Anthropometric analysis of obstetrical pelvis from Neolithic area: obstetrical consequences. Preliminary study

Objectives

To study female pelves from Neolithic area (5000 years AD) in order to better understand the evolution of obstetrical mecanisms.

Materials and methods

The fossil material comprised 73 Homo sapiens pelves: we reconstructed all the 20 adult female bony pelves. We realised the shape and morphometric analysis of the pelvic cavity. Changes in pelvic neolithic morphology were compared with pelvic modern morphology.

Results

The pelves of prehistoric female were similar in shape with modern female. However, they differ in relative dimensions (transversal diameter of the pelvis inlet: respectively 118 mm vs 125 mm, p = 0.02).

Discussion and conclusion

Reconstructions based on Neolithic hominin fossils suggest that obstetrical mechanisms were probably common to Neolithic and modern humans: childbirth would probably require social adaptations and risks of perinatal and obstetric complications were undoubtedly high. However, the differences in morphometric analysis could suggest a change of human pelvis and raise the question of the evolution in obstetrical mechanisms in the future.