open access
bioRxiv preprint doi:
https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.02.02.526656;
this version posted February 4, 2023.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.02.02.526656v2.full.pdf
Objectives: Here, we describe the morphology and geologic
context of OH 89, a ~1.8-million-year-old partial hominid
clavicle from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. We compare the
morphology and clavicular curvature of OH 89 to modern
humans, extant apes, and a sample of other hominid fossil
clavicles.
...
Discussion: The OH 89 clavicle derives from an individual
of unknown hominid species with a shoulder breadth similar
to that of a large human male. The curvature of OH 89 is
relatively human-like relative to its length. Our new
methodology for measuring clavicular curvature, combined
with the utilization of t-SNE analyses, provides greater
separation of genera than previously used methods, and
wider use of t-SNE may be useful in paleoanthropological
work.
...
The discovery of the clavicle from partial skeleton of
Australopithecus afarensis KSD-VP-1/1 brought renewed
attention to the clavicle and interpreting its role in the
evolution of the hominid shoulder girdle (e.g., Melillo,
2016; Melillo et al., 2019). Applying new methodological
approaches, Melillo (2016) concluded that all
Australopithecus clavicular remains are indistinguishable
from each other and that the clavicle of A. afarensis has
morphological affinities to both chimpanzees and humans.
...
OH 89, a 1.8 Ma hominid clavicle, falls within the range
of modern humans in absolute size and clavicular curvature.
This finding indicates that there has been little
morphological change in the hominid clavicle in the last
~2 million years. It also suggests that shoulder breadth
(though not necessarily body size) may have been similar
to modern humans as far back as 1.8 Ma.
...
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