Abstract
In the early 1930s an upper right third molar (M3) together with a calotte and fragmented facial bones of an adult fossil hominin was recovered during excavations at Florisbad. The M3 is one of the few well-dated teeth associated with cranial remains from the late Mid-Pleistocene in southern Africa and as such provides a valuable addition to the fossil dental record of this region. Here we provide a detailed description of the tooth based on standard measurements and 3D images derived from high resolution micro-high resolution micro-focus X-ray tomography. Our results show that the Florisbad M3 falls within the size range of African Homo erectus. It is slightly larger than other peri-contemporary M3s known from Africa that date from the Middle to Late Pleistocene. Like them, however, it also falls within the size range of recent, large-toothed African populations. These results suggest the maintenance of selective pressures favouring large teeth in some African populations until the present.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 233-244 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa |
Volume | 70 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2 Sep 2015 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2015 Royal Society of South Africa.
Keywords
- Late Mid-Pleistocene Homo
- Micro-tomography
- South Africa fossil teeth
- Third molar