Ecogeography‐related humerus morphological variation within southern Patagonia hunter‐gatherers

Abstract

AbstractObjectivesSouthern Patagonian (SP) hunter‐gatherers were adapted to diverse environments and subsistence strategies. However, ecological factors affecting variation in upper‐limb proportions have not been thoroughly examined. This study analyses whether size‐related humerus morphology differs among hunter‐gatherers from SP according to specific subsistence economy and physical environment.Materials and MethodsThirty‐nine left humeri of adult individuals were selected from well‐documented SP archeological sites. Individuals were grouped into terrestrial or maritime hunter‐gatherers based on diet‐related archeological and stable isotope records. Five humeral head and diaphyseal metrics were taken and statistically compared among subsistence strategy groups across four ecogeographic subregions.ResultsTerrestrial hunter‐gatherers exhibit greater humeral dimensions compared to maritime hunter‐gatherers. An ecogeographic pattern of humerus size variation was also found, showing significant size reduction in individuals from southern regions.ConclusionThe previously determined low genetic variability within hunter‐gatherers from SP suggests that the physical environment played an important role in humeral adaptive plasticity. These findings also highlight morphological upper‐limb responses to bioclimate factors derived from SP subregions.