American Journal of Physical Anthropology (AM J PHYS ANTHROPOL)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Stable isotope analysis of human bones from Roman Ephesus (Turkey, 2nd and 3rd ct. AD)

  Sandra Lösch, Negahnaz Moghaddam, Karl Grossschmidt, Daniele U Risser, Fabian Kanz
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  ABSTRACT: Skeletal remains of 37 individuals from several graveyards in Ephesus, Roman capital of the province Asia, were investigated. Basic osteology and stable isotope analysis provide new information about the 2nd and 3rd century AD living conditions of this ancient megacity's citizens. Bone collagen was extracted and stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur were measured with mass spectrometry. So far, 29 males, five females and three sub adults (< 12 y) were investigated. All 34 adults belong to the age classes adult and mature. The mean female body height was 162cm± 4cm, the mean male body height was 169cm± 5cm. This is within the range of known values for ancient Roman populations. The male individuals (n=29) show δ13C-data of -18.93‰± 0.3, δ15N-values of 9.43‰± 0.8 and δ34S-values of 7.71‰± 1.5. The female individuals (n=5) show δ13C-data of -18.89‰± 0.5, δ15N-values of 9.12‰± 1.0 and δ34S-values of 6.94‰± 2.7. The sub adults (n=3) show δ13C-values of -19.10‰± 0.2, δ15N-values of 9.12‰± 0.4 and δ34S-values of 7.11‰± 1.3. All individuals consumed C3 plants as basic subsistence with a light intake of C4 plants. Seafood and animal proteins was also a small part of the nutrition. The quite heterogeneous values for the females with signs for migration are less surprising than the homogeneous data of the males, as this was be expected regarding an ancient “melting pot” like Ephesus. Further studies will concentrate on social strata and different occupational groups.
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 04/2013; 150(S56):184.
• Article: A case of a malign tumour from La Tène Burial Site of Münsingen Rain, Switzerland

  Negahnaz Moghaddam, Rupert Langer, Steffen Ross, Felix Müller, Sandra Lösch
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  ABSTRACT: The famous La Tène burial site of Münsingen Rain in Switzerland was discovered in 1904. The individuals were dated by horizontal stratigraphy to 420 - 240 BC. One of the 77 individuals showed an alteration of the bone, so the skull, the left humerus with scapula and the right femur were retained. The aim of this study was to reconsider a differential diagnosis and examine it with different methods. Sex and age were determined anthropologically. Radiological examinations were performed with plain x-ray imaging and a multislice CT-scanner. For histological analysis, a fragment of the lesion was taken from the back side of the humerus. Pathologic processing with staining after fixation, decalcification, and paraffin embedding was performed. Hard cut sections were also prepared. The individual is male, the estimated age at death is more than 60 years. There is a malignant bone forming tumour at the left proximal humerus with extraosseus growth and involvement of the adjacent scapula. Radiologic examination showed a large, mainly sclerotic tumour. The 'sunburst' appearance of the periphery is a sign for an aggressive malign periosteal reaction. Histology showed an irregular bone formation consistent with osteoid matrix. In summary, there are two major differential diagnoses: if the tumour represented a single lesion, it can be considered as a primary malignant bone tumour. Due to the irregular matrix formation resembling osteoid, the most likely diagnosis is an osteoblastic osteosarcoma, followed by chondrosarcoma with osteoblastic features.
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 04/2013; 150(S56):200-201.
• Article: Indian Ocean crossroads: Human genetic origin and population structure in the Maldives.

  Peter Henneman, Pijpe J, de Voogt A, van Oven M, van der Gaag KJ, Kayser M, de Knijff P
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 03/2013;
• Article: Multiple observers, humidity, and choice of precision statistics: factors influencing craniometric data quality.

  C J Utermohle, S L Zegura, G M Heathcote
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  ABSTRACT: This study investigates three topics: (1) interobserver measurement error in craniometry, (2) the effects of humidity on craniometric measurements, and (3) the current status of estimators of measurement precision in craniometry and anthropometry. The results of the three-observer error analysis based on 24 linear measurements taken on 47 crania indicate that minor idiosyncratic variations in measurement technique can lead to high levels of statistical discrimination among the data produced by the different observers. The results of the humidity experiment substantiate the contention that increasing levels of relative humidity are associated with cranial expansion. The results of the comparison of 11 univariate precision estimators suggest that the combination of percentage agreement, the mean absolute difference, and Fisher's nonparametric sign test can give an instructive picture of the frequency, magnitude, and directionality of measurement imprecision. Information on the comparability of technique and measurement precision can then be used in the variable selection process prior to the application of multivariate statistical procedures to strengthen the substantive interpretation of craniometric data.
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 03/2013; 61(1):85-95, 1983.
• Article: Genetic evidence for contrasting patterns of recent and historic dispersal in two sympatric African Colobine monkeys

  Tania Minhós, Emily Nixon, Claudia Sousa, Luis Vicente, Maria Ferreira da Silva, Rui Sá, Mike W Bruford
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  ABSTRACT: Western black-and-white colobus and Temmink's red colobus are two forest-dependent African primates with similar ecological requirements, often found in sympatry. Their most striking difference lies in their social system: black-and-white colobus live in small groups with mainly male-mediated dispersal but where females can also disperse, whereas red colobus live in larger groups with males described as philopatric. To investigate whether genetic evidence supports the reported patterns of dispersal based on observational data, we examined eight black-and-white and six red colobus social groups from Cantanhez National Park, Guinea-Bissau. Microsatellite markers revealed a lack of sex-biased dispersal for black-and-white colobus. Gene flow, mainly mediated by females, better explained the genetic patterns found in red colobus, with some evidence for less extensive male dispersal. In contrast to the microsatellite data, low mitochondrial diversity for the black-and-white colobus suggests that historical and/or long-range male-mediated gene flow might have been favored. In red colobus, the co-existence of three divergent mitochondrial haplogroups suggests that the Cantanhez population contains a secondary contact zone between divergent lineages that evolved in allopatry. Female-biased dispersal in this species may be a major factor contributing to the colonization by such differentiated mitochondrial lineages in the region. Overall, we find evidence for a spatio-temporal change in the dispersal patterns of the colobus monkeys of Cantanhez, with mitochondrial DNA indicating dispersal by mainly a single sex and microsatellite data suggesting that recently both sexes appear to be dispersing within the population. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 02/2013; 150(3):464-476.
• Article: Modeling physical growth using mixed effects models

  William Johnson, Nagalla Balakrishna, Paula L Griffiths
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  ABSTRACT: Abstract This article demonstrates the use of mixed effects models for characterizing individual and sample average growth curves based on serial anthropometric data. These models are advancement over conventional general linear regression because they effectively handle the hierarchical nature of serial growth data. Using body weight data on 70 infants in the Born in Bradford study, we demonstrate how a mixed effects model provides a better fit than a conventional regression model. Further, we demonstrate how mixed effects models can be used to explore the influence of environmental factors on the sample average growth curve. Analyzing data from 183 infant boys (aged 3-15 months) from rural South India, we show how maternal education shapes infant growth patterns as early as within the first 6 months of life. The presented analyses highlight the utility of mixed effects models for analyzing serial growth data because they allow researchers to simultaneously predict individual curves, estimate sample average curves, and investigate the effects of environmental exposure variables. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 01/2013; 150(1):58-67.
• Article: Mortality of a Swiss urban population in the early 19(th) century

  Domenic Rüttimann, Sandra Lösch
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 04/2012; 147(S54):254.
• Article: High mitochondrial mutation rates estimated from deep-rooting costa rican pedigrees.

  Madrigal L, Loredana Castrì LC, Melendez-Obando M, Villegas-Palma R, Barrantes R, Raventos H, Pereira R, Luiselli D, Pettener D, Barbujani G
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  ABSTRACT: Estimates of mutation rates for the noncoding hypervariable Region I (HVR-I) of mitochondrial DNA vary widely, depending on whether they are inferred from phylogenies (assuming that molecular evolution is clock-like) or directly from pedigrees. All pedigree-based studies so far were conducted on populations of European origin. In this article, we analyzed 19 deep-rooting pedigrees in a population of mixed origin in Costa Rica. We calculated two estimates of the HVR-I mutation rate, one considering all apparent mutations, and one disregarding changes at sites known to be mutational hot spots and eliminating genealogy branches which might be suspected to include errors, or unrecognized adoptions along the female lines. At the end of this procedure, we still observed a mutation rate equal to 1.24 × 10(-6) , per site per year, i.e., at least threefold as high as estimates derived from phylogenies. Our results confirm that mutation rates observed in pedigrees are much higher than estimated assuming a neutral model of long-term HVRI evolution. We argue that until the cause of these discrepancies will be fully understood, both lower estimates (i.e., those derived from phylogenetic comparisons) and higher, direct estimates such as those obtained in this study, should be considered when modeling evolutionary and demographic processes. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 03/2012;
• Article: Tracking ancient animal movements in northern Tanzania using strontium isotopes.

  Sandi R Copeland, Denne N Reed, Robert J Blumenschine, Jackson K Njau, Matt Sponheimer, Michael P Richards
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 01/2012; 147:120-120.
• Article: Investigating hominin paleohabitats using fossil rodent ecomorphology.

  Oliver Paine, Jennifer Leichliter, Matt Sponheimer, Nico Avenant
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 01/2012; 147:231-231.
• Article: Using mammalian microfauna to reconstruct Hominin paleohabitats in South Africa.

  Jennifer N Leichliter, Oliver C C Paine, Matt Sponheimer, Paul Sandburg, Darryl D E Ruiter, Daryl Codron, Nico Avenant, Thalassa Matthews
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 01/2012; 147:191-191.
• Article: Geographic variation in hair delta C-13 and delta N-15 values of vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) reflects anthropogenic impact.

  James E Loudon, Trudy R Turner, J P Grobler, Kimberly L Moyer, Renee C Walker, Matt Sponheimer
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 01/2012; 147:196-196.
• Article: Strontium isotope ratios of mammalian fossils from Malapa, South Africa.

  Darryl J De Ruiter, Matt Sponheimer, Sandi Copeland, Julia A Lee-Thorp, Lee R Berger, Petrus Leroux
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 01/2012; 147:127-127.
• Article: Multi-isotopic analysis reveals individual mobility and diet at the Early Iron Age monumental tumulus of Magdalenenberg, Germany

  Vicky M. Oelze, Julia K. Koch, Katharina Kupke, Olaf Nehlich, Steve Zäuner, Joachim Wahl, Stephan M. Weise, Sabine Rieckhoff, Michael P. Richards
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  ABSTRACT: For the Early Iron Age western Hallstatt culture, which includes the site of Magdalenenberg in southwest Germany, it has been proposed that people were mobile and maintained far reaching social and trading networks throughout Europe. We tested this hypothesis by analyzing multiple isotopes (strontium, oxygen, sulfur, carbon, nitrogen) of the preserved skeletons from the Magdalenenberg elite cemetery to determine diets and to look for evidence of mobility. The analysis of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope ratios in collagen of humans (n=50) and associated domestic fauna (n=10) indicates a terrestrial based diet. There was a heterogeneous range of isotope values in both strontium (0.70725 to 0.71923, n=76) and oxygen (13.4‰ to 18.5‰, n=78) measured in tooth enamel. While many of the individuals had values consistent with being from Hallstatt culture sites within southwest Germany, some individuals likely originated from further afield. Possible areas include the Alps of Switzerland and Austria or even locations in Italy. Our study strongly supports the assumption of far reaching social and economic networks in the western Hallstatt culture.
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 01/2012;
• Article: Stable isotopes and socioeconomic differences among urban Colombian women: additional insights from S-34

  Richard L Bender, Darna L Dufour, Luciano O Valenzuela, Thure E Cerling, Matt Sponheimer, Julio C Reina, James R Ehleringer
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 01/2012; 147:95-96.
• Article: Teeth and handedness of Homo heidelbergensis from the Sima de los Huesos site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain).

  M. Lozano, J.M. Bermúdez de Castro, E. Carbonell, J.L. Arsuaga
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 01/2012; 147(Sup. 54):196.
• Article: Traces of a homicide in the Coptic monastery of Deir el-Bachit in Thebes-West, Egypt

  Sandra Lösch, Albert Zink
  American Journal of Physical Anthropology 04/2011; 144(S52):199-200.