Various diagnoses of the genus Homo have been proposed, including behavioral traits such as tool-making, carnivory, and hunting. However, tool-making and carnivory almost certainly began more than 2.6 million years ago, in prehuman phases of our evolution, while reliably distinguishing hunting from scavenging in the early archeological record is problematic. Here we concentrate on diagnosable morphological traits such as endocranial/brain size (relative and absolute), body shape, and cranial and dental features, allowing the recognition of a minimum of nine species of the genus Homo: H. habilis, H. rudolfensis, H. erectus, H. naledi, H. floresiensis, H. antecessor, H. heidelbergensis, H. neanderthalensis, and H. sapiens.

The Omo-Kibish remains have been restudied in the light of new finds including those from Arago. The dating of the Kibish remains is reviewed and a new reconstruction of Omo 1 is presented.The affinities of the Omo-Kibish crania have been reassessed making use of the newer principles of classification that have emerged in the last ten years. Working definitions of Homo erectus and Homo sapiens are offered, based on distinctive within-group characters that can be identified objectively. These definitions are employed to assess the affinities of the Omo 1 and 2 crania in terms of a scoring system.

Flaked stone tools were first made and used by early humans from at least 2.6 mya. By analysing temporal, geographical and species-specific variations in tool morphology scientists attempt to understand the evolution of cognition, culture and human behaviour. However, the dispersal of artefact collections around the globe in a large number of institutions makes direct study and comparison of the artefacts problematic, and therefore dependant on published drawings and photographs. The present study aims to determine whether CT could be used to create computerised (“virtual”) artefacts, and data shared with scientists and the public. In particular this study assesses whether CT would be cost effective and capture the fine surface topology created by the knapping process. Scanning could cost as little as €2 per flake. It was found that micro-CT could produce accurate high-resolution “virtual” artefacts that resolve features greater than 50 μm. Importantly, it was possible to visualise the key features of percussion, which distinguish intentionally made flakes from natural breakage. Furthermore, it was possible to recreate missing flakes (or parts thereof) from refitted groups of material by visualising void spaces. Hence it is possible to obtain a better understanding of the knapping process and obtain a glimpse of the flakes that were actually used as tools. The virtual flint artefacts are completely interactive and can be manipulated, viewed, measured and analysed as though they were in the hand and more useful to researchers than 2D drawings or photographs. The models are only 20 MB in size and can easily be distributed online, widening access to collections and access to physical specimens could be replaced with rapid stereotypes (3D prints). In addition, micro-CT imaging technology may give rise to new online “Virtual Museums” where digital data are shared widely and freely around the world, but the original material is conserved in mint condition, only to be removed for new or improved non-destructive imaging techniques.

Culture pervades human lives and has allowed our species to create niches all around the world and its oceans, in ways quite unlike any other primate. Indeed, our cultural nature appears so distinctive that it is often thought to separate humanity from the rest of nature and the Darwinian forces that shape it. A contrary view arises through the recent discoveries of a diverse range of disciplines, here brought together to illustrate the scope of a burgeoning field of cultural evolution and to facilitate cross-disciplinary fertilization. Each approach emphasizes important linkages between culture and evolutionary biology rather than quarantining one from the other. Recent studies reveal that processes important in cultural transmission are more widespread and significant across the animal kingdom than earlier recognized, with important implications for evolutionary theory. Recent archaeological discoveries have pushed back the origins of human culture to much more ancient times than traditionally thought. These developments suggest previously unidentified continuities between animal and human culture. A third new array of discoveries concerns the later diversification of human cultures, where the operations of Darwinian-like processes are identified, in part, through scientific methods borrowed from biology. Finally, surprising discoveries have been made about the imprint of cultural evolution in the predispositions of human minds for cultural transmission.

Culture pervades human lives and has allowed our species to create niches all around the world and its oceans, in ways quite unlike any other primate. Indeed, our cultural nature appears so distinctive that it is often thought to separate humanity from the rest of nature and the Darwinian forces that shape it. A contrary view arises through the recent discoveries of a diverse range of disciplines, here brought together to illustrate the scope of a burgeoning field of cultural evolution and to facilitate cross-disciplinary fertilization. Each approach emphasizes important linkages between culture and evolutionary biology rather than quarantining one from the other. Recent studies reveal that processes important in cultural transmission are more widespread and significant across the animal kingdom than earlier recognized, with important implications for evolutionary theory. Recent archaeological discoveries have pushed back the origins of human culture to much more ancient times than traditionally thought. These developments suggest previously unidentified continuities between animal and human culture. A third new array of discoveries concerns the later diversification of human cultures, where the operations of Darwinian-like processes are identified, in part, through scientific methods borrowed from biology. Finally, surprising discoveries have been made about the imprint of cultural evolution in the predispositions of human minds for cultural transmission.

Historically, low-pressure membranes (microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF)) used in potable water treatment are made of polymers (polysulfone (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) etc). Recently, membranes made of ceramic materials (aluminium oxide) have been developed by MetaWater (Japan), Kubota (Japan) and others and is being marketed in the United States (US) by Krüger, Inc. (Cary, NC). Ceramic membranes offer several potential advantages over polymeric membranes, including higher mechanical robustness and ability to handle higher loading of particulates, higher resistance to oxidants and membrane cleaning chemicals, higher membrane integrity, longer service life and compact footprint. The authors conducted collaborative evaluations of this emerging technology at two different places; (i) Elm Fork Water Treatment Plant (WTP) of Dallas Water Utilities (DWU), Dallas, Texas, USA and (ii) Graham Mesa WTP, City of Rifle, Rifle, Colorado, USA. The evaluations included pilot testing of ceramic membranes in direct filtration mode (i.e. without clarification) and with coagulant addition. The water streams that were pilot tested at Elm Fork WTP included Trinity River water, spent filter backwash wastewater and lagoon recycle water (spent filter backwash water combined with clarifier blow down water). The City of Rifle pilot testing was conducted on Colorado River water. This paper presents the key results of these two pilot studies. Results of pilot testing were used to define the potential membrane flux, backwash protocols (interval and duration), chemical enhanced backwash (CEB) and clean-in-place (CIP) protocols. Pilot test results and engineering judgment were used for developing concept-level sizing and outlining parameters for future evaluation. This paper will discuss the key technical and economic considerations of the emerging treatment technology and its potential applications for potable water treatment. This paper will be of interest to water providers that are considering alternatives to treat challenging source waters (waters with high particulates and under heavy microbial influence), build new compact water treatment plants, increase plant capacity through membrane retrofits and treat recycle streams at existing WTPs.

Mid-late Pleistocene fossil hominins such as Homo neanderthalensis and H. heidelbergensis are often described as having extensively pneumatized crania compared with modern humans. However, the significance of pneumatization in recognizing patterns of phyletic diversification and/or functional specialization has remained controversial. Here, we test the null hypothesis that the paranasal sinuses of fossil and extant humans and great apes can be understood as biological spandrels, i.e., their morphology reflects evolutionary, developmental, and functional constraints imposed onto the surrounding bones. Morphological description of well-preserved mid-late Pleistocene hominin specimens are contrasted with our comparative sample of modern humans and great apes. Results from a geometric morphometric analysis of the correlation between paranasal sinus and cranial dimensions show that the spandrel hypothesis cannot be refuted. However, visualizing specific features of the paranasal sinus system with methods of biomedical imaging and computer graphics reveals new aspects of patterns of growth and development of fossil hominins.

Rock on Identifying the precise point when a species went extinct is probably impossible. You can never be sure that a fossil is the very last of its kind. The extinction of the Neanderthals in Europe is a case in point, but Finlayson et al . have gone further than anyone in their study of the Neanderthal occupation of Gorham's Cave in Gibraltar, showing that Neanderthals occupied this most southerly point of Europe as recently as 28,000 years ago, long after Neanderthals elsewhere in southwest Europe appear to have become extinct.

Journal of Quaternary ScienceVolume 21, Issue 5 p. 421-424 IntroductionFree Access Introduction: the Palaeolithic occupation of Europe. A tribute to John J. Wymer, 1928–2006† Nick Ashton, Corresponding Author Nick Ashton [email protected] Department of Prehistory and Europe, British Museum, Franks House, 38–56 Orsman Road, London N1 5QJ, UKDepartment of Prehistory and Europe, British Museum, Franks House, 38–56 Orsman Road, London N1 5QJ, UK.Search for more papers by this authorSimon G. Lewis, Simon G. Lewis Department of Geography, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UKSearch for more papers by this authorChris Stringer, Chris Stringer Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UKSearch for more papers by this author Nick Ashton, Corresponding Author Nick Ashton [email protected] Department of Prehistory and Europe, British Museum, Franks House, 38–56 Orsman Road, London N1 5QJ, UKDepartment of Prehistory and Europe, British Museum, Franks House, 38–56 Orsman Road, London N1 5QJ, UK.Search for more papers by this authorSimon G. Lewis, Simon G. Lewis Department of Geography, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UKSearch for more papers by this authorChris Stringer, Chris Stringer Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UKSearch for more papers by this author First published: 29 June 2006 https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.1046Citations: 2 † Ashton, N., Lewis, S. G. and Stringer, C. 2006. Introduction: The Palaeolithic occupation of Europe. A tribute to John J. Wymer, 1928–2006. J. Quaternary Sci., Vol. 21 pp. 421–424. ISSN 0267–8179. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References Ashton NM. 2002. The absence of humans from Last Interglacial Britain. In Le Dernier Interglaciaire et les occupations humaines du Paléolithique, W Roebroeks, A Tuffreau (eds). Centre d'Etudes et Recherches Préhistoriques: Lille; 93–103. Ashton NM, Lewis S. 2002. Deserted Britain: declining populations in the British Late Middle Pleistocene. Antiquity 76: 388–396. Bridgland DR. 1996. Quaternary river terrace deposits as a framework for the Lower Palaeolithic record. In The English Palaeolithic Reviewed, CS Gamble, AJ Lawson (eds.). Trust for Wessex Archaeology: Salisbury; 23–39. Boismier WA. 2003. Middle Palaeolithic Site at Lynford Quarry, Mundford, Norfolk: interim statement. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 69: 315–324. Currant A, Jacobi R. 2002. Human presence and absence in Britain during the early part of the Late Pleistocene. 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