Dental size reduction in Indonesian Homo erectus: Implications for the PU-198 premolar and the appearance of Homo sapiens on Java.

摘要: The recent recovery of a hominin maxillary third premolar, PU-198, within the faunal collections from Punung Cave (East Java) has led to assertions that Homo sapiens appeared on Java between 143,000 and 115,000 years ago. taxonomic assignment PU-198 H. sapiens was based predominantly small size specimen, following an analysis which found little no overlap in premolar erectus terminal Pleistocene/Holocene H. sapiens. Here, we re-evaluate use light 1) new buccolingual mesiodistal measurements taken fossil, 2) comparisons larger sample H. erectus premolars, 3) evidence diachronic trend post-canine dental reduction among Javan H. erectus. Our results demonstrate be slightly than previously suggested, reveal substantial H. sapiens, indicate statistically significant early late findings cast doubt accordingly, question appearance