Maja Paunović

Analysis of one million base pairs of Neanderthal DNA

Neanderthals are the extinct hominid group most closely related to contemporary humans, so their genome offers a unique opportunity to identify genetic changes specific to anatomically fully modern humans. We have identified a 38,000-year-old Neanderthal fossil that is exceptionally free of contamination from modern human DNA. Direct high-throughput sequencing of a DNA extract from this fossil has thus far yielded over one million base pairs of hominoid nuclear DNA sequences. Comparison with the human and chimpanzee genomes reveals that modern human and Neanderthal DNA sequences diverged on average about 500,000 years ago. Existing technology and fossil resources are now sufficient to initiate a Neanderthal genome-sequencing effort.

Evidence for Reproductive Isolation between Cave Bear Populations

The European cave bear (Ursus spelaeus), which became extinct around 15,000 years ago, had several morphologically different forms. Most conspicuous of these were small Alpine cave bears found at elevations of 1,600 to 2,800 m. Whereas some paleontologists have considered these bears a distinct form, or even a distinct species, others have disputed this. By a combination of morphological and genetic methods, we have analyzed a population of small cave bears from Ramesch Cave (2,000 m altitude) and one of larger cave bears from Gamssulzen Cave (1,300 m), situated approximately 10 km apart in the Austrian Alps (Figure 1A). We find no evidence of mitochondrial gene flow between these caves during the 15,000 years when they were both occupied by cave bears, although mitochondrial DNA sequences identical to those from Gamssulzen Cave could be recovered from a site located about 200 km to the south in Croatia. We also find no evidence that the morphology of the bears in the two caves changed to become more similar over time. We suggest that the two cave bear forms may have represented two reproductively isolated subspecies or species.

L’industrie du site néandertalien de la grotte de Vindija (Croatie) : une révision des matières premières lithiques

Resume L’analyse de l’industrie non etudiee de la grotte Vindija (Croatie), provenant des niveaux du Paleolithique moyen, necessite une revision des travaux precedents, notamment ceux sur les matieres premieres (Kurtanjek et Marci, 1990) . Au terme de cette revision, plusieurs points sont soulignes. Le premier est l’importance du quartz au Paleolithique moyen, sous estime au profit du silex. Il est aussi interessant de noter que les deux ruptures majeures dans l’utilisation des matieres premieres se situent au debut du Paleolithique superieur et a l’Epigravettien. Pour le silex, en particulier un changement clair intervient au Paleolithique superieur. Des nodules crayeux de silex se substituent en grande partie aux galets de riviere traditionnellement utilises au Paleolithique moyen. Ces nouvelles sources d’approvisionnement ne sont malheureusement pas localisees pour l’instant.

The Middle Paleolithic from Mujina Pećina, Dalmatia, Croatia

Abstract Mujina Pećina in Dalmatia, Croatia is the only systematically excavated and well-dated Middle Paleolithic cave site in the eastern Adriatic. Its stratigraphic sequence covers the period between 45 and 39 uncalibrated years ka. Results of sedimentological, lithic, faunal, and paleobotanical analyses of the upper levels (Levels B, C, D1, and D2) show that this was a hunting site only sporadically visited by humans. During these occupation episodes humans processed animal remains (mostly large bovids, cervids, and caprids) and produced tools from locally available raw material. Carnivore use of the cave is also indicated. This work contributes to our understanding of lifestyles and mobility patterns of the Middle Paleolithic inhabitants of this region.

Osteometry, Variability, Biomechanics and Locomotion Pattern of the Cave Bear Limb Bones from Croatian Localities

The estimated stylo- and zeugopodial bone index is lower for the cave bears from the mountainous region (Cerovake peEine caves) than the bone index from the hilly-lowlands caves (Vindija, Velika peEina, Veternica) and indicates that limb loading depends on the body mass and palaeoenvironment. The type of movement was similar to the locomotion of the recent brown bear but with somewhat more expressed plantigrady on the hind limbs. At the same time, the sex ratio of the studied material depends firstly on the site morphology (endogene or exogene cave), i.e. its function (dense or periodically visited shelter), and also on geological processes and human activity. Kljune rijei: spiljski medvjed, kosti udova, Rtgosteometrija, varijabilnost, biomehanika, lokomotorika, pleistocen, Vindija, Velika peEina, Veternica, Cerovake peEine, Hrvatska.