The hominins 2: the Genus Homo

Abstract

A detailed assessment of a wide array of morphological and metric features in large Homo dental samples allows the identification of general trends that can be used to discriminate early from late Homo groups, Pleistocene Eurasian from Pleistocene African hominins, and Neanderthals from modern humans. We propose that the analysis of the variability of anterior vs. posterior dentitions, as well as the use of ratios and proportions vs. absolute measurements, can be significantly more informative than the evaluation of isolated variables or teeth. These notions are illustrated through the discussion of specific fossil samples based on our own research. In this context, the premolar field is revealed as an excellent target for taxonomic and phylogenetic assessments.