Neandertal features of the deciduous and permanent teeth from Portel‐Ouest Cave (Ariège, France)

Bibliographic Data

ID8315754
AuthorsGaël Becam (0000-0002-7417-0761, UMR 7194, Histoire Naturelle de l'Homme Préhistorique Université de Perpignan/MNHN/CERP de Tautavel Tautavel France, corresponding author), T Chevalier (0000-0001-6936-816X, UMR 7194, Histoire Naturelle de l'Homme Préhistorique Université de Perpignan/MNHN/CERP de Tautavel Tautavel France)
Year2019
Volume168
Issue1
Pages45-69
Publication date2019-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.23719
PMID30462354
OpenAlexW2901179865
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited39

OBJECTIVES: We describe 14 unpublished and nine published teeth from the Mousterian level of Portel-Ouest (Ariège, France), dated to 44 ka. In a comparative context, we explore the taxonomical affinities of those teeth with Neandertals and modern humans which are both known to exist at that time. We further make some paleobiological inferences about this human group. METHODS: The comparative analysis of Neandertals and modern humans is based on nonmetric traits at the outer enamel surface and the enamel-dentine junction, crown diameters and three-dimensional (3D) enamel thickness measurements of lower permanent teeth. The crown and roots are explored in detail based on the μCT-scan data to identify the multiple criteria involved in the paleobiological approach. RESULTS: (included in all analyses) as well as volume of the pulp cavity in roots of the anterior permanent teeth. The Portel-Ouest sample corresponds to a minimum of seven juveniles, one or two adolescents and one adult, which exhibit recurrent linear enamel hypoplasia (up to five events for one individual), the torsiversion of one anterior tooth and irregular oblique wear in some anterior deciduous teeth. DISCUSSION: This morphological study confirms that the remains from Portel-Ouest are Neandertals, associated with a Mousterian complex. Furthermore, we found the expected pattern of mortality and stress for a Neandertal group, that is, various age categories and developmental defects (nonexclusive to Neandertals), while adults are underrepresented and juveniles are overrepresented. Further excavations would contribute finding new remains and maybe complete this demographic profile

Anterior teeth · Archaeology · Biology · Cave · Context (archaeology) · Crown (dentistry) · Deciduous teeth · Enamel paint · Evolutionary biology · Geography · Mousterian · Neanderthal · Bone and Dental Protein Studies · Dentistry · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Medicine · Orthodontics · Paleontology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

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