Neanderthal child's occipital from Baume Moula‐Guercy (Soyons, Ardèche, France)

Objectives This article provides an ontogenetically based comparative description of two immature occipital fragments from Baume Moula‐Guercy (MIS 5e) and examines their affinities to European and Middle Eastern Middle‐to‐Late Pleistocene (≈MIS 14–MIS ≈ 1) Homo. Materials and methods Description of the M‐S‐41 and M‐S‐61 occipital fragments (≈6–8 years) is based on observations of original fossils, casts, CT scans, literature descriptions, and virtual ectocranial and endocranial reconstructions. Our ontogenetically based sample represents a Preneanderthal‐Neanderthal group and a Homo sapiens group. These groups are subdivided into (1) Preneanderthals (≈MIS 14–9), Early Neanderthals (MIS 7–5e), and Late Neanderthals (MIS 5d‐3), and (2) Middle (MIS 5), Upper (MIS 3–1), and Late (MIS ≈ 1) Paleolithic H. sapiens. Measurements and developmental age determinations follow standard techniques. Results Based on the M‐S‐41/M‐S‐61 composite, the strongly convex upper occipital scale flattens into the vertical suprainiac fossa, as in immature Early Neanderthals. A doubled suprainiac fossa expressing a weakly developed bounding torus and pocking of the central region is typical of immature Neanderthals. The transverse torus is thickened medially, lacks significant lateral development, has a laterally placed protuberance, and is concave medially. A linear (triangular) tubercle, as opposed to an external occipital protuberance, is present. An occipital bun is absent. Discussion The occipital remains from Moula‐Guercy make a substantial contribution to the record of Neanderthal cranial evolution because immature Early Neanderthal occipitals are rare, fragmentary, and likely represent only two paleodemes (Krapina, La Chaise‐de‐Vouthon). The Moula‐Guercy occipital possesses characteristics well‐established in European Neanderthals by MIS 7, and it is most similar to the occipitals of other Early Neanderthals.