Stringer C B, Trinkaus E, Roberts M B, Parfitt S A, Macphail R I
Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, London, U.K.
J Hum Evol. 1998 May;34(5):509-47. doi: 10.1006/jhev.1998.0215.
The Boxgrove tibia was discovered in 1993, associated with Middle Pleistocene fauna, and Lower Palaeolithic archaeology. The sediments at Boxgrove were deposited during a temperate interglacial episode and ensuing cold stage. They thus represent a wide range of modes and environments of deposition. Archaeological remains have been excavated from all the major stratigraphic units, giving a continuity of occupation for this part of southern England over a 10(4) year timescale, through markedly changing climatic regimes. The stratigraphic, archaeological and sedimentological contexts of the tibia are described, as well as its preservation and morphology. Measurements are given, with discussion of reconstructed bone length, and stature estimates. Comparative measurements are provided for fossil and recent human samples: the large dimensions of its diaphysis place the Boxgrove tibia near or beyond the upper size limits of the comparative samples, but its reconstructed length and estimated stature are less exceptional. The elevated robusticity of the specimen indicates exceptional diaphyseal strength and/or cold adapted body proportions paralleling those of the Neanderthals. Disagreement about the taxonomy of Middle Pleistocene hominids and lack of comparable fossil material make a specific assignment for the Boxgrove tibia problematic. The tibia can only definitely be assigned to non-modern Homo sp., with possible further reference to Homo cf. heidelbergensis (Schoetensack, 1908) on temporal and geographic grounds, if the validity of that species is accepted.
博克斯格罗夫胫骨于1993年被发现，与中更新世动物群以及旧石器时代早期考古遗迹有关。博克斯格罗夫的沉积物是在一个温带间冰期阶段及其后的寒冷时期沉积下来的。因此，它们代表了广泛的沉积模式和环境。考古遗迹已从所有主要地层单元中发掘出来，显示出在长达10（4）年的时间尺度上，通过明显变化的气候条件，英格兰南部这一地区有人持续居住。文中描述了胫骨的地层、考古和沉积学背景，以及它的保存情况和形态。给出了测量数据，并讨论了重建的骨长和身高估计。还提供了化石样本和现代人类样本的对比测量数据：其骨干的大尺寸使博克斯格罗夫胫骨接近或超出了对比样本的尺寸上限，但它重建后的长度和估计的身高并不那么突出。该标本增强的粗壮程度表明其骨干具有非凡的强度和/或与尼安德特人相似的适应寒冷的身体比例。关于中更新世人类分类的分歧以及缺乏可比的化石材料，使得对博克斯格罗夫胫骨进行具体分类存在问题。如果承认该物种的有效性，仅能明确将该胫骨归入非现代智人种，基于时间和地理原因，可能进一步参考海德堡人（舍滕萨克，1908年）。
