extended abstracts - Geomorphic Processes and Geoarchaeology

Geomorphic processes and geoarchaeology
complements and retinal morphology, allow a better understanding of the evolution of
mammalian vision from nocturne to diurnal. Thanks to them, we may now argue that
extant mammals – benefitting from the diurnal vision – still retain a scotopic eye design
as well as expanded binocular zones, as a consequence of their nocturnal origin [1, 12].
Many eco-geographic variations in body shape have been observed among
Pleistocene Hominids: first of all, a pelvic breadth with increased ellipticity of birth canal,
as a result of the non-rotational birth mechanism, common to both Australipithecines and
to archaic Homo . New studies provide also evidence that the 15,000 years-old Ethiopian
Gona specimen (previously classified as Homo erectus) is instead closer to Non-homo
samples, like Australopithecus africanus [24].
However, the main contribution to geo-archaeology comes from the Medical
Molecular Genetics with a tide of studies on both the Hominids evolution as well as the
exact placing (either temporal or geographic) of Neanderthals and Denisovians. Studies
on Human Genoma show that during Bronze and Iron Ages a mixture took place between
nomad populations coming from Europe and Asia, who settled in the large «Turpan
Depression» of Western China [3].
A very close kinship between humans and chimpanzees [10] has been also
discovered by Comparative Molecular studies, coupled with Philogenetic ones [16, 20].
Preliminary results from the genoma mapping of Homo Neanderthalensis, show to be the
nearest relative to Homo sapiens, before separation of their lines, because both share most
of their genetic material.
An important hypothesis has been proposed by recent studies on Paleoimmunology.
They concern origins of acquired immunity in mammalians, considered as a
result of insertion in lymphocytes of a primordial Herpesvirus-like element encoding a
«RAG transposon» (DDE recombinase / RNAse) [6].
Among contributions to Palaeontology provided by Microbiology, the discovery
of endemic infections in theropoid dinosaurs (in particular, Tyrannosaurus rex) caused by
a Trichomonas gallinae-like protozoan, must be reported. This chronic parasitosis – a
consequence of bite wounds from other tyrannosaurids and often lethal because of
starvation – is considered to be the first example of an avian infection transmitted to a
non-avian host [33]. Evidences of odontogenic purulent maxillar osteomyelitis in Ursus
spelaeus were also found in caves in Slovak Republic [27].
Other contributions come from Molecular Palaeo-parasitology, mapping the large
spread of parasitic infections among Medieval populations in Asia [21].
Some interesting data are coming from molecular analysis of M.tuberculosis. This
species, born from a mutation of an ancient (2,5 mill. years-old) environmental
Mycobacterium arose in Central Africa (35,000 years BC, was subsequently carried to
East-Europe, where the first human bone tuberculosis patient (of 9000 years ago)
was found [14].
In earth’s history, many transmissible diseases appeared to be consequence of
paleo-environmental changes. In Neolithic, the raise of sea levels occurred in Europe and
Middle East consequently to earth’s heating. A lot of geological upsetting – as marshes
grown along Mediterranean coasts - consequently arrived, followed by large botanical as
well zoological re-arrangements. These ecological changes affected the spread of many
transmissible diseases. We believe today that simultaneous disappearance of Ursus
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