CRANIAL REMAINS AND LONG BONES FROM ATAPUERCA IBEAS (SPAIN)

The cranial remains and long bones of the Sima de los Huesos site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain) are described and their phylogenetic affinities established. We find in the Atapuerca/Ibeas sample: (a) a number of plesiomorphic traits (namely, character states not retained by the upper Pleistocene Neandertals but present in the outgroups); (b) one apomorphy shared with Neandertals; (c) some postcranial character states shared with Neandertals but whose phylogenetic status remain uncertain. In sum, the Atapuerca/Ibeas fossils are phylogenetically related to the Neandertals but cannot be pooled with them because of the overall plesiomorphic pattern. Other European middle Pleistocene specimens show apomorphies shared with Neandertals and plesiomorphies. In our opinion these specimens do not share uniquely derived features and thus this chronological group cannot be defined. Other aspects such as cerebral lateralization and sexual dimorphism in humeri and temporal bones are investigated. © 1991 Academic Press Limited.