In: Biology
Question 1: A) What can you infer about Neanderthal social structure and behavior from specimens like the Old Man of La Chappelle-aux-Saints?
La Chapelle-aux-Saints
Discovery Year: 1908
Site of Discovery: La Chapelle-aux-Saints, France
Type of Structure: Skull, Jaw, vertebrae, ribs, long bones small bones of arms and legs
Age of Fossil: 50,000-60,000years old
Discovered by: Amadee and Jean Bouyssonie and L. Bardon
Species: Homo neanderthalensis
About the Fossil:
1. It was more influential Fossil ever discovered of the old male Neanderthal individual. It was the first complete skeleton of Neanderthal man. It was found buried in limestone bedrock in the cave of the France.
2. Structure has lost most of its teeth
Social Behavior
His Skelton showed injuries and evidences suggesting that he suffered from disease osteoarthritis of lower neck, back, hip and shoulder. He suffered with deforming disability. La Chapelle-aux-Saints 1 had signs of Baastrup's disease. Later, Erik Trinkaus studies showed that La Chapelle suffer from a degenerative joint disease also.
He survived with this disease, these evidence suggest that people believe in social care of sick and elderly people. He has group support from other Neanderthals members. This intensive care suggests that these people have experience of pathology.
Boule a, scientist suggested that low vaulted cranium and the large brow ridge are reminiscent of gorilla. But later it was discovered that many features of Neanderthals match with modern man.