• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Anthropology

Tooth-telling brings to light earliest humans from southern Africa

by Dario Radley
July 15, 2022

Fossil tooth analysis conducted by Dr. Renaud Joannes-Boyau, a geochemist at Southern Cross University, has played a crucial role in a collaborative international effort to accurately identify the earliest humans.

Tooth-telling brings to light earliest humans from southern Africa
Dr Renaud Joannes-Boyau with a Homo Naledi tooth.

Published in the scientific journal PNAS, the study highlights that out of the 23 specimens analyzed from southern Africa, ranging from 2.5 to 1.4 million years old, only a maximum of seven can be classified as Homo, while the rest likely belong to Australopithecus or Paranthropus.

These findings have significant implications for our understanding of hominin diversity, paleobiology, and human evolution. Dr. Joannes-Boyau utilized specialized equipment at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus to detect lactation behavior through geochemical analysis of tooth fossils.

Determining the origins and biogeographic diversity of early Homo remains a major focus of paleoanthropology.

Proper taxonomic identification is crucial to avoid biasing interpretations of various paleobiological aspects such as eating behavior, ecological interactions, hominin paleodiversity, adaptations, and evolutionary relationships. It is essential to accurately identify the earliest individuals of our species in order to comprehend the timing, location, and mechanisms of Homo’s initial appearance in Africa.

RelatedStories

Mysterious pits on 2-million-year-old fossil teeth unlock clues to human evolution

Mysterious pits on 2-million-year-old fossil teeth unlock clues to human evolution

June 12, 2025
Homo erectus in Java: 140,000-year-old fossils found in submerged river valley

Homo erectus in Java: 140,000-year-old fossils found in submerged river valley

May 16, 2025

However, there is ongoing debate and no consensus on the definition of the genus Homo, leading to disagreements regarding the identification of early Homo specimens. Southern Africa has numerous sites (Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Drimolen) with remains attributed to early Homo, dating between 2.5 and 1.4 million years ago.

Some of these specimens were previously thought to be Australopithecus or Paranthropus, complicating the taxonomic attribution.

These uncertainties hinder accurate assessments of hominin paleodiversity and the evolutionary relationships between Homo, Australopithecus, and Paranthropus. Dr. Joannes-Boyau was part of an international team that extensively reviewed the dental remains from the Early Pleistocene in southern Africa attributed to early Homo.

The team employed geometric morphometric analyses of the enamel-dentine junction, an internal tooth structure reliably used for taxonomic classification up to the sub-species level.

Tooth-telling brings to light earliest humans from southern Africa
Figure 1: geometric morphometric analyses of the enamel-dentine junction.

The study yielded notable results, highlighting that out of the 23 specimens initially attributed to Homo, only four were statistically classified as such. Additionally, three specimens showing more primitive features could also potentially belong to the human genus. The remaining specimens were likely representative of Australopithecus or Paranthropus.

The research revealed that certain iconic remains, such as the mandible SK 15, previously attributed to Homo erectus, are more likely related to Paranthropus.

The study’s quantitative analyses of the enamel-dentine junction shape provided an objective reassessment of the taxonomic classification of several purported Homo specimens, shedding light on a greater paleodiversity of hominins than previously recognized. Geochemical analyses and elemental mapping were also conducted on two specimens believed to be early Homo, confirming that they more likely belonged to Australopithecus and Paranthropus based on geometric morphometric analyses. Interestingly, the geochemical signals supported these findings.

Dr. Joannes-Boyau emphasized the significance of lactation behavior as a potential distinguishing feature between Homo and other hominins. He explained that Australopithecus is likely the ancestor of both Homo and Paranthropus, with subtle but important changes occurring in Homo that contributed to its success in outcompeting and surpassing other species.

The geochemical analysis indicates no fundamental anatomical differences between the genera, suggesting that it is the behavioral aspects of Homo that enabled early humans to thrive.

The study contributes to our understanding of the earliest humans and underscores the importance of accurate taxonomic identification in paleoanthropology. It highlights the need for continued research and analysis to unravel the complexities of human evolution and the intricacies of our ancestral relationships.

More information: Zanolli, Clément, et. al. (2022), Dental data challenge the ubiquitous presence of Homo in the Cradle of Humankind, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). 119 (28) e2111212119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2111212119

ShareTweetShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Viking Age burial near Aarhus linked to Harald Bluetooth’s noble allies unearthed in Denmark
Anthropology

Viking Age burial near Aarhus unearthed with ties to Harald Bluetooth’s noble allies

June 23, 2025
1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy linked to Chancay culture unearthed during gas work in Lima
Anthropology

1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy linked to Chancay culture unearthed during gas work in Lima

June 23, 2025
New study confirms ancient human footprints in New Mexico date back 23,000 years
Anthropology

New study confirms ancient human footprints in New Mexico date back 23,000 years

June 22, 2025
Sinkhole in York uncovers remains of medieval St Leonard’s Hospital, one of northern England’s largest
Archaeology

Sinkhole in York uncovers remains of medieval St Leonard’s Hospital, one of northern England’s largest

June 22, 2025
Ancient ritual spear from Japan’s sacred island reveals East Asia’s earliest gold-inlaid sheath
Archaeology

Ancient ritual spear from Japan’s sacred island reveals East Asia’s earliest gold-inlaid sheath

June 21, 2025
50 World War-era helmets discovered near Wrocław University, Poland
Archaeology

50 World War-era helmets discovered near Wrocław University, Poland

June 21, 2025

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
108K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

May 28, 2025
Viking-era boat burial unearthed in Norway reveals 1,100-year-old remains of woman and her dog

Viking-era boat burial unearthed in Norway reveals 1,100-year-old remains of woman and her dog

June 9, 2025
6,200-year-old ‘cone-headed’ skull found in Iran reveals cranial modification and death by blunt force

6,200-year-old ‘cone-headed’ skull found in Iran reveals cranial modification and death by blunt force

June 13, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

Viking Age burial near Aarhus linked to Harald Bluetooth’s noble allies unearthed in Denmark

Viking Age burial near Aarhus unearthed with ties to Harald Bluetooth’s noble allies

June 23, 2025
1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy linked to Chancay culture unearthed during gas work in Lima

1,000-year-old pre-Inca mummy linked to Chancay culture unearthed during gas work in Lima

June 23, 2025
New study confirms ancient human footprints in New Mexico date back 23,000 years

New study confirms ancient human footprints in New Mexico date back 23,000 years

June 22, 2025
Sinkhole in York uncovers remains of medieval St Leonard’s Hospital, one of northern England’s largest

Sinkhole in York uncovers remains of medieval St Leonard’s Hospital, one of northern England’s largest

June 22, 2025
Ancient ritual spear from Japan’s sacred island reveals East Asia’s earliest gold-inlaid sheath

Ancient ritual spear from Japan’s sacred island reveals East Asia’s earliest gold-inlaid sheath

June 21, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.