Naslov
More than 500, 000 years of right-handedness in Europe

Autori
Frayer, David ; Lozano, Marina ; Bermúdez de Castro, José ; Carbonell, Eduald ; Arsuaga, Juan ; Radovčić, Jakov ; Fiore, Ivana ; Bondioli, Luca

Izvornik
Laterality (1357-650X) 17 (2012), 1; 51-69

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
tooth scratches; Neandertals; Atapuerca; lateralisation; language

Sažetak
Considerable research supports the high frequency of right-handedness in living Homo sapiens, with worldwide rates of approximately nine right- for every one left-hander. Right-handedness appears to be a uniquely human trait, as no other primate species, no matter how proficient in tool use, shows frequencies even close to the strong right bias typical of humans (Cashmore, Uomini, & Chapelain, 2008 ; McGrew & Marchant 1997 ; Steele & Uomini, 2009). Here we review our research on human fossils from Sima de los Huesos (Atapuerca, Spain) and their likely descendants, the European Neandertals. We document hand preference in fossils by scratch patterns that occur on the labial (lip) face of incisors and canines, and contend that these patterns provide a reliable means for identifying predominant hand use in these samples. Manipulatory marks on the anterior teeth show a persistent pattern of right-handed actions, implying that the modern human pattern of dominant right-handedness extends deep into the European past.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Dentalna medicina, Arheologija, Etnologija i antropologija

POVEZANOST RADA