Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 1987, Vol. 6 ›› Issue (04): 284-288.

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Human fossil tooth from Luonan, Shaanxi and its geological age

Xue Xiangxu   

  • Online:1987-12-15 Published:1987-12-15

Abstract: A right M1 of human fossil, associated with a left M1 of Ailuropoda and a right M1 (or M2) of Tapirus, were collected from Qinling Mountains. The exact locality of these fossils is on the hill slope behind the Donghe village, Luonan county, Shaanxi Province.
The human fossil tooth is larger than that of modern man, and also larger than the average size of Peking Man, but quite similar to those of Hexian Man, Yunxian Man and Java Man. It possesses the vertical furrows on both lingual and buccal surfaces. The shape of the crown is about rhomboid and has an obvious medial lingual angle. There are a couple of ridges on the slope of each cone. Judging from its morphology and size, Luonan tooth probably belongs to that of Homo erectus.
Except the size, the tooth of Ailuropoda is even less likely to be distinguished from those of cormmon panda on its characteristics. The size of the tooth of Luonan Ailuropoda is muclh smaller than that of A. melanoleus baconi, distributing widely in the Middle and Late Pleistocene of southern China and larger than that of 4. microta, a small type of Early Pleistocene, but rather similar to that of A. m. favealis of late Early Pleistocene or modern panda. Owing to its deeper petrification and associated with primitive human fossil, the panda fossil of Luonan would rather belong to A. m. favealis than modern one.
According to the fossil evidence and the stage of human evolution, the geological age of these fossils from Luonan may be early Middle Pleistocene or Late Early Pleistocene.

Key words: Human fossil tooth; Luonan; Early Middle Pleistocene