The Neandertal talocrural joint morphology is influenced by body size. The other Neandertal talus traits do not co-vary with it or not follow the same co-variation pattern as MH. Besides, the trochlear hypertrophy, the trochlear rims equality and the short neck could be inherited primitive features; the medial malleolar facet morphology could be an inherited primitive feature or a secondarily primitive trait; and the calcaneal posterior facet would be an autapomorphic feature of the Neandertal lineage.

duos. Los resultados genéticos, ratificados por datos osteológicos, definen a los neandertales de El Sidrón como un grupo homogéneo, con estrechos lazos familiares entre sus individuos. Finalmente, las numerosas evidencias del tratamiento antrópico de los restos hacen de El Sidrón un ejemplo paradigmático de prácticas de canibalismo entre los neandertales.Palabras clave: neandertal; fósil; paleoantropología; karst; canibalismo; ADN antiguo. AbstractThe archaeological project in the Gallery of the Osario of the cave of El Sidrón (Asturias, Spain) has recently concluded after 13 field seasons of detailed, methodical excavation. We present here a summary of the lines of research and the paleoanthropological studies carried out to date, as well as a brief perspective of the ongoing investigations. More than 2550 neandertal fossil remains have been recovered from this singular deposit, together with 400 pieces of Mousterian lithic industry, and less than 60 non-human remains. Sedimentological, taphonomic and structural analyses of the karst clarify that this fossil assemblage is in a secondary position and comes by mudflow from a gallery/shelter located in a superior level of the karst. All the skeletal parts are represented, and 13 individuals have been identified: 7 adults (3 males, 4 females), 3 adolescents (2 males, 1 female), 2 male juveniles and an infant. The El Sidrón collection constitutes the most numerous and diverse neandertal sample of the Iberian Peninsula, allowing systemic studies on tempo and modo of appearance of the derived characters in the neandertal lineage. The wide undertaken paleobiological research program includes the study of the different levels of biological organization, from demographic and evolutionary dynamics to molecular aspects. With regard to the latter, the extraction of DNA sequences has played a central role, with the characterization of the mt-DNA haplotype of 12 individuals, and with the inclusion of samples from El Sidrón in the Neandertal Genome and Exome projects. Results from the genetic and osteological studies define El Sidrón neandertals as a homogenous group, with narrow kinship bonds between their individuals. Finally, the numerous evidences of human-induced treatment of the bones make of El Sidrón a paradigmatic example of practices of cannibalism between the neandertals.