Upper Pleistocene human scapula from Salawusu, Inner Mongolia, China

This article presents a fossil human scapula which was found in situ from the lower part of the Salawusu Formation in 1980 at the Salawusu site of Inner Mongolia, China. The stratum is dated from 70.9±6.2 ka BP to 124.9±15.8 ka BP by TL method. Dates from 44±7 ka BP to 63±3 ka BP, 61–68 ka BP and 35.34±2 ka BP are obtained for the lower part of this layer by ²³⁰Th, IRSL and ¹⁴C respectively. Based on the comparisons between this scapula and the scapulae of Neanderthals, Skhul/Qafzeh fossils, Eurasian Upper Paleolithic specimens and recent modern humans on the glenoid fossa, axillo-spinal angle, axillary border and other features, the present authors arrived at a preliminary conclusion that this Salawusu scapula is characterized by modern features of Upper Pleistocene humans mixed with a Neanderthal-like feature.