Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cranial capacity in hominid evolution

  • Published:
Human Evolution

Abstract

We present an analysis of cranial capacity of 118 hominid crania available from the literature. The crania belong to both the genusAustralopithecus andHomo and provide a clear outline of hominid cranial evolution starting at more than 3 million years ago. Beginning withA. afarensis there is a clear increase in both absolute and relative brain size with every successive time period.H.s. neandertal has an absolutely and relatively smaller brain size (1412cc, E.Q.=5.6) than fossil modernH.s. sapiens (1487cc, E.Q.=5.9). Three evolutionary models of hominid brain evolution were tested: gradualism, punctuated equilibrium, and a mixed model using both gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both parametric and non-parametric analyses show a clear trend toward increasing brain size withH. erectus and a possible relationship within archaicH. sapiens. An evolutionary stasis in cranial capacity could not be refuted for all other taxa. Consequently, the mixed model appears to more fully explain hominid cranial capacity evolution. However, taxonomic decisions could directly compromise the possibility of testing the evolutionary mechanisms hypothesized to be operating in hominid brain expansion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arsuaga J.L., Martinez, I., Gracia, A., Carretero, J.M., & Carbonell, E., 1993. Three new human skulls from the Sima de los Huesos Middle Pleistocene site in Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain.Nature, 362: 534–537.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beals K.L., Smith C.L. & Dodd S.M., 1984. Brain size, cranial morphology, climate, and time machines.Current Anthropology 25: 301–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blumenberg B., 1983. The evolution of the advanced hominid brain.Current Anthropology 24: 589–623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bräuer G., 1989. The evolution of modern humans: a comparison of the African and non African evidence. In Mellars P. & Stringer C. (eds), 1989.The human revolution, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp 123–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunney S., 1986. Did neanderthal babies have bigger brains than ours?New Scientist 110: 28–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark G.A. & Lindly J.M., 1989. The case of continuity: observations on the biocultural transition in Europe and Western Asia. In Mellars P. & Stringer C. (eds), 1989.The human revolution. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 123–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark J.D., 1989. The origins and spread of modern humans: a broad perspective on the African evidence. In Mellars P. & Stringer C. (eds) 1989.The human revolution. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 565–588.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronin J.E., Boaz N.T., Stringer C.B. & Rak Y., 1981. Tempo and mode in hominid evolution.Nature 292: 115–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darwin 1871.The descent of man. London: J. Murray.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubois E., 1898. Remarks upon the brain cast ofPithecanthropus erectus. Proc. IVth Int. Congr. Zool. Cambridge, pp. 85–86.

  • Eldredge N. & Gould S.J., 1972. Punctuated equilibria: an alternative to phyletic gradualism. In Schopf T.J.M. (ed),Models in paleobiology, San Francisco: Freeman, Cooper and Co., pp. 82–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falk D., 1985. Hadar AL 162-28 endocast as evidence that brain enlargement preceded cortical reorganization in hominid evolution.Nature 313: 45–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falk D., 1987a. Brain lateralization in primates and its evolution in hominids.Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 30: 107–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falk, D. & S. Kasinga, 1983. Cranial capacity of a female robust australopithecinie (KNM-ER 407) from Kenya.J. Hum. Evol. 12: 515–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gambier D., 1989. Fossil hominids from the early Upper Palaeolithic (Aurignacian) of France. In Mellars P. & Stringer C. (eds), 1989.The human revolution. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 194–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godfrey and Jacobs, 1981. Gradulism, autocatalytic and punctuational models of hominid brain evolution: a cautionary tale.J. Human Evol. 10: 255–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, 1981.The mismeasure of man. New York WW Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groves C.P., 1989.A theory of human and primate evolution. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Habgood P.J., 1989a. An investigation into the usefulness of a cladistic approach to the study of the origin of anatomically modern humans.Hum. Evol. 4: 241–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Habgood P.J., 1989b. The origin of anatomically-modern humans in Australia. In Mellars P. & Stringer C. (eds). 1989. The human revolution. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 245–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henneberg M., 1987. Hominid cranial capacity change through time: a darwinian process.Hum. Evol. 2: 213–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henneberg, M., 1989. Morphological and geological dating of early hominid fossils compared. Current Anthropol. 30: 527–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway R.L., 1988b. Brain. In Tattersal I., Delson E. & Van Couvering J. (eds), 1988.Encyclopedia of Hum. Evol. and prehistory. New York: Garland Publishing, Tattersal et al. (eds), pp. 98–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holloway R.L., 1975. Early hominid endocast: volumes, morphology and significance in hominid evolution. In Tuttle, R.H. (ed.)Primate functional morphology and evolution, L'Aja: Mouton, pp. 393–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holloway R.L., 1978. Problems of brain endocast interpretation and African hominid evolution. In Jolly C.J. (ed),Early hominids of Africa, New York: St. Martin's Press, pp. 379–401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holloway R.L., 1980a. The OH 7 (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania) hominid partial brain endocast revisited.Am. J. Phy. Anthro. 53: 267–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway R.L., 1980b. Indonesian “Solo” (Ngadong) endocranial reconstructions: some preliminary observations and comparisons with neandertal andHomo erectus groups.Am. J. Phys. Anthro. 53: 285–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway R.L., 1981a. The indonesianHomo erectus brain endocasts revisited. Am. J. Phy. Anthro. 55: 503–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway R.L., 1981b. Volumetric and assymetry determinations on recent hominid endocasts: Spy I and II, Djebel Ihroud and the SaléHomo erectus specimens, with some notes on neandertal brain size.Am. J. Phy. Anthro., 55: 385–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway R.L., 1983. Cerebral brain endocast ofAustralopithecus afarensis.Nature 303: 420–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway R.L. 1985. The poor brain ofHomo sapiens neanderthalensis: see what you please. In Ancestors: The hard evidence pp 319–324.

  • Jerison H.J., 1973.Evolution of the brain and intelligence. New York, London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jungers W.L., 1988. Lucy's length: stature recontruction inAustralopithecus afarensis (A.L.288-1) with implications for other small bodied hominids. Am. J. Phy. Anthro. 76: 227–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein R.G., 1989 a.The human career: human biological and cultural origins. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leakey R.E.F. & Walker A., 1988. NewAustralopithecus boisei specimens from East and West Lake Turkana, Kenya.Am. J. Phy. Anthro. 76: 1–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leakey L.S.B., Tobias, P.V. & J.R. Napier, 1964. A new species of the genusHomo from the Olduvai GorgeNature 202.

  • Leigh S.R., 1992. Cranial capacity evolution inHomo erectus and earlyHomo sapiens.Am. J. Phy. Anthro. 87: 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lynn R., 1990. The evolution of brain size and intelligence in man.Hum. Evol. 5: 241–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, 1990. Primate origins and evolution:A phylogenetic reconstruction. London, Chapman and Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCown T.D. & Keith, 1939.The stone age of Monte Carmel, vol. 2. The fossil human remains from the Levalloiso-Mousterian. Oxford: The Clarendon Press (cit. in Miller 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  • McHenry H.M., 1991a. Femoral lengths and stature in Plio-Pleistocene hominids.Am. J. Phy. Anthro. 85:149–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McHenry H.M., 1991b. Petite bodies of the “robust” australopithecines.Am. J. Phys. Anthro. 86: 445–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McHenry H.M., 1992a. Body size and proportions in early hominids.Am. J. Phys. Anthro. 87: 407–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McHenry H.M., 1992b. How big were early hominids?,Evolutionary Anthropology 1: 15–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller J.A., 1991. Does brain size variability provide evidence of multiple species inHomo habilis? Am. J. Phys. Anthro. 84: 385–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pope G.G., 1988. Sambungmachan. In Tattersal I., Delson E. & Van Couvering J. (eds), 1988. Encyclopedia of Hum. Evol. and prehistory. New York: Garland Publishing, pp. 503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rightmire P.G., 1990. The evolution ofHomo erectus. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sergi S., 1948. The palaeanthropi in Italy: the fossil men of Saccopastore and Circeo. Man 48: 61–79 (cit. in Miller 1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stringer C.B., 1986. The credibility ofHomo habilis. In Wood B., Martin L. & Andrews P. (eds),Major topics in primate and Hum. Evol., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp.266–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stringer C.B., 1989a. Documenting the origins of modern humans. In Trinkaus E. (ed), 1989 a, pp.67–96.

  • Stringer C.B., 1989b. The origin of early modern humans: a comparison of the European and non-European evidence. In Mellars P. & Stringer C. (eds), 1989.The human revolution. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki H. & Takai F., 1970. The Amud man and his cave site. Tokyo: Keigaku Publishing Co. (cit. in Miller 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobias P.V. 1964. The Olduvai bed I hominine with special reference to brain and speech.Pontificiae Acad. Scient. Scripta Varia 50: 85–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobias P.V., 1971. The brain in hominid evolution. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobias, P.V., 1983.Recent advances in the evolution of the Hominids with special reference to brain and speech Pontificiae Academiae Scientiarum Scripta Varia 50:85–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobias, P.V., 1987. The brain ofHomo habilis: a new level of organization in cerebral evolution.J. Hum. Evol. 16: 741–761.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trinkaus E., 1990. Cladistic and the hominid fossil record.Am. J. Phys. Anthro. 83: 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trinkaus E., 1989. Issues concerning human emergence in the later Pleistocene. In Trinkaus (ed) 1989.The emergence of modern humans. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valladas H., Joron J.L., Valladas, G., Arensburg B., Bar-Yosef C., Belfer-Cohen A., Goldberg P., Laville H., Meignen L., Rak Y., Tchernov E., Tillier A.-M. & Vandermeersch B., 1987. Thermoluminescence dates for the Neanderthal burial site at Kebara in Israel.Nature 330: 159–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandermeersch B., 1989. The evolution of modern humans: recente evidence from Southwest Asia. In Mellars P. & Stringer C. (eds), 1989a.The human revolution. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 155–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vleck E., 1955. The fossil man of Gànovce, Czechoslovachia.J. R. Anthropol. Inst. 85: 163–171 (cit. in Miller 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weidenreich F., 1943. The skull ofSinanthropus pekinensis: a comparative study on a primitive hominid skull. Palaentologica Sinica, new ser. D., n. 10, whole series 127: 1–484 (cit. in Miller 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams B.J., 1987. Is there a conflict between neo-darwinian evolutionary theory and the fossil record?Am. J. Phy. Anthro. 73: 99–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolpoff M.H., 1980. Cranial remains of Middle Pleistocene European hominids.J. Hum. Evol. 9: 339–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woo J.K., 1966. The skull of Lantian man.Curr. Anthro. 7: 83–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood B., 1992. Origin and evolution of the genusHomo.Nature 355: 783–790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu R. & Dong X., 1982. Preliminary study ofHomo erectus remains from Hexian, Hanui.Acta Anthropol. Sin. 1: 2–13 (cit. in Miller 1991).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Antropologia fisica, Università di Genova, Via Balbi 4, 16100, Genova, Italy

    R. Stanyon & S. Consigliere

  2. Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Università di Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 17, 10100, Torino, Italy

    M. A. Morescalchi

Authors
  1. R. Stanyon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Consigliere
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. A. Morescalchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stanyon, R., Consigliere, S. & Morescalchi, M.A. Cranial capacity in hominid evolution. Hum. Evol. 8, 205–216 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02436715

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02436715

Key words

Search

Navigation