Paper short abstract:

A brachycranic Homo sapiens cranium from Orsang River, a tributary of the Narmada, dated to 4600 B.P. exhibits robust morphology like developed torus angularis and supramastoid crest indicating genetic continuity between late Asian Homo erectus and Asian "cromagnoid" ancestors of Orsang man.

Paper long abstract:

An isolated cranium without face was recovered in 1999 on an old fluvial deposit of the Orsang River valley, a tributary of the Narmada River in western India. The skull refers to a brachycranial Homo sapiens, direct dating (AMS radiocarbon) gave an age of 4600 years B.P. In spite of the young age, the skull is significant for understanding the links between South Asian Homo erectus and robust Homo sapiens or "like-cromagnoid" populations still few known in Continental Asia. The most interesting features observed are 1) a well-developed torus angularis in the posterior part, visible on the Early Pleistocene Eurasian species (H. georgicus, H. erectus, H. antecessor) only, then on the Asian Upper Pleistocene Homo erectus, 2) a well-developed supramastoid crest and 3) a very broad frontal sinus in the broken glabellar area (20 mm). On the other hand the greatest width is located in the lower part of the cranium (temporal). CT-scan images show no pneumatization of the mastoid process as in Homo erectus, but an internal convexity of the temporal bone corresponding to the temporal lobe and a strong ossification of the coronal suture not visible on the external face of the frontal bone. All together, these features give evidence of an important endocrine activity, and a genetic continuity between late Asian Homo erectus and ancestor of Orsang man, suggesting an Asian "cromagnoid" stadium in the hominization evolutionary process.

A. DAMBRICOURT MALASSÉ1*, L.S Chamyal2**, Rachna Raj2, D. M. Maurya2, N. Juyal 3, S. Bhandari2, R. K. Pant3 and S. Shah4: 1. UMR 7194 CNRS, Department of Prehistory, National Museum of Natural History, Institut de Paléontologie Humain, Paris, France. 2. Department of Geology, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India. 3. Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, India. 4. Centre for Diagnostic & Therapeutic Radiology Services, Vadodara, India. *Corresponding author. ** Corresponding author.