D'Anastasio, Ruggero; Wroe, Stephen; Capasso, Luigi; Tuniz, Claudio; Mancini, Lucia; Cesana, Deneb T; Dreossi, Diego; Ravichandiran, Mayoorendra; Attard, Marie; Parr, William C H; Agur, Ann

Author(s)

D'Anastasio, Ruggero

Wroe, Stephen

Capasso, Luigi

Tuniz, Claudio

Mancini, Lucia

Cesana, Deneb T

Dreossi, Diego

Ravichandiran, Mayoorendra

Attard, Marie

Parr, William C H

Agur, Ann

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

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.

Citation

PLoS One, 8(12), p. 1-7

ISSN

1932-6203

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/14713

Publisher

Public Library of Science

Title

Micro-Biomechanics of the Kebara 2 Hyoid and Its Implications for Speech in Neanderthals

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	D'Anastasio, Ruggero Wroe, Stephen Capasso, Luigi Tuniz, Claudio Mancini, Lucia Cesana, Deneb T Dreossi, Diego Ravichandiran, Mayoorendra Attard, Marie Parr, William C H Agur, Ann
Publication Date	2013
Abstract	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.
Citation	PLoS One, 8(12), p. 1-7
ISSN	1932-6203
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/14713
Publisher	Public Library of Science
Title	Micro-Biomechanics of the Kebara 2 Hyoid and Its Implications for Speech in Neanderthals
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Micro-Biomechanics of the Kebara 2 Hyoid and Its Implications for Speech in Neanderthals

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