An archaic character in the Broken Hill innominate E. 719

Area of Science:

• Paleoanthropology
• Human Evolution
• Skeletal Biology

Background:

• The hominid fossils from Broken Hill, Kabwe, Zambia, are crucial for understanding human evolution.
• Additional hominid material from Broken Hill is often considered anatomically modern, with uncertain association to the main cranium.
• Previous research identified an acetabulocristal buttress in early Pleistocene hominid innominates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the morphology of the Broken Hill innominate (E. 719).
• To determine if archaic features are present in the Broken Hill innominate.
• To reassess the antiquity of additional hominid specimens from Broken Hill.

Main Methods:

• Morphological analysis of the Broken Hill innominate (E. 719).
• Comparison with a sample of recent Homo sapiens innominates.
• Identification of specific skeletal features, including the acetabulocristal buttress.

Main Results:

• An archaic feature, an acetabulocristal buttress of cortical bone (10 mm thick), was identified in the Broken Hill innominate E. 719.
• This feature is distinct from the morphology observed in recent Homo sapiens innominates.
• The presence of this archaic feature suggests E. 719 is of comparable antiquity to the Broken Hill cranium.

Conclusions:

• The identification of an archaic feature in Broken Hill innominate E. 719 supports its ancient origin.
• This finding increases the likelihood that other associated hominid specimens from Broken Hill are also ancient.
• The study extends the known range of hominids exhibiting this specific archaic feature.