Reconstruction of Fossil Crania Based on Three-Dimensional Surface Modeling Techniques

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Replacement of Neanderthals by Homo sapiens: testing evolutionary models of learning
• Project/Area Number: 22101006
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Humanities and Social Sciences
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: OGIHARA Naomichi 慶應義塾大学, 理工学部, 准教授 (70324605)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SUZUKI Hiromasa 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科, 教授 (40187761) ; KONDO Osamu 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科, 准教授 (40244347)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 仮想復元 / 形状モデリング / 化石脳 / ネアンデルタール / 進化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to discuss possible differences in brain anatomy between Neanderthals and early modern humans, the original antemortem appearance of fossil crania that enclosed the brain must somehow be correctly restored. In this study, we therefore developed a computer-assisted system for reconstructing fossil crania based on three-dimensional surface modeling technique. We then apply this assistive system for virtual reconstructions of Neandertal and early modern human fossil crania and analyzed the morphological variability of the fossil crania using landmark-based geometric morphometrics. Our results demonstrated that modern human cranium shows relative enlargement of the cerebellar region, and relative expansion of the parietal area, possibly indicating that neuroanatomical organization may be different between the two species.

Free Research Field

自然人類学　生体力学