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Teeth from the Middle Stone Age layers of Sibudu Cave (South Africa) 2018
Summary -In the African Pleistocene, the fossil evidence for earlyHomo sapienspopulations is
still relatively limited. Here we present two additional specimens (two deciduous teeth) recovered from
the Middle Stone Age (MSA) deposits of Sibudu Cave (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa). We describe their
morphology and metrics, using three-dimensional models of the teeth obtained from high-resolution micro-
CT images. The first specimen is a Ldm1(HUM. TO 1) recovered in the BS5 layer dated 77.3 ± 2.7 ka,
and associated with stone tools assigned to the “pre-Still Bay” assemblage. The other specimen is a Rdi1
(HUM. TO 2) coming from the Pinkish Grey Sand (PGS) layer, dated 64.7±2.3 ka, and associated with
a Howieson’s Poort industry. Both teeth are well preserved, with minor post mortem cracks not affecting
the overall morphology, and they comprise the intact, worn crown and the remnants of the roots, naturally
resorbed. A large carious lesion occupies most of the distal face and part of the occlusal surface in the Ldm1;
also a chip of enamel is missing from the disto-buccal corner. For both teeth, we compared mesio-distal
(MD) and bucco-lingual (BL) diameters with those of other Late Pleistocene deciduous teeth and extant
Homo sapiens. The analysis has shown that the teeth are comparable in size with the other MSA specimens
described in the literature.
Discussion and Conclusions
The South African MSA human fossil record
includes remains from 15 sites (Grine, 2016; Grine
et al., 2017), among these, Sibudu Cave, from where
a few, undescribed specimens have been reported
(Plug, 2004). Thus any addition to this record, for
example the two deciduous teeth described here,
is important, since it allows us to understand bet-
ter the anatomical features of early populations
ofHomo sapiensand their variability. Of the two
deciduous teeth from Sibudu Cave, the Ldm1
comes from the layer BS5 that is dated at around
77.2±2.2 ka and it is associated with pre-Still Bay
lithic assemblages; it is thus the oldest of the four
deciduous first molars from the South African MSA
described so far in the literature (see above). The
Rdi1comes from the PGS layers, which are dated
at 64.7±2.3 and it is associated with a Howiesons
Poort assemblage (Wadley 2015). Hence, the two
specimens come not only from different individu-
als, but also from different populations that occu-
pied the site in different times. The two specimens,
deriving from juvenile individuals, add to the MSA
deciduous dental sample from other South African
sites, and confirm the observation by Grineet al.
(2016) that juvenile individuals (largely represented
by deciduous teeth) are relatively more abundant
than adult specimens at other MSA South African
sites (Die Kelders Cave 1, Blombos and Klipdrift
Shelter), with the notable exception of remains
from Klasies Main Site.
The comparative metrical analysis has pro-
vided interesting results. Both teeth cluster with
the other MSA specimens from South Africa,
especially for MD diameters. In particular, in
the metrical study of dm1a few points are rel-
evant since they derive from the analysis of
deciduous teeth, which are recognized as more
conservative in their morphology than perma-
nent teeth (Brabant, 1967; von Koenigswald,
1967; Margetts & Brown, 1978; Smith, 1978;
Aiello & Dean, 1990; Hemphill, 2015; Bailey
et al., 2016). As such, deciduous teeth are more
informative than permanent ones when address-
ing taxonomic and evolutionary issues.
First, the MSA populations show similar mean
MD values to EUP European populations, both
Aurignacian and Gravettian, the latter two having
almost identical mean values. Secondly, the MSA/
EUP dm1is smaller than the mean value for MP
populations. The similarities in size with Upper
Paleolithic specimens, and the differences with
the MP sample have also been noted by Vernaet
al.(2013) in their description of the Diepkloof
Rock Shelter (DRS 3) specimen. Thirdly, MSA/
EUP samples differ from both LUP and IBM
populations, both having smaller mean values
than the earlier groups. Of broader significance,
it is interesting to note the similarities between
the MD values of the Aurignacian and Gravettian
(EUP) samples and the smaller mean values of the
Epigravettian and Magdalenian samples (LUP).
This points to a pattern of reduction taking place
between EUP and LUP already noted by Frayer
(1978) for dentition and aspects of cranial and
postcranial dimensions (see Holt & Formicola,
2008 for a review). A similar pattern seems to exist
when comparing MSA and IBM. Lastly, the mean
value for the four EHS samples is even smaller,
and is notably distinct from all earlier samples. At
the same time the BL mean values do not show a
similar pattern. In the di1, the MSA and the other
samples are too limited to carry out any analysis,
although differences between the fossil samples
and the EHS are apparent, with the latter being
smaller than the former.
In conclusion,the two deciduous teeth
described here, a dm1and a di1, expand the still
limited sample of fossil human skeletal remains
from the African Late Pleistocene. The analysis
has shown that they are comparable in size with
the other MSA specimens described in the litera-
ture. In the case of the dm1metrical differences
among samples of fossil and extant populations
have been highlighted.
https://www.isita-org.com/jass/Conte...a/30153107.pdf
Summary -In the African Pleistocene, the fossil evidence for earlyHomo sapienspopulations is
still relatively limited. Here we present two additional specimens (two deciduous teeth) recovered from
the Middle Stone Age (MSA) deposits of Sibudu Cave (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa). We describe their
morphology and metrics, using three-dimensional models of the teeth obtained from high-resolution micro-
CT images. The first specimen is a Ldm1(HUM. TO 1) recovered in the BS5 layer dated 77.3 ± 2.7 ka,
and associated with stone tools assigned to the “pre-Still Bay” assemblage. The other specimen is a Rdi1
(HUM. TO 2) coming from the Pinkish Grey Sand (PGS) layer, dated 64.7±2.3 ka, and associated with
a Howieson’s Poort industry. Both teeth are well preserved, with minor post mortem cracks not affecting
the overall morphology, and they comprise the intact, worn crown and the remnants of the roots, naturally
resorbed. A large carious lesion occupies most of the distal face and part of the occlusal surface in the Ldm1;
also a chip of enamel is missing from the disto-buccal corner. For both teeth, we compared mesio-distal
(MD) and bucco-lingual (BL) diameters with those of other Late Pleistocene deciduous teeth and extant
Homo sapiens. The analysis has shown that the teeth are comparable in size with the other MSA specimens
described in the literature.
Discussion and Conclusions
The South African MSA human fossil record
includes remains from 15 sites (Grine, 2016; Grine
et al., 2017), among these, Sibudu Cave, from where
a few, undescribed specimens have been reported
(Plug, 2004). Thus any addition to this record, for
example the two deciduous teeth described here,
is important, since it allows us to understand bet-
ter the anatomical features of early populations
ofHomo sapiensand their variability. Of the two
deciduous teeth from Sibudu Cave, the Ldm1
comes from the layer BS5 that is dated at around
77.2±2.2 ka and it is associated with pre-Still Bay
lithic assemblages; it is thus the oldest of the four
deciduous first molars from the South African MSA
described so far in the literature (see above). The
Rdi1comes from the PGS layers, which are dated
at 64.7±2.3 and it is associated with a Howiesons
Poort assemblage (Wadley 2015). Hence, the two
specimens come not only from different individu-
als, but also from different populations that occu-
pied the site in different times. The two specimens,
deriving from juvenile individuals, add to the MSA
deciduous dental sample from other South African
sites, and confirm the observation by Grineet al.
(2016) that juvenile individuals (largely represented
by deciduous teeth) are relatively more abundant
than adult specimens at other MSA South African
sites (Die Kelders Cave 1, Blombos and Klipdrift
Shelter), with the notable exception of remains
from Klasies Main Site.
The comparative metrical analysis has pro-
vided interesting results. Both teeth cluster with
the other MSA specimens from South Africa,
especially for MD diameters. In particular, in
the metrical study of dm1a few points are rel-
evant since they derive from the analysis of
deciduous teeth, which are recognized as more
conservative in their morphology than perma-
nent teeth (Brabant, 1967; von Koenigswald,
1967; Margetts & Brown, 1978; Smith, 1978;
Aiello & Dean, 1990; Hemphill, 2015; Bailey
et al., 2016). As such, deciduous teeth are more
informative than permanent ones when address-
ing taxonomic and evolutionary issues.
First, the MSA populations show similar mean
MD values to EUP European populations, both
Aurignacian and Gravettian, the latter two having
almost identical mean values. Secondly, the MSA/
EUP dm1is smaller than the mean value for MP
populations. The similarities in size with Upper
Paleolithic specimens, and the differences with
the MP sample have also been noted by Vernaet
al.(2013) in their description of the Diepkloof
Rock Shelter (DRS 3) specimen. Thirdly, MSA/
EUP samples differ from both LUP and IBM
populations, both having smaller mean values
than the earlier groups. Of broader significance,
it is interesting to note the similarities between
the MD values of the Aurignacian and Gravettian
(EUP) samples and the smaller mean values of the
Epigravettian and Magdalenian samples (LUP).
This points to a pattern of reduction taking place
between EUP and LUP already noted by Frayer
(1978) for dentition and aspects of cranial and
postcranial dimensions (see Holt & Formicola,
2008 for a review). A similar pattern seems to exist
when comparing MSA and IBM. Lastly, the mean
value for the four EHS samples is even smaller,
and is notably distinct from all earlier samples. At
the same time the BL mean values do not show a
similar pattern. In the di1, the MSA and the other
samples are too limited to carry out any analysis,
although differences between the fossil samples
and the EHS are apparent, with the latter being
smaller than the former.
In conclusion,the two deciduous teeth
described here, a dm1and a di1, expand the still
limited sample of fossil human skeletal remains
from the African Late Pleistocene. The analysis
has shown that they are comparable in size with
the other MSA specimens described in the litera-
ture. In the case of the dm1metrical differences
among samples of fossil and extant populations
have been highlighted.
https://www.isita-org.com/jass/Conte...a/30153107.pdf