Dany Coutinho Nogueira
@danycnogueira.bsky.social
PhD in biological Anthropology, interested in Human evolution, Paleopathology and Virtual Anthropology. European Research Area fellow at the Univ of Coimbra
danycoutinhonogueira.weebly.com
danycoutinhonogueira.weebly.com
It was Qafzeh 25! More info: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The bony labyrinth of Qafzeh 25 Homo sapiens from Israel - Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
The bony labyrinth has received growing attention in the field of human evolution as it is a useful phylogenetic indicator in hominins and is particularly useful for distinguishing anatomically modern humans and Neanderthals. The partial adult skeleton of Qafzeh 25 dated to 92 ± 5 ka B.P. suffers from serious post-mortem taphonomic damage that has limited its anatomical description and metrical analysis. However, the two petrosal bones are preserved and the bony labyrinths are not affected by post-mortem deformations. In this study, the methodology developed by Spoor (1993) is used to analyze and compare the morphometric data from Qafzeh 25 semi-circular canals and cochlea to that of other fossils from the site and more generally to the published hominin sample (Middle and Late Pleistocene hominins). While this analysis reveals that the Qafzeh 25 bony labyrinth resembles that of other Qafzeh individuals, it extends the range of variation within the sample for some variables.
link.springer.com
October 4, 2025 at 5:37 PM
It was Qafzeh 25! More info: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Would you like to see more “guess the fossil” games on Fridays? 🧐
October 3, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Would you like to see more “guess the fossil” games on Fridays? 🧐
CAM 2023-7 shows that Mesolithic communities invested time, care, and symbolism in their burials, even for children.
A rare window into the humanity of 8,000 years ago.
#FossilFriday #Mesolithic #Archaeology
A rare window into the humanity of 8,000 years ago.
#FossilFriday #Mesolithic #Archaeology
August 29, 2025 at 4:05 PM
CAM 2023-7 shows that Mesolithic communities invested time, care, and symbolism in their burials, even for children.
A rare window into the humanity of 8,000 years ago.
#FossilFriday #Mesolithic #Archaeology
A rare window into the humanity of 8,000 years ago.
#FossilFriday #Mesolithic #Archaeology
This was no ordinary burial.
It points to special treatment not commonly described at Muge.
But why? 🧐
• Social status?
• A different group?
• Chronological differences?
It points to special treatment not commonly described at Muge.
But why? 🧐
• Social status?
• A different group?
• Chronological differences?
August 29, 2025 at 4:05 PM
This was no ordinary burial.
It points to special treatment not commonly described at Muge.
But why? 🧐
• Social status?
• A different group?
• Chronological differences?
It points to special treatment not commonly described at Muge.
But why? 🧐
• Social status?
• A different group?
• Chronological differences?
The child lay on their back (dorsal decubitus), head to the northeast.
Arms flexed across the chest, legs drawn up tight (hyperflexed).
This position suggests careful placement, maybe even wrapping in perishable material.
Arms flexed across the chest, legs drawn up tight (hyperflexed).
This position suggests careful placement, maybe even wrapping in perishable material.
August 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The child lay on their back (dorsal decubitus), head to the northeast.
Arms flexed across the chest, legs drawn up tight (hyperflexed).
This position suggests careful placement, maybe even wrapping in perishable material.
Arms flexed across the chest, legs drawn up tight (hyperflexed).
This position suggests careful placement, maybe even wrapping in perishable material.
Associated elements included:
• Wild boar bones (hemi-mandibles & a tooth) 🐗
• Turtle shells 🐢
• Closed cockle shells (Cerastoderma edule) 🐚
• Charcoal & ochre 🎨
• Wild boar bones (hemi-mandibles & a tooth) 🐗
• Turtle shells 🐢
• Closed cockle shells (Cerastoderma edule) 🐚
• Charcoal & ochre 🎨
August 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Associated elements included:
• Wild boar bones (hemi-mandibles & a tooth) 🐗
• Turtle shells 🐢
• Closed cockle shells (Cerastoderma edule) 🐚
• Charcoal & ochre 🎨
• Wild boar bones (hemi-mandibles & a tooth) 🐗
• Turtle shells 🐢
• Closed cockle shells (Cerastoderma edule) 🐚
• Charcoal & ochre 🎨
The child was laid in a shallow depression, carefully prepared with:
• Shells (Scrobicularia plana) under the head 🐚
• Clay with plant impressions 🌿
• A thin layer of sand
It was a constructed structure.
• Shells (Scrobicularia plana) under the head 🐚
• Clay with plant impressions 🌿
• A thin layer of sand
It was a constructed structure.
August 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The child was laid in a shallow depression, carefully prepared with:
• Shells (Scrobicularia plana) under the head 🐚
• Clay with plant impressions 🌿
• A thin layer of sand
It was a constructed structure.
• Shells (Scrobicularia plana) under the head 🐚
• Clay with plant impressions 🌿
• A thin layer of sand
It was a constructed structure.
In 2023, excavations at Cabeço da Amoreira uncovered a child, ~8.5 years old.
Unlike most burials at the site, this one was prepared with care and symbolism.
Unlike most burials at the site, this one was prepared with care and symbolism.
August 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
In 2023, excavations at Cabeço da Amoreira uncovered a child, ~8.5 years old.
Unlike most burials at the site, this one was prepared with care and symbolism.
Unlike most burials at the site, this one was prepared with care and symbolism.
The Muge region (central Portugal) is famous for its Mesolithic shell mounds.
These were used, among other things, as necropolis for the last hunter-gatherer-fishers of Western Europe (~8200–7100 years ago).
These were used, among other things, as necropolis for the last hunter-gatherer-fishers of Western Europe (~8200–7100 years ago).
August 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The Muge region (central Portugal) is famous for its Mesolithic shell mounds.
These were used, among other things, as necropolis for the last hunter-gatherer-fishers of Western Europe (~8200–7100 years ago).
These were used, among other things, as necropolis for the last hunter-gatherer-fishers of Western Europe (~8200–7100 years ago).
Oh nice! I’ll make sure he sees this 😅 Thanks
August 28, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Oh nice! I’ll make sure he sees this 😅 Thanks
Together, these discoveries expand our understanding of how Mesolithic communities in Iberia cared for their non-adult dead and open new avenues for research on childhood, and funerary practices in prehistory.
August 20, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Together, these discoveries expand our understanding of how Mesolithic communities in Iberia cared for their non-adult dead and open new avenues for research on childhood, and funerary practices in prehistory.
The complex burial of CAM 2023-7 shows parallels with some adult graves at the site (see Umbelino et al. 2016). This suggests that elaborate treatment in funerary contexts was not limited to adults.
August 20, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The complex burial of CAM 2023-7 shows parallels with some adult graves at the site (see Umbelino et al. 2016). This suggests that elaborate treatment in funerary contexts was not limited to adults.
The differences observed in these burials—such as body position, presence/absence of material associated, and type of structure—point to variability in funerary practices among Mesolithic groups in the Tagus Valley.
August 20, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The differences observed in these burials—such as body position, presence/absence of material associated, and type of structure—point to variability in funerary practices among Mesolithic groups in the Tagus Valley.
These burials reveal striking variability:
➡️ Different body orientations
➡️ With/without associated material
➡️ Simple vs. complex structure (e.g., CAM 2023-7 laid in prepared layers of clay & shells)
➡️ Different body orientations
➡️ With/without associated material
➡️ Simple vs. complex structure (e.g., CAM 2023-7 laid in prepared layers of clay & shells)
August 20, 2025 at 1:42 PM
These burials reveal striking variability:
➡️ Different body orientations
➡️ With/without associated material
➡️ Simple vs. complex structure (e.g., CAM 2023-7 laid in prepared layers of clay & shells)
➡️ Different body orientations
➡️ With/without associated material
➡️ Simple vs. complex structure (e.g., CAM 2023-7 laid in prepared layers of clay & shells)
Since 2019, 3 new non-adult burials were found:
• CAM 2019-5: ~9 yo, buried in a tightly flexed position
• CAM 2022-6: perinate, possibly stillborn
• CAM 2023-7: ~8 yo, buried with shells, ochre, and faunal remains
• CAM 2019-5: ~9 yo, buried in a tightly flexed position
• CAM 2022-6: perinate, possibly stillborn
• CAM 2023-7: ~8 yo, buried with shells, ochre, and faunal remains
August 20, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Since 2019, 3 new non-adult burials were found:
• CAM 2019-5: ~9 yo, buried in a tightly flexed position
• CAM 2022-6: perinate, possibly stillborn
• CAM 2023-7: ~8 yo, buried with shells, ochre, and faunal remains
• CAM 2019-5: ~9 yo, buried in a tightly flexed position
• CAM 2022-6: perinate, possibly stillborn
• CAM 2023-7: ~8 yo, buried with shells, ochre, and faunal remains
Cabeço da Amoreira is one of 15 Mesolithic shell mounds/middens in the Tagus Valley. Excavations started in the 19th century, but early records were limited. Recent research, using modern methods, provides more detailed information on the site and its funerary practices.
August 20, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Cabeço da Amoreira is one of 15 Mesolithic shell mounds/middens in the Tagus Valley. Excavations started in the 19th century, but early records were limited. Recent research, using modern methods, provides more detailed information on the site and its funerary practices.