTS: The examination of the body noted areas of skin discoloration of reddish color; the paleopathological investigations revealed the presence of skin lesions (pustules) distributed throughout the body, with the exception of the face, abdomen and palms. The histological analyses of the pustules showed the presence of a central duct for the leakage of exudate, hyperkeratosis of the stratum corneum and a proliferation of cells in the spinous layer (acanthosis) of the epidermis. CONCLUSIONS: The red discoloration of the skin is typical of extensive erythema. SIGNIFICANCE: Our understanding of skin conditions in the past is extremely limited. This study provides the first paleopathological case of diagnosed unclassified endogenous eczema and provides insight into the antiquity and effects of the disease. LIMITATIONS: It was not possible to carry out a genetic analysis due to DNA contamination of the mummy.

Histological and chemical diagnosis of a combat lesion in Triceratops.

In the collective imagination derived from scientific and popular literature, Triceratops often faced each other in combat. Thus, from the second half of the twentieth century, these ceratopsids were described as pugnacious animals. This arises primarily from the interpretation of extracranial fenestrae in ceratopsids being the result of combat trauma. However, the diagnosis of the traumatic nature of these anatomical variants of their neck frill requires evidence of bone healing and remodelling by microscopy analysis. Here, we present the case of the Triceratops horridus known as Big John, which is one of the largest specimens discovered in the Hell Creek Formation (Upper Cretaceous; MT, USA). Its right squamosal bone shows an extrafenestra with irregular margins and signs of inflammation. Microscopy analysis revealed newly formed and healing bone, with histological signs typical of the bone remodelling phase. Chemical analysis revealed sulphur that was derived from glycosaminoglycan's and sulphated glycoproteins of the preosseous osteoid substance present in the healing phases of a bone trauma. Histological and microanalytical analyses confirm that the squamosal fenestra of Big John is the result of a traumatic event, which might indeed have occurred during combat with another Triceratops.

Anatomical variations of the foramen transversarium of cervical vertebrae from the ancient population of Herculaneum (79 CE; Naples, Italy).

Variations in the number, size and shape of the foramina transversaria of cervical vertebrae can affect the anatomical course of vital blood vessels and nerves, with the risk for pathological conditions, like vertebrobasilar insufficiency. This can result in compression of the vertebral artery during neck movements, which is characterised by headache, migraine, difficulties in swallowing, problems with speech and sight, balance disturbances and hearing disorders, among others. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of the diverse anatomical variants of the foramen transversarium in 446 cervical vertebrae from the skeletal remains of 83 victims who died on the ancient beach of Herculaneum (Italy) during the eruption of Vesuvius Volcano in 79 CE. There were complete and incomplete double foramina transversaria in 20.6% of the vertebrae, and absence of foramen transversarium in an atlas (0.2%), a very rare condition in the literature. As the foramen transversarium is a key determinant for correct development of the vertebral artery, evaluations of variations in its number, size and shape provide useful information on the prevalence of these variations in the life and health conditions in the ancient population of Herculaneum.

Sex estimation by odontometrics of nonadult human remains from a contemporary Italian sample.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to develop an odontometric technique for sex estimation based on dental measurements from adult individuals, and to evaluate its applicability and reliability for diagnosis of sex of nonadult skeletal remains. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on the permanent dentition of 132 individuals (70 males, 62 females) from the identified human skeletal collection of the Certosa Cemetery (Bologna, Italy) of the University of Bologna. Binary logistic regression equations were developed based on dental measurements of the permanent teeth of the adult individuals, and these equations were subsequently applied to the permanent dentition of nonadult individuals to estimate their sex. RESULTS: These data show that the canine teeth of both the maxilla and mandible are the most sexually dimorphic teeth in adults, followed by the mandibular second molar, maxillary and mandibular second and first premolars, and mandibular first molar. These data provided correct assignment of sex in 80.4-94.9% of cases, which depended on the measurements used. Of the 26 nonadult individuals of the experimental sample, sex diagnosis was possible for 22, which represented an applicability rate of 84.6% of the individuals. Comparing the sex of these 22 nonadult individuals estimated by odontometrics with the known biological sex, correct assignment was obtained in 90.9% of cases. CONCLUSION: As a method of sex estimation, odontometric analysis of permanent dentition can be used successfully for nonadult human skeletal remains in both forensic and archeological contexts.

Anthropometric profiles and somatotypes of female volleyball and beach volleyball players / Perfiles antropométricos y somatotipos de jugadoras de voleibol femenino y voleibol de playa

The aim was to compare anthropometric profiles, body composition, and somatotypes of female volleyball players grouped according to player status (National League Divisions) and function. The study assessed 62 volleyball players and 12 beach volleyball players (mean age, 23.58, s = 7.74 years). Anthropometric measures included height, body mass, body circumferences and diameters, adipose skinfold thickness. Data processing using a dietetic software package provided body mass index, fat mass percentage, arm muscular area, thigh muscular area, and somatotype. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics version 22. Division B volleyball players were taller than those in Division C (169.19, s = 6.68 cm vs. 165.40, s = 6.19 cm; P <0.05), but showed lower arm muscular area (34.77, s = 3.57 cm2 vs. 40.06, s = 7.27 cm2; p <0.05) and mesomorphy (3.40, s = 1.21 vs. 4.84, s = 2.10; P <0.05). For player functions, blockers were the tallest (172.38, s = 4.18 cm; P <0.05) and showed the highest ectomorphy (3.08, s = 1.02; P <0.05), setters showed the highest fat mass percentage (26.38 %, s = 2.99 %: P <0.05), and 'liberos' showed a more compact mesomorphy (5.46, s = 2.13) and low ectomorphy (1.58, s = 0.90). The anthropometric data showed few significant differences between the volleyball Divisions, suggesting that promotion up the Divisions is due to technical ability rather than physical qualities. The anthropometric profiles of the players varied according to their functions within their volleyball team.

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar los perfiles antropométricos, la composición corporal y los somatotipos de jugadoras de voleibol agrupadas según el estado de jugador (División de la Liga Nacional) y la función. El estudio evaluó 62 jugadoras de voleibol y 12 jugadoras de voleibol de playa (edad media, 23,58, s = 7,74 años). Las medidas antropométricas incluyeron altura, masa corporal, circunferencias y diámetros corporales, y grosor del pliegue cutáneo adiposo. Los datos se analizaron mediante un software proporcionando el índice de masa corporal, el porcentaje de masa grasa, el área muscular del brazo, el área muscular del muslo y el somatotipo. El análisis estadístico se realizó con el software SPSS Statistics versión 22. Las jugadoras de voleibol de la División B eran más altas que las de la División C (169,19, s = 6,68 cm vs. 165,40, s = 6,19 cm; P <0,05), pero mostraron una zona muscular del brazo inferior (34,77, s = 3,57 cm2 vs. 40,06, s = 7,27 cm2; p <0,05) y mesomorfia (3,40, s = 1,21 vs. 4,84, s = 2,10; P <0,05). Para las funciones del jugador, las bloqueadoras fueron las más altas (172,38, s = 4,18 cm; p <0,05) y mostraron la ectomorfia más alta (3,08, s = 1,02; p <0,05), las colocadoras mostraron el mayor porcentaje de masa grasa (26,38 %, s = 2,99 %: p <0,05), y los "liberos" mostraron una mesomorfia más compacta (5,46, s = 2,13) y ectomorfia baja (1,58, s = 0,90). Los datos antropométricos mostraron pocas diferencias significativas entre las divisiones de voleibol, lo que sugiere que la promoción de las divisiones se debe a la capacidad técnica más que a las cualidades físicas. Los perfiles antropométricos de las jugadoras variaron según sus funciones dentro de su equipo de voleibol.

Dental microwear texture analysis of Homo sapiens sapiens: Foragers, farmers, and pastoralists.

OBJECTIVES: The current study seeks to determine if a sample of foragers, farmers, and pastoralists are distinguishable based on their dental microwear texture signatures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included a sample of 719 individuals from 51 archeological sites (450 farmers, 192 foragers, 77 pastoralists). All were over age 12 and sexes were pooled. Using a Sensofar® white-light confocal profiler we collected dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) data from a single first or second molar from each individual. We leveled and cleaned data clouds following standard procedures and analyzed the data with Sfrax® and Toothfrax® software. The DMTA variables were complexity and anisotropy. Statistics included ANOVA with partial eta squared and Hedges's g. We also performed a follow-up K-means cluster analysis. RESULTS: We found significant differences between foragers and farmers and pastoralists for complexity and anisotropy, with foragers having greater complexity than either the farmers or the pastoralists. The farmers and pastoralists had greater anisotropy than the foragers. The Old World foragers had significantly higher anisotropy values than New World foragers. Old and New World farmers did not differ. Among the Old World farmers, those dating from the Neolithic through the Late Bronze Age had higher complexity values than those from the Iron Age through the medieval period. The cluster analysis discerned foragers and farmers but also indicated similarity between hard food foragers and hard food farmers. DISCUSSION: Our findings reaffirm that DMTA is capable of distinguishing human diets. We found that foragers and farmers, in particular, differ in their microwear signatures across the globe. There are some exceptions, but nothing that would be unexpected given the range of human diets and food preparation techniques. This study indicates that in general DMTA is an efficacious means of paleodietary reconstruction in humans.

Pseudopathological vertebral changes in a young individual from Herculaneum (79 C.E.).

Post mortem abnormal modification of bone are known as pseudopathologies. The geochemical characteristic of the burial soil and/or the presence of biological agents may produce marked changes in bone preservation. This could be the case for a young individual, E74, from Herculaneum, which was a Roman town near Naples completely destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE. E74 is an incomplete skeleton of a male individual of 7-8 years of age. Its second and third cervical vertebrae, the eighth thoracic vertebra and the first lumbar vertebra show a septum dividing the vertebral foramen. This condition could be diagnosed as diastematomyelia that consists of the splitting of the spinal cord or cauda equina. In particular Type I malformations consist of two hemicords separated into two dural tubes by a bone septum. The gross anatomy and histological aspects of the vertebrae and their septa were investigated through macroscopic, microscopic, radiographic and chemical analyses. The results demonstrate that the vertebral septum is constituted by three layers of inorganic substances deposited at different times on a thin, probably organic, substrate (original meninges?). The central layer contain framboidal pyrite, that is a sedimentary mineral rarely found in ancient human skeletons. The septum splitting the vertebral canal of individual E74 is consequent to a taphonomic event and is not due to a pathological condition. Distinguishing between ante and post mortem alterations can be a challenging exercise even for the experienced paleopathologists and, as this case indicates, paleopathological diagnoses should be supported by detailed examinations.

Dientes fósiles de Carcharocles megalodon: la colección del Museo Universitario de Chieti (Italia). Parte I: análisis morfométrico / Fossil teeth of Carcharocles megalodon: the collection of the University Museum of Chieti (Italy). Part I: morphometric analysis

La especie extinta de tiburón Carcharocles megalodon (Clase: Chondrichthyes; Orden: Lamniformes) es considerado uno de los depredadores más grandes y más poderosos que ha poblado los mares templados de todo el mundo entre el Mioceno medio y el Plioceno (15,9-2,6 Ma). La reconstrucción de su historia evolutiva y ecología se basa principalmente en el estudio morfológico y métrico de los dientes, que representan la abrumadora mayoría de los restos fósiles de esta especie con esqueleto cartilaginoso hallados hasta hoy. En el presente artículo presentamos las características morfológicas y métricas de los dientes de Carcharocles megalodon que se conservan en el Museo Universitario de Chieti (Italia). La colección se compone de nueve dientes de la arcada superior, que pertenecerían a diferentes ejemplares de tamaño variable entre los 6,27-14,50 m y los 2.510-35.918 kg. de peso. Los dientes implementan el registro fósil existente de Carcharocles megalodon, de modo que los datos morfométricos recabados contribuirán a mejorar el conocimiento de los estudios filogenéticos y ecológicos de esta especie.

The extinct species of shark Carcharocles megalodon (Class: Chondrichthyes; Order: Lamniformes) is considered one of the largest and most powerful predators that populated the temperate seas around the world between the middle Miocene and the Pliocene periods (15.9-2.6 My). The reconstruction of its evolutionary history and ecology is based mainly on the morphological and metric studies of the teeth, which represent the overwhelming majority of the fossil remains of this cartilaginous skeleton species. In this article we present the morphological and metric characteristics of the teeth of Carcharocles megalodon that are housed in the University Museum of Chieti (Italy). In particular, the collection is composed of nine teeth of the upper arch, which belonged to different specimens of variable size and weight (total length range: 6.27-14.50 m; weight range: 2,510-35,918 kg). The teeth implement the existing fossil record of Carcharocles megalodon, so that the morphometric data collected will contribute to improve knowledge of the phylogenetic and ecological studies of this species.

Dientes fósiles de Carcharocles megalodon: la colección del Museo Universitario de Chieti (Italia). Parte II: análisis paleopatológico / Fossil teeth of Carcharocles megalodon: the collection of the University Museum of Chieti (Italy). Part II: paleopathological analysis

La paleopatología es la ciencia que estudia el origen y la evolución de las enfermedades del pasado. El interés por esta disciplina deriva del hecho de que la frecuencia y la distribución de las patologías que han afectado a las especies extintas se correlacionan con su ecología y etología. Esta suposición también es válida en el caso de Carcharocles megalodon, el tiburón más grande jamás existido, situado en lo alto de la cadena alimenticia y que vivió en los mares templados desde el Mioceno medio hasta el Plioceno (15,9-2,6 Ma). En el presente artículo presentamos las alteraciones patológicas de los dientes de Carcharocles megalodon que se conservan en el Museo Universitario de Chieti (Italia). La colección se compone de nueve dientes de la arcada superior, todos ellos con presencia de alteraciones patológicas correspondientes a defectos del desarrollo y traumas de la corona. Un diente en particular (espécimen #165), presenta una aposición anómala del esmalte sobre la superficie labial, que corresponde a una condición no descrita en la literatura. La colección del Museo Universitario de Chieti enriquece el registro paleopatológico relativamente pobre existente, contribuyendo a completar el conocimiento sobre la paleobiología de Carcharocles megalodon.

Paleopathology is the science that studies the origin and evolution of diseases. The interest in this discipline derives from the fact that the frequency and distribution of the pathologies that have affected the extinct species, correlate with their ecology and ethology. This assumption is also valid in the case of Carcharocles megalodon, the largest shark that ever existed, located at the top of the food chain and that lived in temperate seas from the middle Miocene to the Pliocene periods (15.9-2.6 My). In the present article we present the pathological alterations of the teeth of Carcharocles megalodon housed in the University Museum of Chieti (Italy). The collection consists of nine teeth of the upper arch, all of them with pathological alterations corresponding to developmental defects and crown trauma. A particular tooth (specimen #165) presents an anomalous apposition of the enamel on the labial surface, a condition not yet described in the literature. The collection of the University Museum of Chieti enriches the existing relatively poor paleopathological record, and could improve the knowledge of the paleobiology of Carcharocles megalodon.

Hemifacial microsomia (oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum) in an individual from the Teramo Sant'Anna archaeological site (7th-12th centuries of the Common Era, Italy).

BACKGROUND: This study is based in an analysis of the skeletal remains of an adult male from the Teramo Sant'Anna archaeological site (7th-12th centuries of the Common Era, Teramo, Italy). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The individual shows distinct abnormalities that principally involve asymmetric hypoplasia and dysmorphogenesis of the facial skeleton. The combination of these findings and the absence of abnormalities of the spine strongly suggest diagnosis of the congenital malformation known as hemifacial microsomia. This very heterogeneous syndrome affects primarily aural, ocular, oral and mandibular development. Despite the lack of clinical information and the absence of soft tissue, it was possible to perform a differential diagnosis for this palaeopathological case. Mastication was probably altered considering that the mandible is extremely asymmetric and lacks true condyles. The temporomandibular joints are present, but the right one is hypoplastic and abnormal in shape. There is evidence of bilateral dislocation, and the facial muscles are hypertrophic. CONCLUSIONS: This case represents an important contribution to the palaeopathological literature because this is an uncommon condition that has not been widely documented in ancient skeletal remains.

Scheuermann's disease in a juvenile male from the late Roman necropolis of Torrenueva (3rd-4th century CE, Granada, Spain).

This study details a severe case of Scheuermann's disease (SD) in a well-preserved skeleton of a juvenile male (designated TOR302), dated to 3rd-4th century CE, from the late Roman necropolis of Torrenueva (Granada, Spain). Individual TOR302 shows an evident kyphotic curve in the thoraco-lumbar spine, which is characterised by: (i) vertebral bodies of thoracic vertebra T2, thoracic segment T4-T9, and thoraco-lumbar segment T12-L2 wedged at >5°; (ii) slight anterior extensions of the epiphyseal ring; (iii) Schmorl's nodes on the superior and/or inferior plates; and (iv) a Cobb angle of 75°, derived from thoracic segments T4-T9. In addition, TOR302 shows other skeletal malformations as the secondary results of abnormal growth, due to altered biomechanical forces imposed by the spinal deformity, including: (i) lateral distortion of the spine that causes a slight secondary scoliotic curve; (ii) pelvic obliquity; and (iii) discrepancy in the length of the limbs. We argue that the secondary skeletal abnormalities allowed the individual to adapt to his spinal deformity meaning he was able to walk without the aid of a stick. Despite SD being a common modern clinical finding, few cases have been reported in ancient skeletal remains. This case therefore represents an important contribution to the palaeopathological literature.

Estimation of date of death through wound healing of an extraction socket: A case report.

Surgical extraction of teeth due to dental pathologies is a relatively common procedure in modern man. The healing of the wound that results occurs in gradual and sequential stages, such that the analysis of this repair process can be very useful in forensic investigations on human remains. The following study reports on a particular case where the remodeling of a tooth socket allowed an estimation of the time that had elapsed from the day of the surgical extraction of the tooth to the time of death. The corpse was that of a woman of 34 years. It was in an advanced state of decomposition, as it was largely skeletonized. Macroscopic, radiographic, and histological examinations of the oral cavity showed the initial stages of alveolar bone remodeling of the first left mandibular molar, which was characterized by: (i) a small reduction in the vertical height of the vestibular surface with respect to the theoretical original position of the tooth; (ii) resorption of the intra-alveolar septum and lamina dura; and (iii) formation of new immature bone, which covered the entire inner surface of the socket. This study established that the subject died 13-42days after the tooth extraction. Knowing the date of the dental extraction provided by the police investigation, it was possible to provide an estimate of the date of death.

Congenital Anatomical Variant of the Clavicle.

The aim of this study is to present a rare abnormality of the clavicle (Code: SGS01) that was discovered in an ossuary in the Church of San Gaetano (Sulmona, central Italy; XVII-XIX centuries CE). In the middle third, the clavicle had three areas with losses of substance in the form of oval-shaped foramina with maximum diameters of 1-2 cm that were located in the anterior and superior surfaces of the diaphysis. The margins of these foramina were well defined and rounded, and the surfaces of the canal walls were smooth. Additionally, there were no zones of bony activity or reactive changes around the foramina. This new congenital anomaly of the clavicle and blood vessels is consistent with a variant that might have originated during fetal growth in which the subclavian vein or artery remained included during the process of ossification of the clavicle. Anat Rec, 300:1401-1408, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Bone natural autofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy: Preliminary results of a novel useful tool to distinguish between forensic and ancient human skeletal remains.

The fast, high-throughput distinction between palaeoanthropological/archaeological remains and recent forensic/clinical bone samples is of vital importance in the field of medico-legal science. In this paper, a novel dating method was developed using the autofluorescence of human bones and the confocal laser scanning microscope as the means to distinguish between archaeological and forensic anthropological skeletal findings. Human bones exhibit fluorescence, typically induced by natural antibiotics that are absorbed by collagen, and provide secondary, exogenous fluorophores. However, primary natural fluorescence (or autofluorescence) caused by enigmatic endogenous fluorophores is also present as a micro-phenomenon, whose nature is still obscure. Here, we show that the endogenous fluorophores are mucopolysaccharides of the Rouget-Neumann sheath and, more relevant, that the intensity of the natural fluorescence in human bone decreases in a relationship to the antiquity of the samples. These results suggest that the autofluorescence of bone is a promising technique for the assessment of skeletal remains that may be potentially of medico-legal interest. A larger study is proposed to confirm these findings and to create a predictive model between the autofluorescence intensity and the time since death.

Timing of maxillofacial-oral injuries in an individual of the ancient city of Herculaneum (79 AD, Naples, Italy): a case report.

BACKGROUND: This study is based on the skeletal remains of an adult female from the ancient city of Herculaneum (Naples, Italy), who was a victim of the eruption of the nearby Vesuvius Volcano on 24-25 August, AD 79. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Examination of the maxillofacial region revealed evidence of unilateral condylar fracture and dislocation, as well as traumatic dental injuries. The injuries observed might have been the consequence of a direct blow to the mental region that was transmitted in a direction that raised the mandible, causing an indirect fracture in the right condylar neck when the condylar head collided directly with the temporal glenoid fossa. This indirect impact also resulted in partial fracture of three dental crowns due to the violent impact of the arches between them, and the sharp impact together of the upper and lower teeth. It is suggested that these injuries were sustained due to an accidental fall when the individual was between 7 and 15 years old, which is supported by the morphology, location and extension of the injuries, and the characterization of the impact. CONCLUSION: These results are an illustration of how dental anthropology and forensic approaches can be applied with great benefit to archaeological skeletal remains.

Odontometric sex estimation on three populations of the Iron Age from Abruzzo region (central-southern Italy).

BACKGROUND: In archaeological contexts, sex identification is a necessary step for a complete reconstruction of the biological profile of the individuals and to know demographic patterns of the population, nutritional stress, diseases, growth and development, and distribution of pathological conditions. METHODS: This study is based on the skeletal remains of 149 individuals from three protohistoric populations in close temporal and geographic proximity in Abruzzo region (central-southern Italy): Opi, Alfedena and Bazzano. It has been possible to develop logistic regression equations based on dental measurements of permanent teeth of adult individuals whose sex had previously been estimated based on pelvic and cranial features. These equations were subsequently applied to the permanent dentition of immature individuals and adult individuals whose sex was estimated as uncertain or unknown in order to estimate their sex. RESULTS: The mandibular canine is the tooth with the greatest sexual dimorphism in adults, followed by both maxillary and mandibular first and second molars, providing a correct assignment of sex ranging from 83.7% and 95.9% of cases, depending on the dimensions used for the construction of these equations. Of the 29 individuals in the target sample (14 adultus, 10 juvenilis and 5 infans), sex estimation was possible for 23 (10 adultus, 8 juvenilis and 5 infans), representing an applicability rate of 79.31% of the individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that odontometrics is a useful tool for sex estimation and allows to increase the data to perform more complete paleodemographic studies on archaeological populations.

Micro-biomechanics of the Kebara 2 hyoid and its implications for speech in Neanderthals.

The description of a Neanderthal hyoid from Kebara Cave (Israel) in 1989 fuelled scientific debate on the evolution of speech and complex language. Gross anatomy of the Kebara 2 hyoid differs little from that of modern humans. However, whether Homo neanderthalensis could use speech or complex language remains controversial. Similarity in overall shape does not necessarily demonstrate that the Kebara 2 hyoid was used in the same way as that of Homo sapiens. The mechanical performance of whole bones is partly controlled by internal trabecular geometries, regulated by bone-remodelling in response to the forces applied. Here we show that the Neanderthal and modern human hyoids also present very similar internal architectures and micro-biomechanical behaviours. Our study incorporates detailed analysis of histology, meticulous reconstruction of musculature, and computational biomechanical analysis with models incorporating internal micro-geometry. Because internal architecture reflects the loadings to which a bone is routinely subjected, our findings are consistent with a capacity for speech in the Neanderthals.