The Gran Dolina-TD6 human fossil remains and the origin of Neanderthals

Abstract

We present a revision of the main features withphylogenetic interest observed in the human fossil remains recovered from the Aurora Stratum of the TD6 level, Gran Dolina site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain) that have been assigned to Homo antecessor. Our aim is to test the hypothesis of a possible relationship between this species and the European Middle and early Late Pleistocene hominins, the so-called Neanderthal lineage. Some cranial, postcranial, and dental features are plesiomorphic for the genus Homo and thus, they are not useful for our purpose. Other morphologies are derived with regard to H. ergaster/H. erectus, and TD6 hominins share those traits with modern humans, with Neanderthals or with both lineages. In this context we hypothesize either that there exists a phylogenetic continuity between Homo antecessor and Neanderthals or that both species shared a common ancestor.