ON THE PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF THE PRE-NEANDERTHAL SPECIMEN FROM REILINGEN, GERMANY

This paper describes the morphology and phylogenetic significance of a well-preserved fossil human cranium found near Reilingen, Germany in 1978. The specimen consists of two complete parietals, most of the rig ht temporal, and 70% of the occipital. The specimen displays several f eatures characteristic of early ''archaic'' Home sapiens: maximum brea dth at the supramastoid crests, roughly pentagonal occipital view, an angular torus, superoinferiorly elongate/anteroposterior shortened squ amous temporal, strong mastoid, and separation of the tympanic and mas toid temporal portions. Other features align the Reilingen cranium wit h the ''classic'' Neandertals: developed suprainiac fossa, bilaterally protuberant occipital torus, strong juxtamastoid eminence, a highly c onvex occipital plane, and lambdoid flattening. This morphology and ou r cephalometric analysis support the assignment of this specimen to a Stage 2 ''pre-Neandertal'' group (e.g., Steinheim, Swanscombe, and Ata puerca [SH site]). Following an ''Accretion Model'' of European homini d evolution, Stage 2 succeeds Stage 1 European ''early-pre-Neandertals '' (e.g., Mauer and Petralona), and precedes both the Saale-Eem Stage 3 ''early Neandertals'' (e.g., Biache 1), which present greater platyc ephaly, a reduced mastoid process, an enlarged juxtamastoid eminence, and true ''en-bombe'' (parieto-occipital form), and Weichsel Stage 4 ' 'Neandertals'' (sensu stricto, i.e., (''classic'') Neandertals). (C) 1 998 Academic Press Limited.