More than 500,000 years of right-handedness in Europe

Abstract

Considerable research supports the high frequency of right-handedness in living Homo sapiens, with worldwide rates of approximately nine right- for every one left-hander. Right-handedness appears to be a uniquely human trait, as no other primate species, no matter how proficient in tool use, shows frequencies even close to the strong right bias typical of humans (Cashmore, Uomini, & Chapelain, 2008; McGrew & Marchant 1997; Steele & Uomini, 2009). Here we review our research on human fossils from Sima de los Huesos (Atapuerca, Spain) and their likely descendants, the European Neandertals. We document hand preference in fossils by scratch patterns that occur on the labial (lip) face of incisors and canines, and contend that these patterns provide a reliable means for identifying predominant hand use in these samples. Manipulatory marks on the anterior teeth show a persistent pattern of right-handed actions, implying that the modern human pattern of dominant right-handedness extends deep into the European past.

Keywords:

• Tooth scratches
• Neandertals
• Atapuerca
• Lateralisation
• Language

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

For the Sima de los Huesos material, the Dirección General de Investigación of Spanish M.E.C., Project N° CGL2006-13532-C03, supported this research. Funding for the fieldwork came from Consejería de Cultura y Turismo of the Junta de Castilla y León and Fundación Atapuerca. For Vindija we thank Jadranka Mauch Lenardić of the Institute for Quaternary Palaeontology and Geology (Zagreb) for access to the fossils and permission to cast the teeth. Previous work with Carles Lalueza Fox at Krapina is recognised. The manuscript was substantially improved by editorial suggestions from Natalie Uomini, William C. McGrew, and Chris McManus.