Holt Brigitte M, Formicola Vincenzo
Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Am J Phys Anthropol. 2008;Suppl 47:70-99. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.20950.
The Upper Paleolithic represents both the phase during which anatomically modern humans appeared and the climax of hunter-gatherer cultures. Demographic expansion into new areas that took place during this period and the diffusion of burial practices resulted in an unprecedented number of well-preserved human remains. This skeletal record, dovetailed with archeological, environmental, and chronological contexts, allows testing of hypotheses regarding biological processes at the population level. In this article, we review key studies about the biology of Upper Paleolithic populations based primarily on European samples, but integrating information from other areas of the Old World whenever possible. Data about cranial morphology, skeletal robusticity, stature, body proportions, health status, diet, physical activity, and genetics are evaluated in Late Pleistocene climatic and cultural contexts. Various lines of evidence delineate the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) as a critical phase in the biological and cultural evolution of Upper Paleolithic populations. The LGM, a long phase of climatic deterioration culminating around 20,000 BP, had a profound impact on the environment, lifestyle, and behavior of human groups. Some of these effects are recorded in aspects of skeletal biology of these populations. Groups living before and after the LGM, Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) and Late Upper Paleolithic (LUP), respectively, differ significantly in craniofacial dimensions, stature, robusticity, and body proportions. While paleopathological and stable isotope data suggest good health status throughout the Upper Paleolithic, some stress indicators point to a slight decline in quality of life in LUP populations. The intriguing and unexpected incidence of individuals affected by congenital disorders probably indicates selective burial practices for these abnormal individuals. While some of the changes observed can be explained through models of biocultural or environmental adaptation (e.g., decreased lower limb robusticity following decreased mobility; changes in body proportions along with climatic change), others are more difficult to explain. For instance, craniodental and upper limb robusticity show complex evolutionary patterns that do not always correspond to expectations. In addition, the marked decline in stature and the mosaic nature of change in body proportions still await clarifications. These issues, as well as systematic analysis of specific pathologies and possible relationships between genetic lineages, population movements and cultural complexes, should be among the goals of future research.
旧石器时代晚期既代表了解剖学意义上的现代人类出现的阶段，也是狩猎采集文化的鼎盛时期。这一时期人口向新区域的扩张以及丧葬习俗的传播，导致了数量空前的保存完好的人类遗骸。这些骨骼记录与考古、环境和年代背景相契合，使得在群体层面检验有关生物过程的假设成为可能。在本文中，我们主要基于欧洲样本回顾了关于旧石器时代晚期人群生物学的关键研究，但也尽可能整合了来自旧世界其他地区的信息。在晚更新世的气候和文化背景下，对有关颅骨形态、骨骼粗壮度、身高、身体比例、健康状况、饮食、身体活动和遗传学的数据进行了评估。各种证据表明末次盛冰期（LGM）是旧石器时代晚期人群生物和文化进化的关键阶段。末次盛冰期是一个气候恶化的漫长阶段，在约20000年前达到顶峰，对人类群体的环境、生活方式和行为产生了深远影响。其中一些影响记录在这些人群的骨骼生物学特征方面。分别生活在末次盛冰期之前和之后的群体，即旧石器时代早期（EUP）和旧石器时代晚期（LUP），在颅面尺寸、身高、粗壮度和身体比例上存在显著差异。虽然古病理学和稳定同位素数据表明整个旧石器时代晚期人群的健康状况良好，但一些压力指标显示旧石器时代晚期人群的生活质量略有下降。受先天性疾病影响的个体出现的有趣且出人意料的情况，可能表明对这些异常个体采取了选择性的埋葬方式。虽然观察到的一些变化可以通过生物文化或环境适应模型来解释（例如，活动能力下降后下肢粗壮度降低；身体比例随气候变化而变化），但其他一些变化则更难解释。例如，颅齿和上肢粗壮度呈现出复杂的进化模式，并不总是符合预期。此外，身高的显著下降以及身体比例变化的镶嵌性仍有待阐明。这些问题，以及对特定病理学的系统分析和遗传谱系、人口迁移与文化复合体之间可能存在的关系，都应成为未来研究的目标。
