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A Mid-Upper Palaeolithic human humerus from Eel Point, South Wales, UK

Schulting, R.J.; Trinkaus, E.; Higham, T.; Hedges, R.; Richards, M.P.; Cardy, B.

Authors

R.J. Schulting

E. Trinkaus

T. Higham

R. Hedges

M.P. Richards

B. Cardy



Abstract

We report here on a human humerus directly dated to 24,470 ± 110 BP, placing it within the Gravettian, or Mid-Upper Palaeolithic. The partial humerus is an isolated find and can be attributed (with some caution) to the Pleistocene ‘bone cave’ of Eel Point on Caldey Island, Wales (UK). The humerus is probably male, similar in robusticity to other Gravettian right humeri. The apparent absence of stone tools and presence of hyaena bone and coprolites suggest that the element may not derive from an intentional burial. After a maxilla from Kent's Cavern and the Gravettian Paviland 1, Eel Point represents the third oldest anatomically modern human known from Britain. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope measurements do not support certain use of marine foods but highlight the need for more research on contemporary faunal remains in order to better interpret human values from this period.

Citation

Schulting, R., Trinkaus, E., Higham, T., Hedges, R., Richards, M., & Cardy, B. (2005). A Mid-Upper Palaeolithic human humerus from Eel Point, South Wales, UK. Journal of Human Evolution, 48(5), 493-505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2005.02.001

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date May 1, 2005
Deposit Date Jul 14, 2009
Journal Journal of Human Evolution
Print ISSN 0047-2484
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 48
Issue 5
Pages 493-505
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2005.02.001