Virtual Reconstruction and Comparative Analyses of the Middle Pleistocene Apidima 2 Cranium (Greece).

The Apidima 2 fossil cranium from South Peloponnese is one of the most important hominin specimens from Southeast Europe. Nevertheless, there has been continuous controversy as to whether it represents a so-called Preneandertal/Homo heidelbergensis such as, for example, the Petralona cranium from Northern Greece or a more derived Neandertal. Recent absolute dating evidence alone cannot clarify the issue because both classifications would be possible during the respective Middle Pleistocene time span.

Preamplification procedure for the analysis of ancient DNA samples.

In ancient DNA studies the low amount of endogenous DNA represents a limiting factor that often hampers the result achievement. In this study we extracted the DNA from nine human skeletal remains of different ages found in the Byzantine cemetery of Abdera Halkidiki and in the medieval cemetery of St. Spiridion in Rhodes (Greece).

Paleoanthropological research at the cave site of Apidima and the surrounding region (South Peloponnese, Greece).

Paleoanthropological excavations and surveys at the cave site of Apidima (South Peleponnese, Greece) during the last fifteen years brought to light paleontological findings and prehistoric artifacts, the number of which approximates 30,000 recorded and classified remains. In particular, the discovery of a significant number of human fossil bones, which belong to 6-8 different individuals, distinguishes Apidima as the most important paleoanthropological site in Greece. These fossil remains were found in different stratigraphic layers of the site corresponding to different phases of the human evolution during the middle and the upper Pleistocene.

[Anthropologic study of the population of Peloponnesus with special reference to the Arwanites and Tsakones].

A total of 1582 individuals of the indigenous population of the Peloponnesus was investigated anthropologically. 1465 of these individuals are males, 117 females in the age between 20 and 60 years. The mean age of the males is 40 years, that of the females 30 years.

[Matrimonial radius and anthropologic differentiation of the population of the Peloponnese, Greece].

Mean matrimonial radius (MMR) and mean breeding radius (MBR) were studied in the population of the Peloponnese (Greece). The historical and geographical causes of these important genetical variables are discussed considering, too, their effects on the anthropological differentiation of this population.