Au sein de l’échantillon d’individus de Qafzeh (Basse Galilée), datés du Paléolithique moyen, Qafzeh 25 est représenté par des composants du squelette ayant été sérieusement altérés pendant la fossilisation, et tout particulièrement le bloc crânio-facial et la mandibule compressés bilatéralement. Grâce aux avancées méthodologiques de l’imagerie 3D, nous proposons dans cette étude une reconstitution virtuelle de la mandibule à partir de CT-scans du fossile original. Cette restauration virtuelle réalisée à l’aide du logiciel TIVMI permet de mener une première analyse morphométrique comparative avec les autres mandibules connues au Levant méditerranéen pour le Paléolithique et l’Épipaléolithique.

The bony labyrinth has received growing attention in the field of human evolution as it is a useful phylogenetic indicator in hominins, and is particularly useful for distinguishing anatomically modern humans and Neanderthals. The partial adult skeleton of Qafzeh 25 dated to 92 ± 5 ka B.P. suffers from serious post-mortem taphonomic damage that has limited its anatomical description and metrical analysis. However, the two petrosal bones are preserved and the bony labyrinths are not affected by post-mortem deformations. In this study, the methodology developed by Spoor (1993) is used to analyze and compare the morphometric data from Qafzeh 25 semi-circular canals and cochlea to that of other fossils from the site and more generally to the published hominin sample (Middle and Late Pleistocene hominins).While this analysis reveals that the Qafzeh 25 bony labyrinth resembles that other Qafzeh individuals, it extends the range of variation within the sample for some variables.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to provide new insights into growth patterns and health of Mousterian hunter-gatherers dated to ca. 90-100 kyrs B.P. from the Qafzeh site. Material: An almost complete skeleton, including the mandible from the Qafzeh site (Qafzeh 9). Methods: Micro-CT and medical imaging techniques are used to explore inaccessible inner structures and to assess the aetiology of identified lesion. Results: Mandibular and dental conditions appear to be growth-related skeletal disorders. Conclusion: To our knowledge, Qafzeh 9 offers the earliest evidence of associated mandibular and dental pathological conditions (i.e. non-ossifying fibroma of the mandible, pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption and osteochondritis dissecans of the temporomandibular joint) among early anatomically modern humans, and more generally among Middle Palaeolithic hominins in Southwestern Asia. The diagnoses can be added to other growth-related disorders of skulls previously documented from the Qafzeh site (Tillier 1999, Tillier et al. 2001), suggesting a quite high and exceptional incidence of these conditions compared to those of Palaeolithic populations. Significance: Identification of pathological conditions in subadults from Eurasia dated to the Middle Palaeolithic is less documented than in adult skeletons. Hence, new results from immature fossil remains are particularly important to our understanding of the past. Suggestions for further research: This research will be extended to the rest of the skeleton, then to all Qafzeh specimens in order to broaden our understanding of this anatomically modern group.