External dental characters and diversity of Homo erectus among the fossil record of Java

Abstract

Hominin variability in Java Island should be impacted by the dynamics of Pleistocene climatic and related biogeographical patterns changes. The aim of this study is to characterize the diversity of Javan hominins by exploring the external dental morphological features. We applied metric measurements and observations of the external characters using the scoring method on a sample of 75 upper and lower second molars (M2) from Sangiran and Wajak sites, including Pongo and hominin fossils. Similarities and differences are observed and clustering analysis applied. Preliminary results display four hominin groups, suggesting coexistence and parallel occupation of Java Island around the boundary of Lower to Middle Pleistocene, and further detailed studies may clarify the evolutionary meaning of this variability.