The late Middle Pleistocene upper third molar from Florisbad: Metrics and morphology

P. Smith*, J. S. Brink, J. W. Hoffman, L. C. Bam, R. Nshimirimana, F. C. De Beer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)233-244
Number of pages12
JournalTransactions of the Royal Society of South Africa
Volume70
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 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

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The late Middle Pleistocene upper third molar from Florisbad: Metrics and morphology'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this