Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
J Hum Evol. 2011 Oct;61(4):377-87. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2011.05.001. Epub 2011 Jun 16.
The Middle Paleolithic fossil human teeth from Taddeo cave in southwestern Italy were discovered in 1967, but to date only scanty and partially incorrect information has been published about them. The teeth were recovered in a reddish sandy layer from the cave's floor, which is attributed either to an early phase of Würm I (OIS 5c or 5d) or a transition phase between Würm I and Würm II (OIS 5a). In this paper, we present a revised morphological description and morphometric comparisons of the four dental remains discovered. Apart from a classic morphometric comparison, we also provide a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the internal morphology with the aid of micro-CT imaging. In addition, virtual restoration and matching of adjacent teeth were performed with 3D digital modeling and Computer-Aided Design techniques. Occlusal Fingerprint Analysis was also employed to help correctly identify each tooth. While in the previous studies, Taddeo 1 was considered either an upper right canine or a lower right canine, in the present work it has been definitely identified as lower left canine. Taddeo 2 has been reclassified as a right P(4) instead of a right P(3). Based on the occlusal and interproximal wear, we have also shown that Taddeo 2 and Taddeo 3 (right M(1)) belong to the same individual. All of the teeth show characteristic Neanderthal features in crown morphology and fissure pattern. However, although Taddeo 4 shows morphological features typical of Neanderthal M(1)s, some morphometric results (large enamel thickness, low dentine volume) recall more modern humans than Neanderthals. This result might suggest that, at least for lower first molars, the Neanderthal range of variation is large and still not clearly understood.
意大利西南部塔迪奥洞穴中的中更新世古人类牙齿化石于 1967 年被发现，但迄今为止，有关这些牙齿的信息仅被少量且部分错误地发表过。这些牙齿出土于洞穴地板的一层红砂层中，该层要么属于沃姆 I 期的早期阶段（OIS 5c 或 5d），要么属于沃姆 I 期和沃姆 II 期之间的过渡阶段（OIS 5a）。在本文中，我们对发现的四颗牙齿进行了修订后的形态描述和形态测量比较。除了经典的形态测量比较之外，我们还借助微 CT 成像对内部形态进行了定性和定量评估。此外，还通过 3D 数字建模和计算机辅助设计技术对虚拟修复和相邻牙齿的匹配进行了处理。此外，我们还采用咬合指纹分析来帮助正确识别每颗牙齿。虽然在前几项研究中，塔迪奥 1 被认为是右上犬齿或右下犬齿，但在本工作中，它被明确鉴定为左下犬齿。塔迪奥 2 被重新分类为右 P(4)，而不是右 P(3)。根据咬合和邻面磨损情况，我们还表明塔迪奥 2 和塔迪奥 3（右 M(1)）属于同一个体。所有牙齿在冠形态和裂沟模式上都表现出典型的尼安德特人特征。然而，尽管塔迪奥 4 显示出尼安德特人 M(1)的形态特征，但一些形态测量结果（厚的牙釉质、低的牙本质体积）与现代人相比更接近尼安德特人。这一结果可能表明，至少对于下第一磨牙而言，尼安德特人的变异范围较大，仍未得到清晰理解。
