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

RESTORATION OF THE HUMAN REMAINS The adult human remains are represented by the mandible, the atlas (in three parts), three corpora vertebrae, one spine process of a thoracic vertebra, the manubrium sterni, the sacrum, the left patella, the fragment of a left second metacarpal, and a fragment of left proximal phalanx, a complete right second and a left fourth metatarsals and a fragment of a right third metatarsal (not identified previously by BARTUCZ). BARTUCZ had listed three isolated right molars, one proximal hand phalange and two proximal foot phalanges. During our present investigation we were able to identify only one proximal foot phalange, the teeth were missing and the phalanges were identified as animal bones*. All the bones were well fossilized and they only required some cleaning. There was a fracture on the left fragmentary second metacarpal which thus appeared less complete than in the original monograph. Only the mandible needed careful restoration. Indeed, we found that the mandible was later reconstructed in a wrong way from the two original parts sometime after BARTUCZ'

s report. I.e. part of the left body (broken anteriorly at the level of the first premolar alveola) was glued to the anterior part of the left ramus, the symphyseal region, the right first premolar, the two canines, and the four incisors. These parts were separated and glued again several times, and the last reconstruction was incorrect. Indeed the left side of the dental arch was not in connection with the symphyseal part and the dental arch's shape was too narrow. In addition, the three right isolated teeth were lost during this last reconstruction. After separating the parts of the mandible, the original joining surfaces were cleaned and glued together again in order to fit with the original anatomical reconstruction. The lower part of the internal surface of the symphyseal area, as well as the anterior section of the left inferior corpus margin were consolidated with wax. Finally, the right foramen mentale became observable during the cleaning of the right body. The immature human remains consist of an incomplete cranium (minus the basis), the two maxillae, the left isolated nasal bone, a few corpus vertebrae and several small isolated cranial fragments. According to BARTUCZ (1938), the cranium was originally broken in small parts and the nasal bone was recovered later. The remains and especially the cranium and the maxillae have been manipulated many times, again with regard to the first reconstruction made by BARTUCZ, as already mentioned by THOMA (1963: 128). It seems that a casting attempt has strongly damaged the neurocranium, as the spongious parts of the bones were found filled by silicone rubber, and the external and endocranial surfaces of the cranial bones were covered by a thick layer of varnish glue. The parietal and temporal bones were not correctly positioned. On the maxillae a huge amount of plaster was filling the anterior and inferior parts of the right bone and the dental arch was artificially narrowed. The right central and lateral deciduous incisors were placed in the * Thanks are due to Hélène MARTIN, GRP, Université de Toulouse Le Mirail, for her help in the identification of the animal bones.