Anatomy

Skull

Reconstructed skull of the Boy of the Gran Dolina (above) and the adult mandible
ATD6-96 (below)
The facial anatomy of H. antecessor is predominantly known from the 10–11.5-year-
old H. antecessor child ATD6-69, as the few other facial specimens are fragmentary.
ATD6-69 is strikingly similar to modern humans (as well as East Asian Middle
Pleistocene archaic humans) as opposed to West Eurasian or African Middle
Pleistocene archaic humans including Neanderthals. The most notable traits are a
completely flat face and a curved zygomaticoalveolar crest (the bar of bone
connecting the cheek to the part of the maxilla that holds the teeth). In 2013
anthropologist Sarah Freidline and colleagues statistically determined that these
features would not disappear with maturity. H. antecessor suggests the modern human
face evolved and disappeared multiple times in the past, which is not unlikely as
facial anatomy is strongly influenced by diet and thus the environment.[24] The
nasal bones are like those of modern humans.[2] The mandible (lower jaw) is quite
gracile unlike most other archaic humans. It exhibits several archaic features, but
the shape of the mandibular notch is modern humanlike, and the alveolar part
(adjacent to the teeth) is completely vertical as in modern humans. Like many
Neanderthals, the medial pterygoid tubercle is large. Unlike most Neanderthals,
there is no retromolar space (a large gap between the last molar and the end of the
body of the mandible).[25]

The upper incisors are shovel-shaped (the lingual, or tongue, side is distinctly
concave), a feature characteristic of other Eurasian human populations, including
modern. The canines bear the cingulum (a protuberance toward the base) and the
essential ridge (toward the midline) like more derived species, but retain the
cuspules (small bumps) near the tip and bordering incisor like more archaic
species. The upper premolar crowns are rather derived, being nearly symmetrical and
bearing a lingual cusp (on the tongue side), and a cingulum and longitudinal
grooves on the cheekward side. The upper molars feature several traits typically
seen in Neanderthals. The mandibular teeth, on the other hand, are quite archaic.
The P3 (the first lower premolar) has a strongly asymmetrical crown and complex
tooth root system. P3 is smaller than P4 like in more derived species, but like
other early Homo, M1 (the first lower molar) is smaller than M2 and the cusps of
the molar crowns make a Y shape. The distribution of enamel is Neanderthal-like,
with thicker layers at the periphery than at the cusps.[25] Based on two canine
teeth (ATD6- 69 and ATD6-13), the thickness of the enamel and the proportion of the
tooth covered by the gums vary to the same degree as for males and females of
modern humans and many other apes, so this may be due to sexual dimorphism, with
females having smaller teeth, relatively thicker enamel, and smaller proportion of
gum coverage.[27]

The parietal bones (each being one side of the back part of the top of the skull)
are flattened, and conjoin at a peak at the midline. This "tent-like" profile is
also exhibited in more archaic African H. ergaster and Asian H. erectus. Like H.
ergaster, the temporal styloid process just below the ear is fused to the base of
the skull. The brow ridges are prominent. The upper margin of the squamous part of
temporal bones (on the side of the skull) is convex, like in more derived species.
[25] The brain volume of ATD6-15, perhaps belonging to an 11-year-old, may have
been 1,000 cc (61 cu in) or more based on frontal bone measurements.[b][2] For
comparison, present-day modern humans average 1,270 cm3 for males and 1,130 cm3 for
females, with a standard deviation of roughly 115 and 100 cm3.[28]

Torso
The notably large adult clavicle specimen ATD6-50, assumed male based on absolute
size, was estimated to have stood 162.3–186.8 cm (5 ft 4 in – 6 ft 2 in), mean of
174.5 cm (5 ft 9 in), based on the correlation among modern Indian people between
clavicle length and stature. An adult radius (a forearm bone), ATD6-43, which could
be male based on absolute size or female based on gracility, was estimated to have
belonged to a 172.5 cm (5 ft 8 in) tall individual based on the average of
equations among several modern populations relating radial length to stature. Based
on metatarsal (foot bone) length, a male is estimated to have stood 173 cm (5 ft 8
in) and a female 168.9 cm (5 ft 6 in). These are all rather similar values. For
comparison, Western European Neanderthal estimates average 165.3 cm (5 ft 5 in),
and early European modern humans 178.4 cm (5 ft 10 in).[5] The ankle joint is
adapted for handling high stress, which may indicate a heavy, robust body plan,
much like Neanderthals.[29] Based on the relationship between human footprint
length and body size, twelve Happisburgh prints that are preserved well enough to
measure are consistent with individuals ranging from 93 to 173 cm (3 ft 1 in to 5
ft 8 in) in stature, which may mean some of the trackmakers were children. By this
logic, the three biggest footprints—equating to statures of 160 cm (5 ft 3 in), 163
cm (5 ft 4 in), and 173 cm (5 ft 8 in)—ranged from 48 to 53 kg (106 to 117 lb) in
weight. Stature estimates for H. antecessor, H. heidelbergensis, and Neanderthals
are roughly consistent with each other.[8]

The Happisburgh footprints with a camera lens cap for scale

Two atlases (the first neck vertebra) are known, which is exceptional as this bone
is rarely discovered for archaic humans. They are indistinguishable from those of
modern humans. For the axis (the second neck vertebra), the angle of the spinous
process (jutting out from the vertebra) is about 19°, comparable with Neanderthals
and modern humans, diverging from H. ergaster with a low angle of about 8°. The
vertebral foramen (that houses the spinal cord) is on the narrow side compared to
modern humans. The spine as a whole otherwise aligns with modern humans.[5]

There is one known (and incomplete) clavicle, ATD6-50, which is thick compared to
those of modern humans. This may indicate H. antecessor had long and flattish
(platycleidic) clavicles like other archaic humans. This would point to a broad
chest. The proximal curvature (twisting of the bone on the side nearest the neck)
in front view is on par with that of Neanderthals, but the distal curvature (on the
shoulder side) is much more pronounced. The sternum is narrow. The acromion (that
extends over the shoulder joint) is small compared to those of modern humans.[5]
The shoulder blade is similar to all Homo with a typical human body plan,
indicating H. antecessor was not as skilled a climber as non-human apes or pre-
erectus species, but was capable of efficiently launching projectiles such as
stones or spears.[30]

Limbs