The aim of this paper was to investigate the biome-chanical patterns of a Late Neolithic population from theVaucluse (Provence, France). To do so, we used cross-sectional geometry to assess the strength and robustness oflong bone diaphyses and relate these to specific behaviourpatterns in the population.Cross-sectional geometric properties of the humerus andfemur were obtained by CT scanning for 61 individuals(40 females and 21 males) of the Boileau hypogeum (Vau-cluse, France).The sample shows no indication of sexual dimorphism inthe size or bilateral asymmetry of the humerus, which sug-gests predominant and similar patterns of bilateral activity inboth sexes. However, the femur in males is significantlymore robust, reflecting high levels of mechanical stress andsuggesting more intense physical activity than in women,and therefore a possible gender-based division of tasksinvolving the lower limb. Patterns of femoral ovementappear to be equivalent between sexes
