Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 88. (Budapest 1996)

Pap, I., Tillier, A.-M. , Arensburg, B. ; Chech, M.: The Subalyuk Neanderthal remains (Hungary): a re-examination

developed, and in addition two (superior and inferior) transverse tori on two of the specimens (Vindija 226 and 231, WOLPOFF et al. 1981). On the Subalyuk mandible, the right digastric fossa on the inferior edge is small, delimited by a faint muscular crest along its anterior margin and a moderately marked spine along its sagittal margin. Apparently the digastric muscles were not strongly developed. On the Krapina and Vindija mandibles, the digastric fossae are large, well marked and the interdigastric spine pronounced. The Subalyuk mandibular corpus height (Table 1) decreases backwards from the symphyseal region to the M2-M3 level. The symphyseal height (36.7 mm), similar to the Krapina mean average (36.9+4.8 mm) is above the Vindija mean (30.8+3.3 mm). However, the Subalyuk symphyseal thickness (14.0 mm) is under the Vindija (15.2+1.0) and the Krapina means (14.5+1.1 mm). The robusticity index (37.8) at the Subalyuk symphysis remains within the range of variation of the Krapina sample (39.9±5.4) and outside the one of the Vindija mandibles (49.5+3.1). The mental foramen is unique and large (4.9x3.7 mm) on the Subalyuk jaw. Its opening is oval-shaped and located under the mesial root of the first molar, in a low position as shown by Fig. 4 (at 12.8 mm from the inferior margin). A unique mental foramen is also present on Krapina 54, 55, and Vindija 206, while Krapina 57 (on the right side), Krapina 59 (on the left side), as well as Vindija 226 and 231 mandibles, have two mental foramina. A bilateral asymmetry of the mental foramen number is not unusual among European Neanderthals as well as among Levantine Mousterian hominids, with the exception of the Skhul and Qafzeh individuals (TILLIER etal. 1989). The Subalyuk mandible is remarkable for the minimal relief on the lateral surface of its left corpus. On the medial surface, only the posterior part of a fairly marked mylohyoid line placed below the third molar is apparent. The obliquity of the ramus increases the significance of the retromolar space {ca 10.5 mm) between the anterior margin of the ramus and the distal surface of the third molar. This backwards orientation of the ramus also increases the distance between the third molar and the mandibular foramen, as already mentioned by BARTUCZ (1938: 73) and SZABÓ (1935: 26). This configuration is lacking on the Krapina and Vindija mandibles, but may occur in western European Neanderthal mandibles such as La Quina 9. The mandibular foramen is V-shaped, opening backwards and upwards, and there is no lingula. This morphology contrasts with the one described on five of the Krapina specimens that exhibit a horizontal-oval shaped mandibular foramen and no lingula (KALLAY 1970, SMITH 1976), as well as three of the Vindija specimens (WOLPOFF et al. 1981). On the Subalyuk mandible the mylohyoid sulcus appears to have been open along its entire length. The Subalyuk mandibular dental arch is wide (Table 1). Its external breadth measured at the canine posterior alveolus reaches 35.3 mm (Krapina 57: 34.6 mm) and 76.0 mm at the M3 alveolus by doubling the left side (Krapina 58: 77.0 mm). The dental arcade length (53.0 mm) provides a length/breadth index ca 69.7 for Subalyuk. This index is lower than the one known for Ochoz (73.3, VLCEK 1969) and it is under the Krapina values (WEIDENREICH 1936).