Bilateral absence of the lesser trochanter in a Late Epigravettian skeleton from Arene Candide (Italy)

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8311549
AutoresVincenzo Formicola (University of Pisa), David W Frayer (0000-0003-2522-5794, University of Kansas), Julie A Heller (University of New Mexico)
Año1990
Volumen83
Número4
Páginas425-437
Fecha de publicación1990-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.1330830404
PMID2275480
OpenAlexW1972428038
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas7
Referencias citadas20

A virtually complete skeleton recovered from excavations in a Late Upper Paleolithic context by Cardini between 1940 and 1942 at the Arene Candide cave (NW Italy) lacks the normal development of the left and right lesser trochanters. The specimen is a short‐statured male about 25 years old and shows no other especially peculiar skeletal irregularities, except for high negative angles of femoral torsion. We discuss a number of possible etiologies for the anomalous absence of the lesser trochanters. The condition is most likely a result of an epigenetic effect or a traumatic avulsion of both lesser trochanters. If the absence of normal development of the lesser trochanters involves a congenital condition, it is an extremely rare, previously undescribed trait. If the condition results from bilateral traumatic avulsion, it is probably the result of excessive muscular stress on the proximal femur and provides further evidence of hardship of life in Paleolithic populations and of the ability of these people to survive debilitating trauma

Avulsion · Biology · Context (archaeology) · Anatomy · Bone fractures and treatments · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Hip disorders and treatments · Medicine · Paleontology