OH-65: The earliest evidence for right-handedness in the fossil record. Issue 100 (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Frayer, David W.; Clarke, Ronald J.; Fiore, Ivana; Blumenschine, Robert J.; Pérez-Pérez, Alejandro; Martinez, Laura M.; Estebaranz, Ferran; Holloway, Ralph; Bondioli, Luca
• Is Part Of: Journal of human evolution. Issue 100(2016)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 72
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Labial tooth striations -- Brain lateralization -- Tool use; Human evolution -- Periodicals; Homme -- Évolution -- Périodiques; Human evolution; Periodicals; 599.93805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.07.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-2484

Abstract

Abstract: Labial striations on the anterior teeth have been documented in numerous European pre-Neandertal and Neandertal fossils and serve as evidence for handedness. OH-65, dated at 1.8 mya, shows a concentration of oblique striations on, especially, the left I 1 and right I 1, I 2 and C 1, which signal that it was right-handed. From these patterns we contend that OH-65 was habitually using the right hand, over the left, in manipulating objects during some kind of oral processing. In living humans right-handedness is generally correlated with brain lateralization, although the strength of the association is questioned by some. We propose that as more specimens are found, right-handedness, as seen in living Homo, will most probably be typical of these early hominins.