Table Of ContentFrom Biped to Strider
The Emergence ofModem Human Walking,
Running, andResource Transport
From Biped to Strider
0/
The Emergence Modern Human Walking,
Running, and Resource Transport
Edited by
D. Jeffrey Meldrum
ldaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho
and
Charles E. Hilton
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Springer-Science+Business Media, LLC
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
From biped to strider : the emergence of modem human walking, running, and resource
transport I edited by D. Jeffrey Meldrum and Charles E. Hilton.
p. cm.
Based on a symposium which was held as a session of the 69th annual meeting of the
AAPA held in San Antonio, Texas, in 2000.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-306-48000-3 ISBN 978-1-4419-8965-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-8965-9
1. Human locomotion-Congresses. I. Meldrum, D. Jeffrey, 1958- II. Hilton, Charles E.
III. American Association of Physical Anthropologists. Meeting (69th: 2000 : San Antonio, Tex.)
QP303.F685 2004
612.7'6--dc22 2003060287
ISBN 978-0-306-48000-3
© 2004 Springer Science+Business Media New York
Originally published by Kluwer AcademicIPlenum Publishers, New York in 2004
Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover 1st edition 2004
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
A C.LP. record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
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Participantsinthesymposium,FromBipedtoStrider:TheEmergenceofModernHumanWalking,heldatthe
69thannualmeetingoftheAAPAheldinSanAntonio,Texas,April 15,2000.Frontrow(Itor):Roshna
Wunderlich,LauraGruss,MarshaOgilvie,KarenRosenberg,DavidBegun,JeffMeldrum.Backrow(Itor):
DennisBramble,ChrisRuff,Chuck Hilton,DavidCarrier [notpictured:RonClarke,YvetteDeloison,
PeterSchmid,DanSchmitt,PatriciaKramer].
Contributors
DavidR. Begun, DepartmentofAnthropology, University ofToronto,Toronto,ON M5S
3G3,Canada
Gilles Berillon,CNRS, Paris,France
DavidCarrier,DepartmentofBiology, University ofUtah, Salt LakeCity,UT84112
YvetteDeloison, CNRS, Paris,France
RussellD.Greaves, Department ofAnthropology, University ofTexas,SanAntonio, TX
78249
Laura Tobias Gruss, Department of Biological Anthropology & Anatomy, Duke
University,Durham, NC27708
Cbarles E. Hilton, Department of Anthropology, Western Michigan University,
Kalamazoo,MI49008
Patricia Ann Kramer, Departments of Anthropology and Orthopaedics, University of
Washington,Seattle,WA98104-2499
Henry M McHenry, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis, CA
95616
D.JeffreyMeldrum,DepartmentofBiologicalSciences,IdahoStateUniversity,Pocatello,
ID83209-8007
MarshaD.Ogilvie,DepartmentofAnthropology,UniversityofNewMexico,Albuquerque,
NM87131
Peter Schmid, Anthropology Institute, University of Zurich-Irchel, Zurich CH8057,
Switzerland
Daniel Schmitt, Department of Biological Anthropology & Anatomy, Duke University,
Durham, NC27708
vii
Preface
Theinspirationforthisvolumeofcontributedpapersstemmedfromconversationsbetween
theeditorsinfrontofChuckHilton'sposteronthedeterminants ofhominidwalkingspeed,
presented at thel998 meetings of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists
(AAPA).Earlieratthosemeetings,JeffMeldrum (withRoshna Wunderlich)hadpresented
analternate interpretationoftheLaetolifootprints basedonevidenceofmidfoot flexibility.
As the discussion ensued we found convergence on a number of ideas about the nature
of the evolution of modem human walking. From the continuation of that dialogue grew
the proposal for a symposium which we called FromBiped to Strider: the Emergence of
ModemHuman Walking.Thesymposiumwasheldasasessionofthe69thannualmeeting
oftheAAPA,heldinSanAntonio, Texasin2000.Itseemed tousthatthestudyofhuman
bipedalismhadbecomeovershadowedbytheoftenpolarizeddebatesoverwhetheraustralo
pithecines were wholly terrestrial in habit,or retained a significantdegree of arboreality.
Furthermore, there remained considerable difference of opinion as to whether bipedalism
aspracticed by australopithecines waseither equivalent to modem human walking,inter
mediate innature,orunique.Itseemedtousthatpreoccupationwiththese issues hadlead
to adegree ofdisregard concerning the fact that modem human locomotion is more than
merelyhabitually walkingontwolegs.Ithasbecomequiteevidentthatofallprimates,and
of the majority of mammals,modem humans are notably adapted for endurance walking
andrunning.Wefeltthatwiththeadventofthenewmillennium itwastimetoshiftattention
tothepatternandtimingoftheemergence ofmodem human walking,characterizedbythe
development of the longitudinal arch, midfoot stability, and plantar fascia modifications
that accompanied the human striding stiff-legged gait. When and in what sequence did
these morphological traits appear? What were the changes in the bio-behavioral complex
ofhominin locomotorevolution? What weretheimplications fortheenhancementandthe
expansion ofhominin mobility?
We invited participants that would represent both paleontological and neotological
perspectives on the functional morphology and behavioral ecology of hominin locomotor
adaptations.Thesecontributionsspanfromtheoriginsofbipedalismtolocomotorcontrasts
among contemporary human populations. We purposely recruited participants largely
from theupcoming generationofanthropologistsinorder toinfuse fresh perspectives and
insights into the dialogue, while building upon the pioneering researches and discussions
of senior colleagues. Their contributions before, during, and after the symposium were
thought-provoking,
Thisvolumereports theproceedings ofthatsymposium.Thesubtitlewasexpandedto
properlyrecognize thesignificantrolesofrunning andresource transportinmodem human
locomotor adaptations. Regretably, not all the participants were able to contribute to the
ix
x Preface
volume, but we also picked up an additional paper along the way from Gilles Berrilion,
and Henry McHenry graciously agreed to contribute a discussion paper. The papers in
this volume were reviewed by at least three reviewers and the overall quality benefited
greatly from theexpertise andprofessionalism displayedbyeach ofthem.Wealso wish to
acknowledgethe long-sufferingandassistanceofourpublisher, Teresa Krauss.
In the time between the symposium and the completion of this volume, new fossil
discoveries continuetoaddpiecestothepuzzleofhumanlocomotorevolution. Atthesame
time,theapplicationofnewinvestigatorytechniquesandbroaderinterdisciplinaryperspec
tivesprovide refinedinterpretationsofthepaleontologicalandneontologicalevidence. Itis
ourhopethatthisvolume willspawnnovelperspectivesandpenetratingquestionsdirected
at these issues,and that it will contribute to the ongoing dialogue between those who are
interestedinthehominin transitionfrom biped tostrider.
JeffMeldrum
Chuck Hilton
Contents
Chapter1
Striders,Runners, and Transporters..................................................... 1
Charles E.Hilton and D.JeffreyMeldrum
Chapter2
Knuckle-Walkingand the OriginofHumanBipedalism......................... 9
DavidR.Begun
Chapter3
ANewHypothesis on the OriginofHominoid Locomotion...................... 35
Yvette Deloison
Chapter4
FunctionalInterpretationofthe Laetoli Footprints................................. 49
PeterSchmid
ChapterS
FossilizedHawaiianFootprints Compared with Laetoli
Hominid Footprints............................................................................. 63
D. JeffreyMeldrum
Chapter6
In WhatMannerDidThey Walk onTwoLegs? AnArchitectural
Perspectivefor the FunctionalDiagnosticsofthe EarlyHominidFoot..... 85
Gilles Berillon
Chapter7
The BehavioralEcologyofLocomotion 101
PatriciaAnn Kramer
Chapter8
Bipedalism inHomo ergaster: AnExperimentalStudy ofthe Effects
ofTibial Proportionson LocomotorBiomechanics 117
Laura TobiasGruss and DanielSchmitt
xi
xii Contents
Chapter9
The Running-Fighting Dichotomy and the Evolution ofAggression
in Hominids 135
DavidCarrier
Chapter10
Age,Sex,and Resource Transportin Venezuelan Foragers 163
Charles E.Hilton andRussellD. Greaves
Chapter11
Mobilityand the LocomotorSkeletonat the Foraging
to FarmingTransition 183
Marsha D. Ogilvie
Chapter12
Uplifted Head,FreeHands, and the Evolution ofHuman Walking 203
Henry M. McHenry
Index 211
From Biped to Strider
The Emergence ofModern Human Walking,
Running, andResource Transport
