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Competitive Homing Assays to Study Gut-tropic T Cell Migration
Published on: March 1, 2011
First Homo erectus from Turkey and implications for migrations into temperate Eurasia
John Kappelman1, Mehmet Cihat Alçiçek, Nizamettin Kazanci
1Department of Anthropology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712-0303, USA.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|December 11, 2007
Summary
The discovery of a fossil hominin calvaria in Turkey provides crucial insights into human evolution and migration. This ancient specimen reveals early Homo erectus traits and the oldest evidence of tuberculosis (TB) in a fossil human.
Area of Science:
- Paleoanthropology
- Human Evolution
- Paleopathology
Background:
- Fossil hominin remains from temperate Old World regions are scarce, hindering understanding of human evolution and migration.
- Such discoveries are vital for reconstructing hominin adaptations and dispersal patterns.
Observation:
- A fossil hominin calvaria was discovered in Turkey, found within travertine stone during commercial processing.
- This specimen represents the first such find in Turkey, filling a significant geographical and temporal gap.
Findings:
- The calvaria exhibits anatomical features aligning with Middle Pleistocene Homo erectus from Africa and Asia.
- An endocranial pathology suggests Leptomeningitis tuberculosa (TB), marking the oldest known instance of this disease in a fossil human.
Implications:
- The presence of TB supports the hypothesis that reduced ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in temperate latitudes posed an adaptive challenge for migrating hominins.
- This finding underscores the role of climatic variables, like UVR levels impacting vitamin D synthesis, in human adaptation and migration.
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