Paper short abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate relationship between development of linea aspera and life style. The linea aspera was thought to be related with daily activities of lower limbs, therefore hunter and gatherer had well developed linea aspera.

Paper long abstract:

Japanese Neolithic Jomon populations lived by the sea had well developed linea aspera of femur. They habitually went into seaside and gathered marine products, or into mountainside and hunted animals. They were under heavy physical stress and their muscles developed very well. This meant daily activities of lower limbs were strongly related to development of linea aspera. On the other hand, Bab edh-Dhra, the Eary Bronze Age Jordan population had robust femur with well-developed linea aspera. They were transhumance and it was not necessary to have heavy daily activities of lower limbs in their life style. Indeed in comparison with a population of Wadi Abu Tulayha who was nomad population, Bab edh-Dhra population had more developed linea aspera of femur. Development of linea aspera was usually talked according to development of muscles. However this Jordan example indicated that development of linea aspera of femur did not necessary to relate with amount of muscles. Or proportion of muscles might influence to the development of linea aspera. In this study I tried to distinguish type of development of linea aspera of femur, and to reveal the cause of development of linea aspera of femur.

This research was supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (24520857) by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.