Ohalo II man—unusual findings in the anterior rib cage and shoulder girdle of a 19000‐year‐old specimen

Abstract

The analysis of the skeletal remains of Ohalo II man, aged 30–40 years at death and dated to 19 000 years BP, shows advanced and highly unusual ossification of the lower costosternal cartilage; the right humerus is morphologically larger and considerably more robust than the left; degenerative changes were noted unilaterally in the right glenohumeral, acromioclavicular and claviculosternal joints. There is a marked asymmetry of the atlas, axis and occipital condyles. The changes in the costochondral area of the lower anterior rib cage are considered to represent an infectious chronic osteomyelitic process. The marked discrepancy in size between the left and right shoulder girdles and humeri, and the evidence of degenerative disease exclusively on one side only may be the result of a traumatic brachial plexus nerve palsy. The asymmetrical atlas and axis are most probably anatomical variants that do not reflect clinical pathology.

A Case of Marked Bilateral Asymmetry in the Upper Limbs of an Upper Palaeolithic Male from Barma Grande (Liguria), Italy

“…A similar pattern was noted in the skeleton from Ohalo, and was one basis for a diagnosis of pathologically induced asymmetry in that specimen. 4 Finally, the peculiar waisted morphology of the left humerus mid-proximal shaft in BG2 suggests some degree of abnormal loading of the upper arm in this individual.…”

“…In this case, we used body-size standardized values, 16 because the absolute strength of the humerus is in part a function of body size, and size varies within and between the samples used here. Cross-sectional total and cortical areas were divided by humeral length 2 and multiplied by 10 5 , whereas second moments of area (I x , I y and J) were divided by humeral length 4 and multiplied by 10 9 . These dimensions show BG2's right humerus to be markedly robust.…”

“…13 The early Epipalaeolithic site of Ohalo (Israel) likewise produced a male skeleton (Ohalo II) with marked right-dominant asymmetry and no clear sign of pathology in the left limb. 4 Hypertrophy of the right scapula, clavicle and humerus is not re¯ected in the bones of the right forearm. This pattern, combined with degenerative changes to all of the joints of the right but not left shoulder, lead Hershkovitz et al 4 to favour a differential diagnosis of adult onset Erb±Duchenne brachial plexus palsy of the left arm.…”

“…4 Hypertrophy of the right scapula, clavicle and humerus is not re¯ected in the bones of the right forearm. This pattern, combined with degenerative changes to all of the joints of the right but not left shoulder, lead Hershkovitz et al 4 to favour a differential diagnosis of adult onset Erb±Duchenne brachial plexus palsy of the left arm. This condition effectively would have limited mobility at the left glenohumeral joint while allowing for more normal use of the left forearm, hence resulting in less asymmetry of the forearm bones.…”

“…If a functional (non-pathological) interpretation is supported, it suggests a high level of behavioural asymmetry in at least one early modern human male, which, combined with other studies of functional asymmetry in palaeolithic hominids, 3,5 contributes to our understanding of the behaviour and adaptations of these people. If a pathological or traumatic cause can be identi®ed, it would add to the sample of hominids with recognizable pathological alteration of upper limb morphology 4,5 and would serve to increase our knowledge of the palaeopathology and living conditions of the European upper palaeolithic. With this in mind, we have re-examined this material in an attempt to infer something of the aetiology of the condition seen in BG2.…”