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

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s observation ) than to the latest ones (e. g. La Ferrassie 1, La Quina 9 and finally Saint Cesaire) by its overall morphology (specifically its symphyseal morphology). 2. The manubrium sterni (Fig. 6) The paucity of finds of sternal segments is striking among Middle Paleolithic human fossils, as it was already claimed by BARTUCZ 57 years ago. PATTE (1955) does not mention this bone at all and McCowN & KEITH (1939) could not compare the Mt Carmel sterna with those of other sites "for lack of evidence". This lack of fossil material is accentuated when the manubrium sterni is under study. Thus, the only fragments or complete manubria of prehistoric humans other than Subalyuk 1 are today those of Skhul IX (MCCOWN & KEITH 1939), Regourdou (VALLOIS 1965, VALLOIS & DE FELICE 1976), Shanidar 4 (or 6?) (TRINKAUS 1983), Krapina 117 (RADOVCIC et al. 1988), and Kebara 2 (ARENSBURG 1991). The Subalyuk manubrium is well preserved (Fig. 6), although in two places the internal surface of the bone shows artificial holes (considered as probable traces of animal tooth activities by BARTUCZ 1938). The manubrium was not fused to the first sternebra and only small cortical areas are missing, especially in its dorsal aspect. In a transverse section the bone appears convex in front and concave behind. Its general shape is more square than triangular as is the norma in modern specimens, and this is the result of its broad articular surface for the sternal body. In a ventral view the manubrium presents a clear sagittal crest ("crête en" of Rouvière) that separates deep left and right fossae for the attachment of the pectorial major muscle. The sternocleidomastoid muscle seems to have a very reduced surface at its origin. In the superior border of the manubrium the jugular notch was replaced by a rounded protrusion that became the highest midsagittal point of the bone. Currently the highest point of the manubrium sterni are the medial borders of the clavicular articular surface on each side. These surfaces are, in the sternum of Subalyuk 1, relatively flat and reduced in size. The attachments for the first ribs are not clearly distinguished in the lateral borders. They appear as thin and short surfaces indicating a narrow costal cartilage typical at a relatively young individual. The inferior border presents a long and rugged articular surface for the first sternebra, 28.4x12.0 mm in size. A net horizontal anterior line indicates the inclination of the angle of Lewis. The dorsal surface is extremely concave, more than most of recent sterna. The infero-lateral borders are asymmetric, the left one presents an articular surface for the second costal cartilage while the right one is smooth. The human sternum is extremely variable in its metric and morphological characteristics as VALLOIS & DE FELICE (1976) mentioned it. Table 3 shows the dimensions of the Subalyuk manubrium sterni compared to other individuals. From this table it is clear that the Subalyuk specimen, as well as that of other fossils is within the range of variation of modern humans, with the exception of the jugular notch width. Two other traits are specific of the Subalyuk sternum: the bulging shape of its superior-sagittal border at the place of the jugular notch and its extremely concave dorsal surface. This morphologic