Reconstruction of past human activities allows us to understand historic trajectories of the chan... more Reconstruction of past human activities allows us to understand historic trajectories of the changes in sexual division of labour (Hagaman 2009), socioeconomic stratification (Palmer 2012), occupational differences (Milella et al. 2012) and habitual activities such as combatant weapon usage (Rhodes, Knüsel 2005). Musculoskeletal markers (MSMs) have become the dominant method of recording physical activities in archaeological research, having been described as the Holy Grail of bioarchaeology (Jurmain et al. 2012) This paper defines the use of MSMs, before addressing their limitations and benefits. Modern clinical cases demonstrate a relationship between physical performance, biomechanical stress and the development of MSMs (Niinimaki 2011). Afterwards, the Lieverse et al. 2009 case study is examined to determine whether MSMs can successfully reflect past activities of a Palaeolithic hunter-gatherer society, before concluding with final remarks on the use of Musculoskeletal Stress Markers (MSMs) in future research.
Locomotory systems evolved through adaptive radiations in response to changing environments and b... more Locomotory systems evolved through adaptive radiations in response to changing environments and behavioural challenges such as predation avoidance and foraging niches (Pontzer & Wrangham 2004; Marzke, et al. 2015). Locomotory behaviours such as quadrupedalism, brachiation, knuckle-walking and facultative bipedalism are commonly practiced by Great Apes in arboreal environments; however, terrestrial, habitual bipedality is practiced today solely by Homo. sapiens. Interest in human-like bipedality has attracted a focus on musculo-skeletal structural comparisons of the upper limb (i.e. quadrupedal forelimb) (Kikuchi 2010; Myatt, et al. 2012) and lower limb (hindlimb) (DeSilva 2009; Oishi, et al. 2012) between extant apes and modern humans. Chimpanzees (Pan. troglodytes) are often selected for comparison with H. sapiens due to their close phylogenetic relationship (Young, Hallgrimsson 2005). This paper has two goals: first, the serial homologous nature of the upper and lower limbs are discussed in relation to evolutionary developmental programs of modular musculo-skeletal structures for integrated evolution of muscle groups for specific functional roles. Secondly, the gross and functional anatomies of chimpanzees and humans are detailed in relation to locomotive functionalities.
The Anglo-Saxon cemetery of Black Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne has revealed 660 burials. Osteologica... more The Anglo-Saxon cemetery of Black Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne has revealed 660 burials. Osteological analysis investigates the sex, age-at-death, metric and non-metric traits of the adult skeleton ‘Sk191’ and immature skeleton ‘Sk490’. Critical comparisons of the primary methods and osteological standards are conducted to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of each method used. The data collected for Sk191 and Sk490 forms a small part of a bigger investigation at Black Gate. As such the information should be viewed as a larger picture to understand the historic population. Osteological analyses of skeletal remains provide an objective view into the lives of individuals and historic communities from a unique vantage point that material culture studies do not allow. Historic trajectories of nutritional health, sexual divisions of labour, socioeconomic status and population migrations are among those questions that can be investigated.
Reconstruction of past human activities allows us to understand historic trajectories of the chan... more Reconstruction of past human activities allows us to understand historic trajectories of the changes in sexual division of labour (Hagaman 2009), socioeconomic stratification (Palmer 2012), occupational differences (Milella et al. 2012) and habitual activities such as combatant weapon usage (Rhodes, Knüsel 2005). Musculoskeletal markers (MSMs) have become the dominant method of recording physical activities in archaeological research, having been described as the Holy Grail of bioarchaeology (Jurmain et al. 2012) This paper defines the use of MSMs, before addressing their limitations and benefits. Modern clinical cases demonstrate a relationship between physical performance, biomechanical stress and the development of MSMs (Niinimaki 2011). Afterwards, the Lieverse et al. 2009 case study is examined to determine whether MSMs can successfully reflect past activities of a Palaeolithic hunter-gatherer society, before concluding with final remarks on the use of Musculoskeletal Stress Markers (MSMs) in future research.
Locomotory systems evolved through adaptive radiations in response to changing environments and b... more Locomotory systems evolved through adaptive radiations in response to changing environments and behavioural challenges such as predation avoidance and foraging niches (Pontzer & Wrangham 2004; Marzke, et al. 2015). Locomotory behaviours such as quadrupedalism, brachiation, knuckle-walking and facultative bipedalism are commonly practiced by Great Apes in arboreal environments; however, terrestrial, habitual bipedality is practiced today solely by Homo. sapiens. Interest in human-like bipedality has attracted a focus on musculo-skeletal structural comparisons of the upper limb (i.e. quadrupedal forelimb) (Kikuchi 2010; Myatt, et al. 2012) and lower limb (hindlimb) (DeSilva 2009; Oishi, et al. 2012) between extant apes and modern humans. Chimpanzees (Pan. troglodytes) are often selected for comparison with H. sapiens due to their close phylogenetic relationship (Young, Hallgrimsson 2005). This paper has two goals: first, the serial homologous nature of the upper and lower limbs are discussed in relation to evolutionary developmental programs of modular musculo-skeletal structures for integrated evolution of muscle groups for specific functional roles. Secondly, the gross and functional anatomies of chimpanzees and humans are detailed in relation to locomotive functionalities.
The Anglo-Saxon cemetery of Black Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne has revealed 660 burials. Osteologica... more The Anglo-Saxon cemetery of Black Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne has revealed 660 burials. Osteological analysis investigates the sex, age-at-death, metric and non-metric traits of the adult skeleton ‘Sk191’ and immature skeleton ‘Sk490’. Critical comparisons of the primary methods and osteological standards are conducted to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of each method used. The data collected for Sk191 and Sk490 forms a small part of a bigger investigation at Black Gate. As such the information should be viewed as a larger picture to understand the historic population. Osteological analyses of skeletal remains provide an objective view into the lives of individuals and historic communities from a unique vantage point that material culture studies do not allow. Historic trajectories of nutritional health, sexual divisions of labour, socioeconomic status and population migrations are among those questions that can be investigated.
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Papers by Phil Rawlinson
This paper defines the use of MSMs, before addressing their limitations and benefits. Modern clinical cases demonstrate a relationship between physical performance, biomechanical stress and the development of MSMs (Niinimaki 2011). Afterwards, the Lieverse et al. 2009 case study is examined to determine whether MSMs can successfully reflect past activities of a Palaeolithic hunter-gatherer society, before concluding with final remarks on the use of Musculoskeletal Stress Markers (MSMs) in future research.
Interest in human-like bipedality has attracted a focus on musculo-skeletal structural comparisons of the upper limb (i.e. quadrupedal forelimb) (Kikuchi 2010; Myatt, et al. 2012) and lower limb (hindlimb) (DeSilva 2009; Oishi, et al. 2012) between extant apes and modern humans. Chimpanzees (Pan. troglodytes) are often selected for comparison with H. sapiens due to their close phylogenetic relationship (Young, Hallgrimsson 2005).
This paper has two goals: first, the serial homologous nature of the upper and lower limbs are discussed in relation to evolutionary developmental programs of modular musculo-skeletal structures for integrated evolution of muscle groups for specific functional roles. Secondly, the gross and functional anatomies of chimpanzees and humans are detailed in relation to locomotive functionalities.
Osteological analyses of skeletal remains provide an objective view into the lives of individuals and historic communities from a unique vantage point that material culture studies do not allow. Historic trajectories of nutritional health, sexual divisions of labour, socioeconomic status and population migrations are among those questions that can be investigated.
This paper defines the use of MSMs, before addressing their limitations and benefits. Modern clinical cases demonstrate a relationship between physical performance, biomechanical stress and the development of MSMs (Niinimaki 2011). Afterwards, the Lieverse et al. 2009 case study is examined to determine whether MSMs can successfully reflect past activities of a Palaeolithic hunter-gatherer society, before concluding with final remarks on the use of Musculoskeletal Stress Markers (MSMs) in future research.
Interest in human-like bipedality has attracted a focus on musculo-skeletal structural comparisons of the upper limb (i.e. quadrupedal forelimb) (Kikuchi 2010; Myatt, et al. 2012) and lower limb (hindlimb) (DeSilva 2009; Oishi, et al. 2012) between extant apes and modern humans. Chimpanzees (Pan. troglodytes) are often selected for comparison with H. sapiens due to their close phylogenetic relationship (Young, Hallgrimsson 2005).
This paper has two goals: first, the serial homologous nature of the upper and lower limbs are discussed in relation to evolutionary developmental programs of modular musculo-skeletal structures for integrated evolution of muscle groups for specific functional roles. Secondly, the gross and functional anatomies of chimpanzees and humans are detailed in relation to locomotive functionalities.
Osteological analyses of skeletal remains provide an objective view into the lives of individuals and historic communities from a unique vantage point that material culture studies do not allow. Historic trajectories of nutritional health, sexual divisions of labour, socioeconomic status and population migrations are among those questions that can be investigated.