Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 39 (1) 2011

Annotation:  Three Scenarios of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition. Scenario 2: The Middle to Upper Paleo Chronology and Periodization of the Neolithic in the Upper and Middle Kama Region Paleolithic Art of the Carpathian-Dniester Region Raw Materials and Paste from Wheel-Thrown Ceramics from the Gnezdovo Burial Ground The Origins of Lead Archaeological Artifacts Using Mass Spectrometry Analysis Kelteminar Arrowheads from the Altai Dagger from the Late Bronze Age Settlement on the Lyuskus River The Archekas Celt and the Issue of the Seima-Turbino Period in the Kuznetsk Basin and in the Achins Bone Anthropomorphic Sculpture from the Ust-Polui Sanctuary Images in Bronze from the Sarovka Ritual Complex: Reconstructing Semantics Information-Theoretical Database Management System in the Context of Monuments Dating to the Pre-Sc Ritual Complexes of the Bolshoye Storozhevoye Fortifi ed Settlement in the Middle Don Area Erlik Khan in the Traditional Worldview of the Khakas Copper Casting in the Daily Life and Ritual Practices of Komi Old Believers Dogs in the Traditional Worldview of the Chuvash People A Proximal Pedal Phalanx of a Paleolithic Hominin from Denisova Cave, Altai Secular Dental Changes in the Populations of the Armenian Highland: Evolutionary and Ecological Asp A Nonmetric Cranial Study of the Andronovo Series from the Altai   

A Proximal Pedal Phalanx of a Paleolithic Hominin from Denisova Cave, Altai

M.B. Mednikova.

A pedal phalanx of Homo from the Paleolithic stratum 11 at Denisova Cave, Altai, is described. A manual phalanx, from which DNA of a hominin belonging to a hitherto unknown species was extracted, had been found in the same layer. The new specimen has been identifi ed as a left proximal phalanx of the fourth or fi fth pedal digit, apparently that of an adult. The bone is rather elongated and has a very robust and broad diaphysis. While being generally archaic in appearance, the specimen demonstrates certain traits that are intermediate between the Neanderthal and the early modern morphology. The dorso-proximal orientation of the metatarsal facet of the base indicates a peculiar gait, resembling race walking.

Keywords: Human evolution, postcranial morphology, hominins, Altai, Paleolithic, Denisova Cave, proximal pedal phalanx.