Craniosynostosis in the Middle Pleistocene human Cranium 14 from the Sima de los Huesos, Atapuerca, Spain

Abstract

We report here a previously undescribed human Middle Pleistocene immature specimen, Cranium 14, recovered at the Sima de los Huesos (SH) site (Atapuerca, Spain), that constitutes the oldest evidence in human evolution of a very rare pathology in our own species, lambdoid single suture craniosynostosis (SSC). Both the ecto-and endo-cranial deformities observed in this specimen are severe. All of the evidence points out that this severity implies that the SSC occurred before birth, and that facial asymmetries, as well as motor/cognitive disorders, were likely to be associated with this condition. The analysis of the present etiological data of this specimen lead us to consider that Cranium 14 is a case of isolated SSC, probably of traumatic origin. The existence of this pathological individual among the SH sample represents also a fact to take into account when referring to sociobiological behavior in Middle Pleistocene humans.human evolution ͉ paleopathology ͉ sociobiology ͉ congenital skull deformation P aleopathology is the study of past diseases. In paleoanthropology, this is generally restricted to lesions of the bones and teeth. However, paleopathology can also inform about past human behavior in healthy individuals (ref.

The earliest evidence of true lambdoid craniosynostosis: the case of “Benjamina”, a Homo heidelbergensis child

“…The study of the spheno-occipital and jugular synchondroses showed that the cranium had not reached adulthood, and that the death of the hominid happened around 10-12 years of age. CT reconstruction also ascertained that the intracranial volume of Cranium 14 was approximately 1,200 cm 3 [23]. In addition, the internal surface of the specimen showed marked endocranial convolutions and signs of enlarged subarachnoid spaces, which have been also documented in cases of positional plagiocephaly and of true craniosynostosis [15,30,38].…”

“…Deformational posterior plagiocephaly was discovered in 93 instances (12.48%) and true lambdoid synostosis in 13 (1.74%) cases [33]. There is also a mention to the high frequency of craniosynostosis in skulls recovered from the cemetery of St. James and St. Mary Magdalene Medieval Hospital in Chichester, England, that functioned as an almshouse since 1450 AD, where children with congenital defects were abandoned [23].…”

“…Gracia et al have reviewed two reports of Pleistocene hominid fossils with cranial deformities [23]. The first one is the cranium of Salé, whose occipital deformation was attributed to torticollis congenita.…”

“…The first one is the cranium of Salé, whose occipital deformation was attributed to torticollis congenita. The second one, Singa 1 skull, presents temporal bone pathology and was cited as having sagittal synostosis but, according to these authors, this specimen does not exhibit the characteristic elongated cranial shape of scaphocephaly [23].…”

“…Recently, Gracia et al have reported the finding of Cranium 14 belonging to the Sima de los Huesos (Atapuerca) hominin sample [23]. The cranium was recovered in many pieces during the 2001-2002 field seasons and was reconstructed in subsequent years.…”