@article {323315,
	title = {Hibernation in hominins from Atapuerca, Spain half a million years ago},
	journal = {Pal{\'e}oanthropologieG{\'e}ochronologie},
	volume = {124},
	year = {2020},
	month = {2020/12/01/},
	pages = {102797},
	abstract = {<p>Both animal hibernation and human renal osteodystrophy are characterized by high levels of serum parathyroid hormone. To test the hypothesis of hibernation in an extinct human species, we examined the hominin skeletal collection from Sima de los Huesos, Cave Mayor, Atapuerca, Spain, for evidence of hyperparathyroidism after a thorough review of the literature. We studied the morphology of the fossilized bones by using macrophotography, microscopy, histology and CT scanning. We found trabecular tunneling and osteitis fibrosa, subperiosteal resorption, {\textquoteleft}rotten fence post{\textquoteright} signs, brown tumours, subperiosteal new bone, chondrocalcinosis, rachitic osteoplaques and empty gaps between them, craniotabes, and beading of ribs mostly in the adolescent population of these hominins. Since many of the above lesions are pathognomonic, these extinct hominins suffered annually from renal rickets, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and renal osteodystrophy associated with Chronic Kidney Disease - Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD). We suggest these diseases were caused by poorly tolerated hibernation in dark cavernous hibernacula. This is particularly evidenced by the rachitic osteoplaques and the gaps between them in some of the adolescent individuals along with the evidence of healing mainly in the adults. The sublayers in the rachitic osteoplaques indicate bouts of arousal from hibernation. The strong projection of the external lip of the femoral trochlea, the rachitic osteoplaques with the empty gaps between them, the {\textquotedblleft}rotten fence post" sign, and the evidence of annual healing also point to the presence of annually intermittent puberty in this extinct human species. The hypothesis of hibernation is consistent with the genetic evidence and the fact that the SH hominins lived during an extreme glaciation. Alternative hypotheses are examined. The present work will provide a new insight into the physiological mechanism of early human metabolism which could help in determining the life histories and physiologies of extinct human species.R{\'e}sum{\'e}Les p{\'e}riodes d{\textquoteright}hibernation chez l{\textquoteright}animal et l{\textquoteright}ost{\'e}odystrophie r{\'e}nale en pathologie humaine sont associ{\'e}es {\`a} des taux s{\'e}riques {\'e}lev{\'e}s d{\textquoteright}hormone parathyro{\"\i}dienne. Apr{\`e}s une revue approfondie de la litt{\'e}rature, nous avons examin{\'e} la collection de squelettes d{\textquoteright}hominid{\'e}s de Sima de los Huesos, Cave Mayor, Atapuerca, Espagne, pour y rechercher des traces d{\textquoteright}hypers{\'e}cr{\'e}tion parathyro{\"\i}dienne. L{\textquoteright}{\'e}tude a {\'e}t{\'e} r{\'e}alis{\'e}e en associant macrophotographie, analyses microscopiques, histologiques et imagerie par tomodensitom{\'e}trie. Nous avons observ{\'e} principalement dans la population adolescente de ces hominin{\'e}s des aspects de tunnelisation osseuse trab{\'e}culaire, d{\textquoteright}ost{\'e}ite fibreuse, de r{\'e}sorption sous-p{\'e}riost{\'e}e m{\'e}taphysaire, de tumeurs brunes, d{\textquoteright}ossification sous-p{\'e}riost{\'e}, de chondrocalcinose, des ost{\'e}ophytes diss{\'e}min{\'e}s, de craniotab{\`e}s et de perles costales. Plusieurs de ces l{\'e}sions sont pathognomoniques et montrent que ces hominines {\'e}taient atteints chaque ann{\'e}e d{\textquoteright}ost{\'e}omalacie, d{\textquoteright}hyperparathyro{\"\i}die secondaire et d{\textquoteright}ost{\'e}odystrophie r{\'e}nale. Nous estimons que ces troubles sont cons{\'e}cutifs {\`a} une hibernation dans des grottes sombres. Ceci est particuli{\`e}rement mis en {\'e}vidence par la pr{\'e}sence de plaques osseuses rachitiques diss{\'e}min{\'e}es chez certains des adolescents, et de l{\'e}sions cicatris{\'e}es principalement chez les adultes. Les sous-couches dans les plaques osseuses rachitiques indiquent des {\'e}pisodes de suractivit{\'e} li{\'e}e {\`a} l{\textquoteright}hibernation. La forte saillie de la l{\`e}vre externe de la trochl{\'e}e f{\'e}morale, les plaques osseuses rachitiques s{\'e}par{\'e}es par des zones normales, les zones de r{\'e}sorption sous-p{\'e}riost{\'e}e et les preuves de gu{\'e}rison annuelle indiquent {\'e}galement la pr{\'e}sence d{\textquoteright}une pubert{\'e} intermittente chaque ann{\'e}e chez cette esp{\`e}ce humaine disparue. Notre hypoth{\`e}se rattachant ces l{\'e}sions osseuses aux cons{\'e}quences de l{\textquoteright}hibernation est coh{\'e}rente avec les arguments g{\'e}n{\'e}tiques et le fait que les hominid{\'e}s de SH ont v{\'e}cu pendant une glaciation extr{\^e}me. Des hypoth{\`e}ses alternatives sont examin{\'e}es. Le pr{\'e}sent travail apporte une approche novatrice des m{\'e}canismes physiologique du m{\'e}tabolisme des premiers humains qui pourrait aider {\`a} d{\'e}terminer le cycle de vie et la physiologie des esp{\`e}ces humaines {\'e}teintes.</p>
},
	keywords = {Atapuerca, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Hibernation, Hyperparathyro{\"\i}die secondaire, Insuffisance r{\'e}nale chronique (IRC), Ost{\'e}odystrophie r{\'e}nale (ODR), Rachitisme r{\'e}nal, Renal Osteodystrophy (ROD), Renal Rickets, Secondary Hyperparathyroidism},
	isbn = {0003-5521},
	doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anthro.2020.102797},
	url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003552120300832},
	author = {Bartsiokas, Antonis and Arsuaga, Juan-Luis}
}
