Dissertation Research: Three-Dimensional Comparisons of Craniofacial Growth Patterns in Modern Humans and Neandertals

生长模式的研究在人类进化的研究中是重要的。由于尼安德特人的遗骸相对丰富，因此可以对古代和现代青少年的颅面形态和生长模式进行详细的比较。该项目将使用来自非洲、欧洲、亚洲和北美的8个尼安德特青少年和10个现代人样本，比较现代和古代青少年的颅面形态和生长情况。目的是：1)检查现代人类青少年形态和生长的可变性，2)确定是否可以区分基本的现代人颅面生长模式，3)将这种现代人模式与尼安德特人模式进行比较。该项目在使用三维（3D）形态测量方法来检查尼安德特人颅面生长方面是独一无二的，并且是第一个包括足够的青少年现代人类样本的项目，可以根据尼安德特人的模式进行评估。这些数据包括从面部、神经头盖骨、基础头盖骨和下颌骨上的80个地标收集的3D坐标位置。一项初步研究已经证明了3D数据和方法的实用性，并揭示了尼安德特人和现代人之间的生长差异。它还揭示了两个现代人样本之间的生长差异，支持了进一步研究现代人少年形态和生长变异性的必要性。

The study of growth patterns is important in the study of human evolution. Detailed comparisons of archaic and modern juvenile craniofacial morphology and growth patterns are possible because the remains of juvenile Neandertals are relatively abundant. This project will compare modern and archaic juvenile craniofacial morphology and growth using eight juvenile Neandertals and ten samples of modern humans from Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America. The purpose is to: 1) examine variability in modern h uman juvenile morphology and growth, 2) determine if a basic, modern human pattern of craniofacial growth can be distinguished, and 3) compare this modern human pattern with the Neandertal pattern. This project is unique in using three-dimensional (3D) morphometric methods to examine craniofacial growth in Neandertals and is the first to include an adequate sampling of juvenile modern humans against which the Neandertal pattern can be evaluated. The data consist of 3D coordinate locations collected from 80 landmarks on the face, neurocranium, basicranium, and mandible. A pilot study has demonstrated the utility of the 3D data and methods, and has revealed differences in growth between Neandertals and modern humans. It also revealed differences in growth between two modern human samples, supporting the need for further investigation of variability in modern human juvenile morphology and growth.