The early Upper Paleolithic human skeleton from the Abrigo do Lagar Velho (Portugal) and modern human emergence in Iberia

The discovery of an early Upper Paleolithic human burial at the Abrigo do L agar Velho, Portugal, has provided evidence of early modern humans from sou thern Iberia, The remains, the largely complete skeleton of a;approximate t o 4-year-old child buried with pierced shell and red ochre, is dated to ca, 21,500 Sears B,P. The cranium, mandible, dentition, and postcrania present a mosaic of European early modern human and Neandertal features. The tempo ral bone has an intermediate-sized juxtamastoid eminence. The mandibular me ntum osseum and the dental size and proportions, supported by mandibular ra mal features, radial tuberosity orientation, and diaphyseal curvature as He ll as the pubic proportions align the skeleton with early modern humans. Bo dy proportions, reflected in femorotibial lengths and diaphyseal robusticit y plus tibial condylar displacement, as well as mandibular symphyseal retre at and thoracohumeral muscle insertions, align the skeleton with the Neande rtals. This morphological mosaic indicates admixture between regional Neand ertals and early modern humans dispersing into southern Iberia. It establis hes the complexities of the Late Pleistocene emergence of modern humans and refutes strict replacement models of modern human origins.