Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 1984, Vol. 3 ›› Issue (03): 195-300.

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New discoveries of human fossil in Tongzi, Guizhou

Wu Maolin   

  • Online:1984-09-15 Published:1984-09-15

Abstract: Four human fossil teeth described in this paper were unearthed by a field team of IVPP including the author in Tongzi, Guizhou in 1983 where previously two human fossil teeth were found.
The four human teeth consist of upper canine, first premolar and two upper first molars.
1. PA 872, a left C'. The buecal surface is strongly convex in transversal direction. A cingulum can be seen on the buccal surface. The marginal triangular prominence is delimited on both sides of the buecal surface by a distinct furrow. Its size is , > close to that of the female individual of Peking Man and falls within the range of Neanderthal group.
2. PA 873, a left P1. It shows a wide cingulum on the base of the crown anddistinct triangular prominence on the disto-buccal surface. The constriction of the neck approximates that of Peking Man. Its size falls within the range of that in Peking Man and is larger than that in Neanderthal group.
PA 874, a left M1. The base of the crown is surrounded by a wide eingulmn. The paracone is separated from the metacone by a transversal furrow which transgresses the buccal edge and descends to the neck of the buccal surface. Real longitudinal furrow is lacking. The slope of each cusp shows a larger wrinkles on the middle and a smaller one on each side of it. The length and breadth of the tooth fall within the range of the Neanderthal group.
3. PA 875, a right M1. The crown is rhombic in shape. A cingulum can just be seen on the proximal part of the lingual surface. It is particularly large.
In sum, from the above description, we can see that the morphological characters of the four teeth are consistent with those of Peking Man, but differ from those of the Neanderthal ^roup. With the exception of PA 874, all of the teeth are close to those of Peking Man in size.
We attributed the Dongzi specimens to Homo erectus instead of early Homo sapiens as suggested before.

Key words: Tongzi Man; Homo erectus