OBJECTIVES: A marked asymmetry was previously reported in the sacral alae and S1-L5 facets orientation of the Neandertal individual Regourdou 1. Here, we provide a detailed description and quantification of the morphology and degree of asymmetry of this sacrum. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Regourdou 1 was compared to a modern human sample composed of 24 females and 17 males, and to other Neandertal individuals. Both traditional and geometric morphometric analyses were used in order to quantify the degree of sacral asymmetry of Regourdou 1. RESULTS: The asymmetry of both sacral alae and facets orientation substantially exceeds directional and absolute asymmetry of the healthy modern sample. Regourdou 1 shows a considerably shorter right ala, which is absolutely and relatively outside of the modern and Neandertal variations. CONCLUSION: Regourdou 1 shows marked sacral asymmetry that probably originated in early ontogenetic development. An asymmetric sacrum reflects asymmetric load dissipation and could relate to other morphological abnormalities observed in the skeleton, especially the mild scoliosis of the spine and the asymmetry of the femoral diaphyses. Further investigation is necessary to elucidate the relationship between those morphologies as well as a potential impact on the life of the individual.

CNRS Université de Bordeaux MCC UMR5199 PACEA Université de Bordeaux Pessac Cedex France

CNRS Université de Bordeaux MCC UMR5199 PACEA Université de Bordeaux Pessac Cedex France Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic

CNRS Université de Bordeaux MCC UMR5199 PACEA Université de Bordeaux Pessac Cedex France Musée National de Préhistoire Les Eyzies de Tayac France

Departamento Estratigrafía y Paleontología Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología Universidad del País Vasco Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea Leioa Spain IKERBASQUE Basque Foundation for Science Bilbao Spain Centro UCM ISCIII de Investigación sobre Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos Madrid Spain

Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Department of Anthropology Tulane University New Orleans Louisiana Evolutionary Studies Institute University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg Republic of South Africa

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 3rd Faculty of Medicine Charles University and University Hospital Královské Vinohrady Prague Czech Republic

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