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Giorgio Manzi

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Phone: (+39) 06 4991 2271
Address: Università di Roma La Sapienza
Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale
Museo di Antropologia "Giuseppe Sergi"

Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma. Italy

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Université Poitiers

Monash University

Sebastien Couette

Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes

Lauren Halenar-Price

SUNY Farmingdale

Dionisios Youlatos

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Hunter College

Marcelo Tejedor

Yaneth Muñoz-Saba

Universidad Nacional de Colombia

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Papers by Giorgio Manzi

A geometric morphometric approach to airorhynchy and functional cranial morphology in Alouatta (Atelidae, Primates)

The skull of the howler monkeys (Alouatta spp., Atelidae) is characterised by a generalised rotat... more The skull of the howler monkeys (Alouatta spp., Atelidae) is characterised by a generalised rotation of the splanchnocranium with respect to the neurocranial antero-posterior axis. This process, referred to as airorhynchy, is the result of a derived structural relationship between basicranium, vault, and facial districts. A number of variables-such as diet and social behaviour-probably co-evolved with the remodelling of the cranial functional matrix. We used a landmark-based analysis to explore the geometrical model of the skull in the genus Alouatta. Shape comparisons were performed by using superimposition procedures and the Euclidean distance matrix. In the latter analysis, a method is proposed in order to visualise variations of form through chromatic maps and interpolant functions. The comparison with other genera of Atelidae shows a marked neurocranial flattening in Alouatta as well as muzzle projection and enlargement, nuchal flattening, relative basicranial lengthening, and tilting of the occipital foramen. Only minor differences were visible in relation to facial shape, suggesting that significant changes depend on the relationship between splanchnocranium and neurocranium, rather than on localised anatomical variations. The limited vault development constrained by the basicranial structures probably involved the extreme retroflexion of the basal angle. Airorhynchy can be interpreted as an additional adjustment to fit this structural network beyond the biomechanical range of the cranial base hypoflexion. This cranial functional matrix is directly related to feeding and social changes, representing an interesting evolutionary "package". In Pongo pygmaeus a similar process is associated with a different structural pattern, mostly related to the flattening of the upper facial structures, maxillary midsagittal enlargement, and palatal tilting.

Endocranial traits. Prevalence and distribution in a recent human population

European journal of anatomy, 2003

A recent human population from Italy was analysed for the prevalence and expression of endocrania... more A recent human population from Italy was analysed for the prevalence and expression of endocranial characters, as well as for the presence of some ectocranial epigenetic traits. The purpose was to provide a supplementary database for the characterisation of some features used to compare the variability of extant and extinct human groups. Many differences between males and females are the result of allometric trajectories, with males shifted to a larger size. In contrast, other features may be unrelated to size and thus interpreted as real sexual characters. The cranial base angle is slightly but significantly related to size, particularly to the vertical skull development. The digital impressions are more expressed in males but there is no evidence of a correlation with size. Arachnoid granulations show no relationship with sex, age or size. The middle meningeal vessels are extremely variable but with a general dominance of the anterior branch providing the parietal supply, and with the left system slightly more developed than the right. The middle meningeal pattern is not related to the venous sinuses pattern. Some further aspects of the expression of these features are discussed, and data for the prevalence of epigenetic traits are reported.

Saccopastore 1: the earliest Neanderthal? A new look at an old cranium

Springer eBooks, 2006

Focal topics for volumes in the series will include systematic paleontology of all vertebrates (f... more Focal topics for volumes in the series will include systematic paleontology of all vertebrates (from agnathans to humans), phylogeny reconstruction, functional morphology, Paleolithic archaeology, taphonomy, geochronology, historical biogeography, and biostratigraphy. Other fields (e.g., paleoclimatology, paleoecology, ancient DNA, total organismal community structure) may be considered if the volume theme emphasizes paleobiology (or archaeology). Fields such as modeling of physical processes, genetic methodology, nonvertebrates or neontology are out of our scope. Volumes in the series may either be monographic treatments (including unpublished but fully revised dissertations) or edited collections, especially those focusing on problem-oriented issues, with multidisciplinary coverage where possible.

Italian prehistoric promenades: the human fossil sample from the earliest European to the latest Neandertals

In the last decade we have witnessed in Italy to a considerable increase of the fossil record per... more In the last decade we have witnessed in Italy to a considerable increase of the fossil record pertaining to human evolution. A review of the Early-to-Late Pleistocene hominids found so far in Italy includes several fragmentary and more complete skeletal and dental remains, spanning from the earliest evidence of Paleolithic settlements in Europe (in a time span close to 1 million years ago) up to very late Neandertals (around 35 thousand years ago). Particularly significant specimens are the adult calvaria from Ceprano (Lazio) –good candidate, side-byside with the Atapuerca TD6 fossil assemblage (Spain), to represent the ancestry of the diverging lineages that respectively led to Neandertals and modern humans– the virtually complete “pre-Neandertal” skeleton discovered near Altamura (Puglia), the well known early Neandertal crania from Saccopastore (Roma), and more typical Neandertal specimens from various caves of Monte Circeo (Lazio). After about 30 thousand years ago, only skeletal remains of anatomically modern humans are found, spread across the entire peninsula. Even from a general overview, it is noticeable that Italian specimens and samples match the European fossil record in several aspects, providing a significant contribution to our knowledge about the trajectories of human evolution that involved the entire continent

CT-based description and phyletic evaluation of the archaic human calvarium from Ceprano, Italy

The anatomical record, 2005

The discovery in 1994, of a fossilized human calvarium near Ceprano, Italy, dated about 800-900 t... more The discovery in 1994, of a fossilized human calvarium near Ceprano, Italy, dated about 800-900 thousand years before present, opened a new page for the study of human evolution in Europe. It extended the continental fossil record over the boundary between Early and Middle Pleistocene for the first time and revealed the cranial morphology of humans that where probably ancestral to both Neanderthals and modern Homo sapiens. A tomographic analysis of the Italian specimen is reported here in order to describe size and shape, vascular traces, and other features of the endocranium, as well as some relevant ectocranial traits (particularly of the frontal region). Our results show that the Ceprano calvarium displays plesiomorphies shared by early Homo taxa, involving a general archaic phenotype. At the same time, the presence of some derived features suggests a phylogenetic relationship with the populations referred to the subsequent polymorphic species H. heidelbergensis. The morphology of the supraorbital structures is different from the double-arched browridge of the African H. ergaster, while its superior shape shows similarities with African Middle Pleistocene specimens (Bodo, Kabwe). In contrast, the relationship between supraorbital torus and frontal squama points to an archaic pattern of the relationship between face and vault, associated to moderately narrow frontal lobes and limited development of the upper parietal areas. Despite a nonderived endocranial shape, the increase of cranial capacity (related to a general endocranial widening) and the probable absence of a clear occipital projection also suggest an evolutionary independence from the Asian H. erectus lineage. This analysis therefore supports the conclusion that the Ceprano calvarium represents the best available candidate for the ancestral phenotype of the cranial variation observed among Middle Pleistocene fossil samples in Africa and Europe. Nevertheless, a proper taxonomic interpretation of this crucial specimen remains puzzling.

Size and shape of human cranial sutures-A new scoring method

American Journal of Anatomy, Mar 1, 1991

A method for the differentiation of sutural patterns of the human cranial vault is introduced. Th... more A method for the differentiation of sutural patterns of the human cranial vault is introduced. Three criteria of differentiation are considered, one for size and two for shape: (1) maximal shape extension; (2) basic configuration; (3) secondary protrusion. The method is illustrated here for the coronal and lambdoid sutures of 70 recent Italian skulls (35 adult males and 35 adult females). Differences between coronal and lambdoid sutural size and shape can be detected analytically; for example, the coronal suture commonly shows lesser degrees of shape extension, a simpler basic configuration, and an absence of secondary protrusion. Heterogeneity within each suture, as well as a relationship among corresponding sections and between the three criteria adopted, have been also observed; symmetry predominates for both the sutures, and sexual differences are slight.

Paleoneurology of an “early” Neandertal: endocranial size, shape, and features of Saccopastore 1

Journal of Human Evolution, Jun 1, 2008

The Saccopastore 1 cranium was found near Rome in 1929, and its most probable age is about 120 ka... more The Saccopastore 1 cranium was found near Rome in 1929, and its most probable age is about 120 ka (OIS 5e). The Neandertal morphology of the specimen was recognized just after the discovery by the Italian anthropologist S. Sergi, and subsequently confirmed by several authors. The present paper provides a complete description and analysis of the endocranial shape and features of this specimen, considering anatomical traits, metrics, and landmark data. The main endocranial diameters and the vascular traces resemble the morphology displayed by Middle Pleistocene humans, although lacking some traits described in the European samples referred to as ante-Neandertals. Nevertheless, proportions and endocranial shape support a definite Neandertal morphology, mostly taking into account the lateral development of the frontal lobes and the shape of the parietal areas. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that the Neandertal neurocranial architecture was present since at least OIS 5, as already suggested on the basis of ectocranial morphology.

At the Archaic/Modern Boundary of the Genus Homo: The Neandertals From Grotta Breuil

Current Anthropology, Apr 1, 1995

... are best considered as the expression of geographic (and adaptive?) variation instead of adia... more

Developmental stress and cranial hypostosis by epigenetic trait occurrence and distribution: an exploratory study on the Italian Neandertals

Journal of Human Evolution, Jun 1, 1996

Developmental stress and cranial hypostosis by epigenetic trait occurrence and distribution: an e... more Developmental stress and cranial hypostosis by epigenetic trait occurrence and distribution: an exploratory study on the Italian Neandertals The occurrence and distribution of 35 cranial epigenetic traits in the Italian Neandertals (Saccopastore 1 and 2, Guattari 1) were examined according to morpho-functional cranial regions and with respect to a distinction between hypostosis (i.e., weak osseous development, arrested morphogenesis, retention of infantile features) and hyperostosis (i.e. excess of ossification, not reaching the pathological condition). The results, expressed as hypostotic scores, showed higher levels of hypostosis in these Neandertal specimens than in recent European samples. The highest expressions of hypostotis were observed in those regions of the Neandertal cranium where disequilibrium between skeletal and cerebral growth factors was expected. These results-interpreted as expression of developmental stress-are consistent with a heterochronic interpretation of the development of the Neandertal cranium; namely, a faster ossification of the cranial vault relative to brain growth rates.

The Science of Human Origins

Our understanding of human origins has been revolutionised by new discoveries in the past two dec... more Our understanding of human origins has been revolutionised by new discoveries in the past two decades. In this book, three leading paleoanthropologists and physical scientists illuminate, in friendly, accessible language, the amazing findings behind the latest theories. They describe new scientific and technical tools for dating, DNA analysis, remote survey, and paleoenvironmental assessment that enabled recent breakthroughs in research. They also explain the early development of the modern human cortex, the evolution of symbolic language and complex tools, and our strange cousins from Flores and Denisova

The power of 100

Journal of Anthropological Sciences, Dec 30, 2022

Pan‐Africanism vs. single‐origin of <i>Homo sapiens</i> : Putting the debate in the light of evolutionary biology

Evolutionary Anthropology, Jul 1, 2022

The scenario of Homo sapiens origin/s within Africa has become increasingly complex, with a pan-A... more The scenario of Homo sapiens origin/s within Africa has become increasingly complex, with a pan-African perspective currently challenging the long-established single-origin hypothesis. In this paper, we review the lines of evidence employed in support of each model, highlighting inferential limitations and possible terminological misunderstandings. We argue that the metapopulation scenario envisaged by pan-African proponents well describes a mosaic diversification among late Middle Pleistocene groups. However, this does not rule out a major contribution that emerged from a single population where crucial derived features-notably, a globular braincase-appeared as the result of a punctuated, cladogenetic event. Thus, we suggest that a synthesis is possible and propose a scenario that, in our view, better reconciles with consolidated expectations in evolutionary theory. These indicate cladogenesis in allopatry as an ordinary pattern for the origin of a new species, particularly during phases of marked climatic and environmental instability.

Stratigraphy, sedimentology, and archaeology of Middle Pleistocene localities near Ceprano, Campogrande area, Italy

Quaternary Research, Nov 8, 2019

The Ceprano human calvarium, dated around 400,000 yr, is a well-known fossil specimen. It represe... more The Ceprano human calvarium, dated around 400,000 yr, is a well-known fossil specimen. It represents significant evidence of hominin presence in the Italian peninsula during the Middle Pleistocene and may be considered representative of an archaic variant of the widespread and polymorphic species Homo heidelbergensis. Since its discovery (March 1994), systematic surveys in the Campogrande area near Ceprano, central Italy, identified 12 localities (CG1-12) with archaeological and/or paleontological assemblages. On this basis, fieldwork was carried out at Campogrande between 2001 and 2006, including drilled cores and excavations, allowing a detailed description of the stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental context associated with the human fossil specimen and the archaeological materials. In the present paper we focus on the stratigraphy and sedimentological features of the uppermost deposits, coupled with a detailed appraisal of the available lithic assemblages that mostly belongs to overlying sediments (CG9 and CG10 localities). We conclude that the Ceprano hominin died in a floodplain environment with a low topographic gradient, where a fluvial meandering channel occurred. The archaeological materials describe a network of sites that document common behavioural features of human groups of the mid-to-late Middle Pleistocene, representing evidence of the regionalization observed across Europe after Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 12.

Multi‐isotope analysis of primary and secondary dentin as a mean to broaden intra‐life dietary reconstruction. A case from Longobard Italy

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, Feb 3, 2023

This exploratory study proposes an original intra-life history investigation through sequential a... more This exploratory study proposes an original intra-life history investigation through sequential analysis of the isotopic composition of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur (CNS) on both primary and secondary dentin of a tooth (M1). We focus on an elderly woman from Longobard Italy (6th to 8th c. CE), who showed an unprecedented case of cranial surgery, presented in a companion paper by Micarelli and colleagues. Sequential stable CNS isotope composition of first molar dentin collagen allows us to infer diet, mobility, health, and physiological stress between approximately 3 months after birth to 9.5 years old (primary dentin) and between early adulthood until death (secondary dentin). Isotopic results on primary dentin highlight the following: (i) a long weaning period (ending at approximately 4 years), followed by (ii) a specific diet, including the contribution of C 4 crops in early childhood (approximately 5.5 years),

The Science of Human Origins

Routledge eBooks, Sep 17, 2016

Sand, Stone, and Bones: The Archaeology of Death in the Wadi Tanezzuft Valley (5000-2000 BP). The Archaeology of the Libyan Sahara. Vol. 1. Arid Zone Archaeology Monographs 3

South African Archaeological Bulletin, Dec 1, 2003

Digital Tools for the Preservation of the Human Fossil Heritage: Ceprano, Saccopastore, and Other Case Studies

Human Evolution, Mar 1, 2006

... 43 44 23. Semal P, Toussaint M, Maureille B, Rougier H, Crevecoeur I, Balzeau A, Bouchneb L,... more

Before the Emergence of<i>Homo sapiens</i>: Overview on the Early-to-Middle Pleistocene Fossil Record (with a Proposal about<i>Homo heidelbergensis</i>at the subspecific level)

International Journal of Evolutionary Biology, May 4, 2011

The origin of H. sapiens has deep roots, which include two crucial nodes: (1) the emergence and d... more The origin of H. sapiens has deep roots, which include two crucial nodes: (1) the emergence and diffusion of the last common ancestor of later Homo (in the Early Pleistocene) and ( ) the tempo and mode of the appearance of distinct evolutionary lineages (in the Middle Pleistocene). The window between 1,000 and 500 thousand years before present appears of crucial importance, including the generation of a new and more encephalised kind of humanity, referred to by many authors as H. heidelbergensis. This species greatly diversified during the Middle Pleistocene up to the formation of new variants (i.e., incipient species) that, eventually, led to the allopatric speciation of H. neanderthalensis and H. sapiens. The special case furnished by the calvarium found near Ceprano (Italy), dated to 430-385 ka, offers the opportunity to investigate this matter from an original perspective. It is proposed to separate the hypodigm of a single, widespread, and polymorphic human taxon of the Middle Pleistocene into distinct subspecies (i.e., incipient species). The ancestral one should be H. heidelbergensis, including specimens such as Ceprano and the mandible from Mauer.

Discontinuity of life conditions at the transition from the Roman imperial age to the early middle ages: Example from central Italy evaluated by pathological dento-alveolar lesions

American Journal of Human Biology, 1999

Teeth are highly informative in the study of past human populations. In particular, the occurrenc... more Teeth are highly informative in the study of past human populations. In particular, the occurrence of lesions in the masticatory apparatus relates diseases, diet, and living conditions. The dental pathology of three skeletal samples from the north-central part of Latium (central Italy) is reported. Two of them belong to the Roman Imperial Age (1st-3rd century AD): the first (including 942 permanent teeth and 1,085 tooth sockets) represents the rural town of Lucus Feroniae and is mainly composed of slaves and/or war veterans, whereas the second (872 permanent teeth and 1,325 tooth sockets) comes from the Isola Sacra necropolis at Portus Romae and represents the ''middle class'' segment of an urban population. The medieval sample (912 teeth and 1,097 tooth sockets), dated to the 7th century AD, belongs to the Lombard necropolis of La Selvicciola. All of the samples were examined for caries, abscesses, antemortem tooth loss, calculus, alveolar resorption, attrition, and enamel hypoplasia; standard methods were used to identify, classify, and quantify these conditions. The results reveal different patterns of dental and alveolar lesions for the three populations, indicating a different combination of dietary factors and hygienic conditions in the Roman samples compared to the Lombard series. As evidenced by multivariate correspondece analysis, the Romans show afffinites between each other, whereas the Medieval sample appears associated with the incidence of caries and the pathological conditions related to them, thus indicating increase of these lesions and deterioration of the quality of life in the transition to the early Middle Ages. These data agree with the respective archeological characterizations of the necropolises and the hypothetical social composition of each population. Am.

Encephalization and allometric trajectories in the genus <i>Homo</i> : Evidence from the Neandertal and modern lineages

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Dec 12, 2003

The term ''encephalization'' is commonly used to describe an enlargement in brain size, considere... more The term ''encephalization'' is commonly used to describe an enlargement in brain size, considered as either absolute endocranial volumes or relative values in relation to body size. It is widely recognized that a considerable endocranial expansion occurred throughout the evolution of the genus Homo. This article aims to evaluate whether this phenomenon was the outcome of distinct evolutionary lineages, reaching similar brain expansions but through different trajectories. Endocranial morphology was studied in a sample of fossil hominines by multivariate approaches using both traditional metrics and geometric morphometrics. The analysis was focused on the transition from a generalized archaic pattern within the genus Homo to the modern morphology and compared with changes that occurred along the Neandertal lineage. The main result was the identification of two different evolutionary trajectories, in which a similar expansion in endocranial size has been reached by different changes in shape. Along the Neandertal lineage we observed maintenance of an ''archaic'' endocranial model, in which a large amount of variability is based on a single allometric trend. By contrast, when modern endocasts were compared with nonmodern ones, we found important differences apparently led by a parietal expansion. In this light, the origin of our species may have represented the opportunity to surpass the constraints imposed on encephalization by the ontogenetic pattern shared by nonmodern Homo representatives.

A geometric morphometric approach to airorhynchy and functional cranial morphology in Alouatta (Atelidae, Primates)

The skull of the howler monkeys (Alouatta spp., Atelidae) is characterised by a generalised rotat... more The skull of the howler monkeys (Alouatta spp., Atelidae) is characterised by a generalised rotation of the splanchnocranium with respect to the neurocranial antero-posterior axis. This process, referred to as airorhynchy, is the result of a derived structural relationship between basicranium, vault, and facial districts. A number of variables-such as diet and social behaviour-probably co-evolved with the remodelling of the cranial functional matrix. We used a landmark-based analysis to explore the geometrical model of the skull in the genus Alouatta. Shape comparisons were performed by using superimposition procedures and the Euclidean distance matrix. In the latter analysis, a method is proposed in order to visualise variations of form through chromatic maps and interpolant functions. The comparison with other genera of Atelidae shows a marked neurocranial flattening in Alouatta as well as muzzle projection and enlargement, nuchal flattening, relative basicranial lengthening, and tilting of the occipital foramen. Only minor differences were visible in relation to facial shape, suggesting that significant changes depend on the relationship between splanchnocranium and neurocranium, rather than on localised anatomical variations. The limited vault development constrained by the basicranial structures probably involved the extreme retroflexion of the basal angle. Airorhynchy can be interpreted as an additional adjustment to fit this structural network beyond the biomechanical range of the cranial base hypoflexion. This cranial functional matrix is directly related to feeding and social changes, representing an interesting evolutionary "package". In Pongo pygmaeus a similar process is associated with a different structural pattern, mostly related to the flattening of the upper facial structures, maxillary midsagittal enlargement, and palatal tilting.

Endocranial traits. Prevalence and distribution in a recent human population

European journal of anatomy, 2003

A recent human population from Italy was analysed for the prevalence and expression of endocrania... more A recent human population from Italy was analysed for the prevalence and expression of endocranial characters, as well as for the presence of some ectocranial epigenetic traits. The purpose was to provide a supplementary database for the characterisation of some features used to compare the variability of extant and extinct human groups. Many differences between males and females are the result of allometric trajectories, with males shifted to a larger size. In contrast, other features may be unrelated to size and thus interpreted as real sexual characters. The cranial base angle is slightly but significantly related to size, particularly to the vertical skull development. The digital impressions are more expressed in males but there is no evidence of a correlation with size. Arachnoid granulations show no relationship with sex, age or size. The middle meningeal vessels are extremely variable but with a general dominance of the anterior branch providing the parietal supply, and with the left system slightly more developed than the right. The middle meningeal pattern is not related to the venous sinuses pattern. Some further aspects of the expression of these features are discussed, and data for the prevalence of epigenetic traits are reported.

Saccopastore 1: the earliest Neanderthal? A new look at an old cranium

Springer eBooks, 2006

Focal topics for volumes in the series will include systematic paleontology of all vertebrates (f... more Focal topics for volumes in the series will include systematic paleontology of all vertebrates (from agnathans to humans), phylogeny reconstruction, functional morphology, Paleolithic archaeology, taphonomy, geochronology, historical biogeography, and biostratigraphy. Other fields (e.g., paleoclimatology, paleoecology, ancient DNA, total organismal community structure) may be considered if the volume theme emphasizes paleobiology (or archaeology). Fields such as modeling of physical processes, genetic methodology, nonvertebrates or neontology are out of our scope. Volumes in the series may either be monographic treatments (including unpublished but fully revised dissertations) or edited collections, especially those focusing on problem-oriented issues, with multidisciplinary coverage where possible.

Italian prehistoric promenades: the human fossil sample from the earliest European to the latest Neandertals

In the last decade we have witnessed in Italy to a considerable increase of the fossil record per... more In the last decade we have witnessed in Italy to a considerable increase of the fossil record pertaining to human evolution. A review of the Early-to-Late Pleistocene hominids found so far in Italy includes several fragmentary and more complete skeletal and dental remains, spanning from the earliest evidence of Paleolithic settlements in Europe (in a time span close to 1 million years ago) up to very late Neandertals (around 35 thousand years ago). Particularly significant specimens are the adult calvaria from Ceprano (Lazio) –good candidate, side-byside with the Atapuerca TD6 fossil assemblage (Spain), to represent the ancestry of the diverging lineages that respectively led to Neandertals and modern humans– the virtually complete “pre-Neandertal” skeleton discovered near Altamura (Puglia), the well known early Neandertal crania from Saccopastore (Roma), and more typical Neandertal specimens from various caves of Monte Circeo (Lazio). After about 30 thousand years ago, only skeletal remains of anatomically modern humans are found, spread across the entire peninsula. Even from a general overview, it is noticeable that Italian specimens and samples match the European fossil record in several aspects, providing a significant contribution to our knowledge about the trajectories of human evolution that involved the entire continent

CT-based description and phyletic evaluation of the archaic human calvarium from Ceprano, Italy

The anatomical record, 2005

The discovery in 1994, of a fossilized human calvarium near Ceprano, Italy, dated about 800-900 t... more The discovery in 1994, of a fossilized human calvarium near Ceprano, Italy, dated about 800-900 thousand years before present, opened a new page for the study of human evolution in Europe. It extended the continental fossil record over the boundary between Early and Middle Pleistocene for the first time and revealed the cranial morphology of humans that where probably ancestral to both Neanderthals and modern Homo sapiens. A tomographic analysis of the Italian specimen is reported here in order to describe size and shape, vascular traces, and other features of the endocranium, as well as some relevant ectocranial traits (particularly of the frontal region). Our results show that the Ceprano calvarium displays plesiomorphies shared by early Homo taxa, involving a general archaic phenotype. At the same time, the presence of some derived features suggests a phylogenetic relationship with the populations referred to the subsequent polymorphic species H. heidelbergensis. The morphology of the supraorbital structures is different from the double-arched browridge of the African H. ergaster, while its superior shape shows similarities with African Middle Pleistocene specimens (Bodo, Kabwe). In contrast, the relationship between supraorbital torus and frontal squama points to an archaic pattern of the relationship between face and vault, associated to moderately narrow frontal lobes and limited development of the upper parietal areas. Despite a nonderived endocranial shape, the increase of cranial capacity (related to a general endocranial widening) and the probable absence of a clear occipital projection also suggest an evolutionary independence from the Asian H. erectus lineage. This analysis therefore supports the conclusion that the Ceprano calvarium represents the best available candidate for the ancestral phenotype of the cranial variation observed among Middle Pleistocene fossil samples in Africa and Europe. Nevertheless, a proper taxonomic interpretation of this crucial specimen remains puzzling.

Size and shape of human cranial sutures-A new scoring method

American Journal of Anatomy, Mar 1, 1991

A method for the differentiation of sutural patterns of the human cranial vault is introduced. Th... more A method for the differentiation of sutural patterns of the human cranial vault is introduced. Three criteria of differentiation are considered, one for size and two for shape: (1) maximal shape extension; (2) basic configuration; (3) secondary protrusion. The method is illustrated here for the coronal and lambdoid sutures of 70 recent Italian skulls (35 adult males and 35 adult females). Differences between coronal and lambdoid sutural size and shape can be detected analytically; for example, the coronal suture commonly shows lesser degrees of shape extension, a simpler basic configuration, and an absence of secondary protrusion. Heterogeneity within each suture, as well as a relationship among corresponding sections and between the three criteria adopted, have been also observed; symmetry predominates for both the sutures, and sexual differences are slight.

Paleoneurology of an “early” Neandertal: endocranial size, shape, and features of Saccopastore 1

Journal of Human Evolution, Jun 1, 2008

The Saccopastore 1 cranium was found near Rome in 1929, and its most probable age is about 120 ka... more The Saccopastore 1 cranium was found near Rome in 1929, and its most probable age is about 120 ka (OIS 5e). The Neandertal morphology of the specimen was recognized just after the discovery by the Italian anthropologist S. Sergi, and subsequently confirmed by several authors. The present paper provides a complete description and analysis of the endocranial shape and features of this specimen, considering anatomical traits, metrics, and landmark data. The main endocranial diameters and the vascular traces resemble the morphology displayed by Middle Pleistocene humans, although lacking some traits described in the European samples referred to as ante-Neandertals. Nevertheless, proportions and endocranial shape support a definite Neandertal morphology, mostly taking into account the lateral development of the frontal lobes and the shape of the parietal areas. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that the Neandertal neurocranial architecture was present since at least OIS 5, as already suggested on the basis of ectocranial morphology.

At the Archaic/Modern Boundary of the Genus Homo: The Neandertals From Grotta Breuil

Current Anthropology, Apr 1, 1995

... are best considered as the expression of geographic (and adaptive?) variation instead of adia... more

Developmental stress and cranial hypostosis by epigenetic trait occurrence and distribution: an exploratory study on the Italian Neandertals

Journal of Human Evolution, Jun 1, 1996

Developmental stress and cranial hypostosis by epigenetic trait occurrence and distribution: an e... more Developmental stress and cranial hypostosis by epigenetic trait occurrence and distribution: an exploratory study on the Italian Neandertals The occurrence and distribution of 35 cranial epigenetic traits in the Italian Neandertals (Saccopastore 1 and 2, Guattari 1) were examined according to morpho-functional cranial regions and with respect to a distinction between hypostosis (i.e., weak osseous development, arrested morphogenesis, retention of infantile features) and hyperostosis (i.e. excess of ossification, not reaching the pathological condition). The results, expressed as hypostotic scores, showed higher levels of hypostosis in these Neandertal specimens than in recent European samples. The highest expressions of hypostotis were observed in those regions of the Neandertal cranium where disequilibrium between skeletal and cerebral growth factors was expected. These results-interpreted as expression of developmental stress-are consistent with a heterochronic interpretation of the development of the Neandertal cranium; namely, a faster ossification of the cranial vault relative to brain growth rates.

The Science of Human Origins

Our understanding of human origins has been revolutionised by new discoveries in the past two dec... more Our understanding of human origins has been revolutionised by new discoveries in the past two decades. In this book, three leading paleoanthropologists and physical scientists illuminate, in friendly, accessible language, the amazing findings behind the latest theories. They describe new scientific and technical tools for dating, DNA analysis, remote survey, and paleoenvironmental assessment that enabled recent breakthroughs in research. They also explain the early development of the modern human cortex, the evolution of symbolic language and complex tools, and our strange cousins from Flores and Denisova

The power of 100

Journal of Anthropological Sciences, Dec 30, 2022

Pan‐Africanism vs. single‐origin of <i>Homo sapiens</i> : Putting the debate in the light of evolutionary biology

Evolutionary Anthropology, Jul 1, 2022

The scenario of Homo sapiens origin/s within Africa has become increasingly complex, with a pan-A... more The scenario of Homo sapiens origin/s within Africa has become increasingly complex, with a pan-African perspective currently challenging the long-established single-origin hypothesis. In this paper, we review the lines of evidence employed in support of each model, highlighting inferential limitations and possible terminological misunderstandings. We argue that the metapopulation scenario envisaged by pan-African proponents well describes a mosaic diversification among late Middle Pleistocene groups. However, this does not rule out a major contribution that emerged from a single population where crucial derived features-notably, a globular braincase-appeared as the result of a punctuated, cladogenetic event. Thus, we suggest that a synthesis is possible and propose a scenario that, in our view, better reconciles with consolidated expectations in evolutionary theory. These indicate cladogenesis in allopatry as an ordinary pattern for the origin of a new species, particularly during phases of marked climatic and environmental instability.

Stratigraphy, sedimentology, and archaeology of Middle Pleistocene localities near Ceprano, Campogrande area, Italy

Quaternary Research, Nov 8, 2019

The Ceprano human calvarium, dated around 400,000 yr, is a well-known fossil specimen. It represe... more The Ceprano human calvarium, dated around 400,000 yr, is a well-known fossil specimen. It represents significant evidence of hominin presence in the Italian peninsula during the Middle Pleistocene and may be considered representative of an archaic variant of the widespread and polymorphic species Homo heidelbergensis. Since its discovery (March 1994), systematic surveys in the Campogrande area near Ceprano, central Italy, identified 12 localities (CG1-12) with archaeological and/or paleontological assemblages. On this basis, fieldwork was carried out at Campogrande between 2001 and 2006, including drilled cores and excavations, allowing a detailed description of the stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental context associated with the human fossil specimen and the archaeological materials. In the present paper we focus on the stratigraphy and sedimentological features of the uppermost deposits, coupled with a detailed appraisal of the available lithic assemblages that mostly belongs to overlying sediments (CG9 and CG10 localities). We conclude that the Ceprano hominin died in a floodplain environment with a low topographic gradient, where a fluvial meandering channel occurred. The archaeological materials describe a network of sites that document common behavioural features of human groups of the mid-to-late Middle Pleistocene, representing evidence of the regionalization observed across Europe after Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 12.

Multi‐isotope analysis of primary and secondary dentin as a mean to broaden intra‐life dietary reconstruction. A case from Longobard Italy

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, Feb 3, 2023

This exploratory study proposes an original intra-life history investigation through sequential a... more This exploratory study proposes an original intra-life history investigation through sequential analysis of the isotopic composition of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur (CNS) on both primary and secondary dentin of a tooth (M1). We focus on an elderly woman from Longobard Italy (6th to 8th c. CE), who showed an unprecedented case of cranial surgery, presented in a companion paper by Micarelli and colleagues. Sequential stable CNS isotope composition of first molar dentin collagen allows us to infer diet, mobility, health, and physiological stress between approximately 3 months after birth to 9.5 years old (primary dentin) and between early adulthood until death (secondary dentin). Isotopic results on primary dentin highlight the following: (i) a long weaning period (ending at approximately 4 years), followed by (ii) a specific diet, including the contribution of C 4 crops in early childhood (approximately 5.5 years),

The Science of Human Origins

Routledge eBooks, Sep 17, 2016

Sand, Stone, and Bones: The Archaeology of Death in the Wadi Tanezzuft Valley (5000-2000 BP). The Archaeology of the Libyan Sahara. Vol. 1. Arid Zone Archaeology Monographs 3

South African Archaeological Bulletin, Dec 1, 2003

Digital Tools for the Preservation of the Human Fossil Heritage: Ceprano, Saccopastore, and Other Case Studies

Human Evolution, Mar 1, 2006

... 43 44 23. Semal P, Toussaint M, Maureille B, Rougier H, Crevecoeur I, Balzeau A, Bouchneb L,... more

Before the Emergence of<i>Homo sapiens</i>: Overview on the Early-to-Middle Pleistocene Fossil Record (with a Proposal about<i>Homo heidelbergensis</i>at the subspecific level)

International Journal of Evolutionary Biology, May 4, 2011

The origin of H. sapiens has deep roots, which include two crucial nodes: (1) the emergence and d... more The origin of H. sapiens has deep roots, which include two crucial nodes: (1) the emergence and diffusion of the last common ancestor of later Homo (in the Early Pleistocene) and ( ) the tempo and mode of the appearance of distinct evolutionary lineages (in the Middle Pleistocene). The window between 1,000 and 500 thousand years before present appears of crucial importance, including the generation of a new and more encephalised kind of humanity, referred to by many authors as H. heidelbergensis. This species greatly diversified during the Middle Pleistocene up to the formation of new variants (i.e., incipient species) that, eventually, led to the allopatric speciation of H. neanderthalensis and H. sapiens. The special case furnished by the calvarium found near Ceprano (Italy), dated to 430-385 ka, offers the opportunity to investigate this matter from an original perspective. It is proposed to separate the hypodigm of a single, widespread, and polymorphic human taxon of the Middle Pleistocene into distinct subspecies (i.e., incipient species). The ancestral one should be H. heidelbergensis, including specimens such as Ceprano and the mandible from Mauer.

Discontinuity of life conditions at the transition from the Roman imperial age to the early middle ages: Example from central Italy evaluated by pathological dento-alveolar lesions

American Journal of Human Biology, 1999

Teeth are highly informative in the study of past human populations. In particular, the occurrenc... more Teeth are highly informative in the study of past human populations. In particular, the occurrence of lesions in the masticatory apparatus relates diseases, diet, and living conditions. The dental pathology of three skeletal samples from the north-central part of Latium (central Italy) is reported. Two of them belong to the Roman Imperial Age (1st-3rd century AD): the first (including 942 permanent teeth and 1,085 tooth sockets) represents the rural town of Lucus Feroniae and is mainly composed of slaves and/or war veterans, whereas the second (872 permanent teeth and 1,325 tooth sockets) comes from the Isola Sacra necropolis at Portus Romae and represents the ''middle class'' segment of an urban population. The medieval sample (912 teeth and 1,097 tooth sockets), dated to the 7th century AD, belongs to the Lombard necropolis of La Selvicciola. All of the samples were examined for caries, abscesses, antemortem tooth loss, calculus, alveolar resorption, attrition, and enamel hypoplasia; standard methods were used to identify, classify, and quantify these conditions. The results reveal different patterns of dental and alveolar lesions for the three populations, indicating a different combination of dietary factors and hygienic conditions in the Roman samples compared to the Lombard series. As evidenced by multivariate correspondece analysis, the Romans show afffinites between each other, whereas the Medieval sample appears associated with the incidence of caries and the pathological conditions related to them, thus indicating increase of these lesions and deterioration of the quality of life in the transition to the early Middle Ages. These data agree with the respective archeological characterizations of the necropolises and the hypothetical social composition of each population. Am.

Encephalization and allometric trajectories in the genus <i>Homo</i> : Evidence from the Neandertal and modern lineages

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Dec 12, 2003

The term ''encephalization'' is commonly used to describe an enlargement in brain size, considere... more The term ''encephalization'' is commonly used to describe an enlargement in brain size, considered as either absolute endocranial volumes or relative values in relation to body size. It is widely recognized that a considerable endocranial expansion occurred throughout the evolution of the genus Homo. This article aims to evaluate whether this phenomenon was the outcome of distinct evolutionary lineages, reaching similar brain expansions but through different trajectories. Endocranial morphology was studied in a sample of fossil hominines by multivariate approaches using both traditional metrics and geometric morphometrics. The analysis was focused on the transition from a generalized archaic pattern within the genus Homo to the modern morphology and compared with changes that occurred along the Neandertal lineage. The main result was the identification of two different evolutionary trajectories, in which a similar expansion in endocranial size has been reached by different changes in shape. Along the Neandertal lineage we observed maintenance of an ''archaic'' endocranial model, in which a large amount of variability is based on a single allometric trend. By contrast, when modern endocasts were compared with nonmodern ones, we found important differences apparently led by a parietal expansion. In this light, the origin of our species may have represented the opportunity to surpass the constraints imposed on encephalization by the ontogenetic pattern shared by nonmodern Homo representatives.