As part of our comprehensive genetic study of the aboriginal Taiwanese (Gaoshan), we have reported the distribution of allele frequencies for 13 red cell enzyme and 4 serum protein polymorphisms in all nine aboriginal groups. In this study, 10 additional serum protein polymorphisms for AHSG, C3, C6, C7, GC, HP, ITIH1, PI, TF and ZAG were typed. Common and variant alleles prevailing in East Asian populations were found together with several new variants. The distribution of allele frequencies differed markedly among the nine aboriginal groups and from that in East Asian populations. The large diversity among the aboriginal groups was confirmed by analysis of the genetic affinity on the basis of Nei's standard genetic distance and Cavalli-Sforza's chord distance, which were calculated using the present and previous data from 27 red cell enzyme and serum protein loci. The analysis based on 15 red cell enzyme and serum protein loci revealed that they, in particular the Puyuma and Ami, had strong affinity with Filipino among several East Asian populations.

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Human skeletal remains were recovered in 1959 and 1961 from Tadaki Quarry at Mikkabi, central Japan. The mammalian fauna of the site includes extinct species of elephant (Palaeoloxodon naumanni) and giant deer (Sinomegaceros sp.), and the Mikkabi human remains have been considered to date back to the Late Pleistocene. Radiocarbon dating and revised fluorine dating of the human and non-human bones, however as we report here, show that the faunal remains from the Mikkabi site have a wide age range extending from the Late Pleistocene to the early Holocene, and also lead to the conclusion that the Mikkabi hominids are attributable to the early Holocene.

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A new platyrrhine, Miocallicebus villaviejai gen. et sp. nov., from the middle Miocene of La Venta (Colombia) is described. The specimen consists of a right maxillary fragment preserving a root of M¹, a complete M², and a fragmentary M³. Miocallicebus is included in the Callicebinae on the basis of M² structure, but it differs from extant Callicebus in its much larger size and the position of the pterygoid process. Morphological analysis of M² structure suggests that the Callicebinae are more closely related to the pitheciinae than to other platyrrhine taxa, supporting the phylogenetic reconstruction proposed by recent molecular biological studies. The Callicebus-lineage is likely to have appeared by the middle Miocene age in the La Venta fauna.

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An incomplete human skull collected in Kusia, La Guajira, Zulia State, Venezuela, presents evidence of sharp and blunt force injuries. Evidence suggests the lesions occurred antemortem or perimortem. The location and direction of the force indicates the injuries were neither accidentally, nor self-inflicted. Therefore, the remains are probably those of a homicide victim.

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A case of atresia of the external acoustic meatus is described here. The lesion occurs in a calvarium belonging to the large sample of skeletal remains excavated from the ossuary at St. Jacob's Chapel (Bratislava, Southwest Slovakia) dated to the 15th-18th centuries. The affected individual was probably a female aged 40-50 years at the time of death. Macroscopic and CT examinations were performed. Congenital atresia and/or infection of the external acoustic meatus as the causes of disease are discussed. The lesion is unilateral localized on the right side.

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