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Cited by 18Pleistocene-Era Hominins and ArchaeologyMorphological variations and asymmetryForensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies

The biting performance of Homo sapiens and Homo heidelbergensis

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Godinho, Ricardo Miguel, Fitton, Laura C., Toro-Ibacache, Viviana, Stringer, Chris B., Lacruz, Rodrigo S., Bromage, Timothy G., O'Higgins, Paul·2018·Journal of Human Evolution
DOI 10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.02.010
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Abstract

Modern humans have smaller faces relative to Middle and Late Pleistocene members of the genus Homo. While facial reduction and differences in shape have been shown to increase biting efficiency in Homo sapiens relative to these hominins, facial size reduction has also been said to decrease our ability to resist masticatory loads. This study compares crania of Homo heidelbergensis and H. sapiens with respect to mechanical advantages of masticatory muscles, force production efficiency, strains experienced by the cranium and modes of deformation during simulated biting. Analyses utilize X-ray computed tomography (CT) scan-based 3D models of a recent modern human and two H. heidelbergensis. While having muscles of similar cross-sectional area to H. heidelbergensis, our results confirm that the modern human masticatory system is more efficient at converting muscle forces into bite forces. Thus, it can produce higher bite forces than Broken Hill for equal muscle input forces. This difference is the result of alterations in relative in and out-lever arm lengths associated with well-known differences in midfacial prognathism. Apparently at odds with this increased efficiency is the finding that the modern human cranium deforms more, resulting in greater strain magnitudes than Broken Hill when biting at the equivalent tooth. Hence, the facial reduction that characterizes modern humans may not have evolved as a result of selection for force production efficiency. These findings provide further evidence for a degree of uncoupling between form and function in the masticatory system of modern humans. This may reflect the impact of food preparation technologies. These data also support previous suggestions that differences in bite force production efficiency can be considered a spandrel, primarily driven by the midfacial reduction in H. sapiens that occurred for other reasons. Midfacial reduction plausibly resulted in a number of other significant changes in morphology, such as the development of a chin, which has itself been the subject of debate as to whether or not it represents a mechanical adaptation or a spandrel.

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Authors
Godinho, R. M., Fitton, L. C., Toro-Ibacache, V., Stringer, C. B., Lacruz, R. S., Bromage, T. G., & O'Higgins, P.
Affiliations
  • Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and the Evolution of Human Behaviour (PT)
  • University of York (GB)
  • Natural History Museum (GB)
  • New York University (US)
Corresponding author
Godinho, Ricardo Miguel
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Human Evolution
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-05
Volume
118
Pages
56-71
ISSN
0047-2484 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.02.010
OpenAlex
W2794138128
Cited by
18
References
109
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4
FWCI
9.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Human Evolution (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (submittedVersion)
  • Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
  • Universidad de Chile (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Calleva Foundation
  • Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
  • Fundació Catalana de Trasplantament (SFRH/BD/76375/2011)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Geometry and Topology › Morphological variations and asymmetry
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
Keywords
Homo heidelbergensis, human, mastication, bite force, masticatory muscles, cranial deformation, facial reduction, lever arm, form-function relationship, spandrels, cooking
MeSH terms
Animals, Biomechanical Phenomena, Bite Force, Fossils, Humans, Male, Hominidae

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