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Supraorbital morphology and social dynamics in human evolution
Ricardo Miguel Godinho1,2, Penny Spikins3, Paul O'Higgins4
1Department of Archaeology and Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK. ricardomiguelgodinho@gmail.com.
Nature Ecology & Evolution
|April 11, 2018
Summary
Modern humans lack prominent browridges, unlike archaic Homo. Research suggests this change facilitated mobile eyebrows for social communication, not just skull structure or biting mechanics.
Area of Science:
- Paleoanthropology
- Human Evolution
- Skeletal Biology
Background:
- Anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) differ from Middle Pleistocene hominins by lacking prominent browridges and possessing a more vertical forehead.
- Browridge morphology in archaic Homo species is debated, with hypotheses focusing on cranial-orbital spatial relationships and biomechanical influences from biting.
- The evolutionary transition from large browridges to a vertical forehead in humans is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphogenesis and functional significance of browridges in archaic hominins.
- To test the hypotheses that browridge size is determined by orbital-cranial spatial constraints or biting mechanics.
- To explore the role of the supraorbital region in social communication and emotional expression during human evolution.
Main Methods:
- Virtual manipulation of the browridge morphology of the Kabwe 1 archaic hominin fossil.
- Analysis of spatial requirements between the orbits and braincase.
- Assessment of the impact of browridge size on mechanical performance during simulated biting actions.
Main Results:
- The browridge of the Kabwe 1 fossil was found to be significantly larger than necessary for spatial demands.
- Browridge size demonstrated minimal impact on mechanical performance during biting.
- Neither spatial nor mechanical factors alone fully explain the observed browridge morphology in the fossil.
Conclusions:
- Browridge morphology in archaic hominins is not solely dictated by cranial-orbital spatial relationships or biting mechanics.
- The evolution of a vertical forehead and reduced browridge in modern humans may be linked to enhanced social signaling.
- Mobile eyebrows, enabled by the modern human facial structure, likely evolved to facilitate the display of subtle affiliative emotions and complex social communication.
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