Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 2002, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (S1): 25-30.

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Fossil human humerus of late Pleistocene from the Taiwan Straits

CAI Bao-quan   

  • Online:2002-12-16 Published:2002-12-16

Abstract: A highly petrified human right humerus was salvaged from the Taiwan Straits. The large and robust humerus has a well developed deltoid tuberosity that causes the obvious flexion at mid shaft. The axes of the upper and lower parts of the shaft are not on the same line and make an angle of 65°. This is considered a primitive trait different from that of Neolithic and modern humans, suggesting that the humerus is at the same evolutionary stage as "Minatogawa Man" from Japan and "Obercassel Man" from Germany. Coexistent fossil mammals indicate that the fossil humerus is late Late Pleistocene.

Key words: Fossil human; Late Pleistocene; Taiwan Straits