Out of the Natural State
Metabolic scaling, energy allocation tradeoffs, and the evolution of humans’ unique metabolism
Andrew Yegian et al.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 26 November 2024
Abstract:
All organisms use limited energy to grow, survive, and reproduce, necessitating energy allocation tradeoffs, but there is debate over how selection impacted metabolic budgets and tradeoffs in primates, including humans. Here, we develop a method to compare metabolic rates as quotients of observed relative to expected values for mammals corrected for size, body composition, environmental temperature, and phylogenetic relatedness. Contrary to previous analyses, these quotients reveal that nonhuman primates have total metabolic rates expected for similar-sized mammals in similar environments. In addition, data from several small-scale societies show that humans evolved exceptionally high resting, activity, and total metabolic rates apparently by overcoming tradeoffs between resting and active energy expenditures that constrain other primates. Enhanced metabolic rates help humans fuel expanded brains, faster reproductive rates, extended longevity, and high percentage of body fat.
Footprint evidence for locomotor diversity and shared habitats among early Pleistocene hominins
Kevin Hatala et al.
Science, 29 November 2024, Pages 1004-1010
Abstract:
For much of the Pliocene and Pleistocene, multiple hominin species coexisted in the same regions of eastern and southern Africa. Due to the limitations of the skeletal fossil record, questions regarding their interspecific interactions remain unanswered. We report the discovery of footprints (~1.5 million years old) from Koobi Fora, Kenya, that provide the first evidence of two different patterns of Pleistocene hominin bipedalism appearing on the same footprint surface. New analyses show that this is observed repeatedly across multiple contemporaneous sites in the eastern Turkana Basin. These data indicate a sympatric relationship between Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei, suggesting that lake margin habitats were important to both species and highlighting the possible influence of varying levels of coexistence, competition, and niche partitioning in human evolution.
Early Paleoindian use of canids, felids, and hares for bone needle production at the La Prele site, Wyoming, USA
Spencer Pelton et al.
PLoS ONE, November 2024
Abstract:
We report the first identifications of species and element used to produce Paleolithic bone needles. Archaeologists have used the tailored, fur-fringed garments of high latitude foragers as modern analogs for the clothes of Paleolithic foragers, arguing that the appearance of bone needles and fur bearer remains in archaeological sites c. 40,000 BP is indirect evidence for the advent of tailored garments at this time. These garments partially enabled modern human dispersal to northern latitudes and eventually enabled colonization of the Americas ca. 14,500 BP. Despite the importance of bone needles to explaining global modern human dispersal, archaeologists have never identified the materials used to produce them, thus limiting understanding of this important cultural innovation. We use Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) and Micro-CT scanning to establish that bone needles at the ca. 12,900 BP La Prele site (Wyoming, USA) were produced from the bones of canids, felids, and hares. We propose that these bones were used by the Early Paleoindian foragers at La Prele because they were scaled correctly for bone needle production and readily available within the campsite, having remained affixed to pelts sewn into complex garments. Combined with a review of comparable evidence from other North American Paleoindian sites, our results suggest that North American Early Paleoindians had direct access to fur-bearing predators, likely from trapping, and represent some of the most detailed evidence yet discovered for Paleoindian garments.
Multianalytical investigation reveals psychotropic substances in a ptolemaic Egyptian vase
Davide Tanasi et al.
Scientific Reports, November 2024
Abstract:
This study presents a comprehensive multimodal analytical study of an Egyptian ritual Bes-vase, of the 2nd century BCE employing cutting-edge proteomics, metabolomics, genetics techniques, and synchrotron radiation-based Fourier Transformed Infrared microSpectroscopy (SR µ-FTIR) to characterize organic residues of its content. We successfully identified the presence of various functional, bioactive, psychotropic, and medicinal substances, shedding light on the diverse components of a liquid concoction used for ritual practices in Ptolemaic Egypt. Using LC-MS/MS with a new methodological approach, we identified key proteins and metabolites, enabling the identification of botanical sources, confirmed by genetic sequences. Our analyses revealed traces of Peganum harmala, Nimphaea nouchali var. caerulea, and a plant of the Cleome genus, all of which are traditionally proven to have psychotropic and medicinal properties. Additionally, the identification of human fluids suggests their direct involvement in these rituals. Furthermore, metabolomics and SR µ-FTIR analyses also revealed the presence of fermented fruit-based liquid and other ingredients such as honey or royal jelly. The identification of specific chemical compounds, such as alkaloids and flavonoids, provides insight into the psychoactive and therapeutic uses of these in ancient ritual practices. This multidisciplinary study highlights the complexity of ancient cultures and their interactions with psychoactive, medicinal, and bioactive substances. These findings contribute to our understanding of ancient belief systems, cultural practices, and the utilization of natural resources, ultimately enhancing our knowledge of past societies and their connection to the natural world.
The Zooarchaeology of ancient whaling practices in Portugal: A review and a new Roman Republican contribution at Castelo Velho de Safara
Mariana Nabais, Rui Soares & Youri van den Hurk
PLoS ONE, November 2024
Abstract:
The identification of archaeological cetacean specimens to the species level often presents challenges, primarily due to the frequent fragmentation of their remains. This limitation hampers our ability to comprehensively understand the spatiotemporal distributions of cetaceans in the past and constrains our knowledge of early whaling activities. To address this issue, a systematic zooarchaeological review was conducted, encompassing published literature and reports that compile available data related to cetaceans retrieved from archaeological contexts in Portugal, spanning from the Middle Palaeolithic to the 18th century. Furthermore, this study introduces a new discovery of a cetacean specimen from the Roman Republican levels at Castelo Velho de Safara, which has been incorporated into the aforementioned dataset. The taxonomic identification of this specimen was accomplished using Zooarchaeology by Mass-Spectrometry (ZooMS). The study confirms that cetacean remains have been present in Portuguese waters since the Middle Palaeolithic, with higher concentrations in the southern and central regions of the country. ZooMS analysis confirmed the presence of the North Atlantic right whale at the inland site of Castelo Velho de Safara, which supports whale product trading during the Roman Republican period in Portugal. Evidence of cetacean exploitation continues to the Medieval and Modern periods, reflecting a strong cultural link between Portuguese ancient culture and whaling practices.