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Science Forum Index » Anthropology - Paleo Forum » A Whole?Body Analysis of Neanderthal Thermoregulation...
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| Marc Verhaegen... |
 Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 12:51 pm |
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Cross & Collard 2008
A Whole‐Body Analysis of Neanderthal Thermoregulation
The unique limb proportions of the Neanderthals are widely thought to
represent an adaptation to low temperatures. However, the studies that
underpin this hypothesis have dealt with the regions of the Neanderthal body
separately rather than as part of a whole body. As such, there is reason to
question their accuracy. Here we report the results of a study that
investigated Neanderthal thermoregulation using a whole‐body approach.
First, we used published data to create a segmented model of a Neanderthal.
Next, we estimated 3D segment displacement values for the Neanderthal by
scaling values recorded for a sample of modern humans walking at 1.2m/s.
Thereafter, we used the segment proportion and 3D segment displacement
values for the Neanderthal to estimate its heat balance and the segment
specific contributions to total heat loss when ambient temperature is
between 20°C and 35°C. Lastly, the estimates of heat balance and segment
specific contributions to total heat loss were compared with those for the
aforementioned sample of modern humans. Our results do not support the
hypothesis that Neanderthal limb proportions were adaptations to low
temperatures. Although Neanderthals would have consistently lost absolutely
and relatively less heat than modern humans, this is not attributable to
their limb proportions. We found that only the Neanderthalʹs arms
consistently lost relatively less heat than those of the modern humans, and
this was true only of the upper arm and the hand, not the lower arm. The
Neanderthal head, neck, and trunk heat loss were not consistently lower than
those of the modern humans, and the Neanderthal legs would in fact have
contributed relatively more to total heat loss than those of the modern
humans. |
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