Department of Anthropology, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9, Canada; Department of Anthropology, University of Manitoba, 432 Fletcher Argue Building, 15 Chancellor Circle, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada; Fellow, DFG Center for Advanced Studies 'Words, Bones, Genes, Tools', University of Tübingen, 23 Rümelinstrasse, Room 603a, Tübingen, Germany.
Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, 18-20 Čika Ljubina Belgrade, 11000, Serbia; National Museum Kraljevo, 2 Trg Svetog Save, Kraljevo, 36000, Serbia.
J Hum Evol. 2022 May;166:103175. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2022.103175. Epub 2022 Mar 24.
Neanderthals are Eurasian fossil hominins whose distinctive morphology developed in the southwestern corner of Europe and later spread throughout the continent, reaching Southwest Asia before the Late Pleistocene and spreading into Central Asia by 59-49 ka. The timing, tempo, and route of the Neanderthal movements eastward are poorly documented. The earliest probable evidence of Neanderthals in Asia comes from Karain E Cave (Anatolia, Turkey), dated to 250-200 ka. We present four Chibanian (Middle Pleistocene) hominin specimens, representing at least two individuals, from Velika Balanica Cave (Serbia): a permanent upper third molar (BH-2), a deciduous upper fourth premolar (BH-3) refitted to a poorly preserved maxillary fragment with the permanent first molar in the alveolus (BH-4), and a permanent upper central incisor (BH-5). We provide descriptions of the teeth, as well as a comparative analysis of the well-preserved M (BH-4), including assessments of cusp angles, relative occlusal polygon area, relative cusp base areas, two- and three-dimensional enamel thickness, and taurodontism. Morphology of both the occlusal surface and the enamel dentine junction of the M indicates that the maxillary fragment and associated dP belonged to an early Neanderthal child. The heavily worn I and M are consistent with the Neanderthal morphology, although they are less distinct taxonomically. These Chibanian remains with provenance from layer 3a are constrained by two thermoluminescence dates: 285 ± 34 ka and 295 ± 74 ka. They represent the earliest current evidence of Neanderthal spread into the Eastern Mediterranean Area. We discuss these findings in light of recent direct evidence for cultural connections between Southwestern Asia and Southeast Europe in the Chibanian.
尼安德特人是欧亚大陆的古人类，其独特的形态在欧洲西南部发展，并随后传播到整个大陆，在晚更新世之前到达西南亚，并在 59-49 千年前传播到中亚。尼安德特人向东迁徙的时间、速度和路线记录甚少。亚洲最早可能有尼安德特人的证据来自土耳其的卡拉因洞穴（Anatolia），其年代可追溯到 250-200 千年前。我们展示了来自塞尔维亚的维拉卡巴兰卡洞穴（Velika Balanica Cave）的四个中更新世（Chibanian）人类标本，代表至少两个人：一个永久的上颌第三磨牙（BH-2）、一个脱落的上颌第四前磨牙（BH-3）重新安装在上颌骨碎片上，其中永久的第一磨牙位于牙槽中（BH-4），以及一个永久的上颌中央切牙（BH-5）。我们提供了牙齿的描述，以及对保存完好的 M（BH-4）的比较分析，包括对尖牙角度、相对咬合多边形面积、相对牙基部面积、二维和三维牙釉质厚度和尖牙型的评估。M 的咬合面和牙本质釉质交界处的形态表明，上颌骨碎片和相关的 dP 属于一个早期尼安德特儿童。严重磨损的 I 和 M 与尼安德特人形态一致，尽管在分类上不太明显。这些来自 3a 层的 Chibanian 遗骸受到两个热释光日期的限制：285±34 千年前和 295±74 千年前。它们代表了尼安德特人扩散到东地中海地区的最早证据。我们根据最近在 Chibanian 中发现的关于西南亚和东南欧之间文化联系的直接证据，讨论了这些发现。
