Samu (fossil)

Coordinates: 47°37′37″N 18°23′02″E / 47.627°N 18.384°E / 47.627; 18.384
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

47°37′37″N 18°23′02″E / 47.627°N 18.384°E / 47.627; 18.384

Samu
Homo neanderthalensis?
Homo heidelbergensis
Age325-340 ka
Place discoveredVértesszőlős Early Man Site, Hungary
Date discovered21 August 1965
Discovered byLászló Vértes and team

Samu (VSZ II) is the nickname given to a fragmentary

Middle Pleistocene human occipital, also known as Vertesszolos Man or Vertesszolos occipital, discovered in Vértesszőlős, Central Transdanubia, Hungary
.

Discovery

The find was made on August 21,1965 during a dig led by

biblical judge Samuel in Hungarian tradition.[1] Since, the fossil has widely became known as Samu, a short form of the name in Hungary. The site has garnered much scientific interest due to an abundance of faunal remains during quarrying
.

At the same time as the occipital, 'several lower'

cranium, found close in relation to the Zhoukoudian hominins, and catalogued VSZ I.[3] At first, the remains were believed to be of 500 ka, but recent revisions suggest a younger antiquity of 300-250 ka.[4] Additional dating work clarifies an age of 315±72 ka for the fossil, 310±30 ka for the footprint, and 328±28 ka for the oldest human occupation.[5] An alternative dating scheme is 210-185 ka.[2]

A replica of the Samu occipital bone is on exhibit in the Hungarian National Museum,[6] as well as associated tools and fossilized animal footprints.[7] Since discovery, the occipital has drawn great tourist attraction and scientific interest.[3] "Samu" has become a common name for plastic skeletons shown in biology classes in Hungarian student slang.[8]

Vandalism scandal

The village flag and coat of arms bears the face of Samu.

In 2009, news sources claimed that a 14 year-old girl

perpetrators. It was determined that the girl's house key was able to unlock the museum doors. However, later reports found that the original Samu fossil was housed in the Hungarian National Museum,[6] not the museum that was vandalized,[9]
meaning that the original fossil was not damaged.

Description

The occipital fragment probably belonged to an adult individual, but it is very thin and flattened at the top-rear. The nuchal hump is very developed and, in life, would have supported very robust neck

fossilization within the travertine. Vértes hypothesized that traces of brain extraction and cannibalism are present on the bone, although this is typically rejected.[3] Later morphological analysis by Roksandic, Radović, and Lindal (2018) clarify that the revised cranial capacity is 'large', but do not list a metric.[2]

The

inion, and occipital torus morphology are basal Homo erectus traits.[2]

Classification

The fossil was first described as Homo erectus (seu sapiens) paleohungaricus by Hungarian

nondiagnostic in that it could not be conclusively generalized from its preservation and taphonomic damage.[3]

Others remained divided by the apparently large volume and Neanderthal-like traits (which drew criticism, as the nuchal region of Samu is unlike Neanderthals).

preneanderthal, a term that describes specimens typically assigned to Homo heidelbergensis with Neanderthal affinities. Others such as Adams (1999) suggest that the population is transitional of Homo erectus and Homo sapiens.[11] Later discoveries, such as the Petralona skull, compare well in the occipital wall and Soukup and Mechurová (2018) support assignment to Homo heidelbergensis.[3]

Roksandic, Radović, and Lindal (2018) suggest that the specimen is alike to

junior synonym of Homo rhodesiensis.[13] Other recent classifications suggest they were 'archaic' Neanderthals.[14] A paper submitted to a conference uses Homo erectus hungaricus as an alternate name.[15]

Technology

Human cultural layer from the site.

In 1966, István Skoflek discovered evidence of fire and charred animal bones dating to 350 ka probably belonging to a hunting camp. The bones were found within the fire, and were probably used to keep the fire alive. Alongside the bone fragments was a

leatherworking, and wood manufacturing to produce spears and other items. These activities left 'production waste' important in studying their use and evolution.[3]

Diet

As the site becomes less ancient, the technology becomes more advanced in their manufacturing. As well, a bone culture was identified and similar to the stone tools in production. Other bones bore traces of marrow extraction and meat trimming. The area was abundant in food, and the ancient people hunted herbivores of various sizes and predators alike. Skeletal evidence suggests that horses were the most common food item, but aurochs, bison (such as Bison schoetensacki[14]), deer, wolves, and roe as well as bear fossils were discovered, although it is undetermined if the bears were hunted or brought by people from another location. Animals that died of non-human causes are present as well.[3]

Paleoecology

Stephanorhinus etruscus were also contemporaries with aurochs, bison, deer, wolves, and roe.[3][14]

Notes

1. ^ The author of this study agrees with the classification of the Vértesszőlős fossils as early Neanderthals, but those such as Roksandic et al. suggest affinities with specimens typically assigned to Homo rhodesiensis or Homo heidelbergensis.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paleolithic site in Vértesszőlős.
  1. ^ János Ladó, Ágnes Bíró, Magyar utónévkönyv (2005), p. 109.
  2. ^
    doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2017.10.013
    .
  3. ^
    ISSN 1804-6665
    .
  4. ^ Kordos, L., "Revised biostratigraphy of the early man site at Vertesszolos, Hungary", Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg 171 (a May 1994), 225–236.
  5. ^ Kele, Sándor; Markó, András; Cseh, Julianna; Shen, Chuan-Chou; Wu, Chung-Che; Bernasconi, Stefano M. (2015). "Dating and clumped isotope-based temperature of a paleo-jacuzzi (Vértesszőlős Early Man site, Hungary)". Abstract Book of 31st IAS Meeting of Sedimentology: 267.
  6. ^ a b c "Samunak kutya baja - FN.hu". 2009-02-10. Archived from the original on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  7. ISBN 978-0-253-00987-6
    .
  8. ^ Hogyan beszél ma az ifjúság? (paper on student slang)
  9. ^ "Megrongálta egy 14 éves Samu maradványait". 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  10. ^ "seu", Wiktionary, the free dictionary, 2023-08-10, retrieved 2023-08-17
  11. ^
    ISSN 0197-7261
    .
  12. PMID 34710249
    .
  13. S2CID 250070886
    .
  14. ^
    S2CID 258795364
    .
  15. ^ Naddeo, Michelangelo (2023). "Az ősi magyar jelképrendszer keresése" (PDF). Acta Historica Hungaricus. 38.
  16. ^ Dobosi, Viola T. (2011). "Obsidian use in the Palaeolithic in Hungary and adjoining areas" (PDF). Natural Resource Environment and Humans. 1: 83–95.
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