Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 1996, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (04): 320-323.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Assignment of Longgupo Cave hominid incisor from Wushan

Wang Qian   

  • Online:1996-12-15 Published:1996-12-15

Abstract: The paper recently given by Huang Wanpo et al. (1995) on the Longgupo Cave Early Homo from Wushan has evoked much controversy. The tooth first identified as an upper median incisor (Gu et al., 1991) is actually a right upper lateral one. Its gracile structure with a narrow and deep shovelling and a smooth labial surface differs markedly from that of Homo habilis, H. ergaster, H. erectus, or even Early Homo Sapiens, but resembles closely to that of Late Homo sapiens. Judging from the measurement distribution of the genus Homo generalized by M.H. Wolpoff in 1971, the Wushan incisor with MD8.12mm and LL7.02mm falls into the category of Late Homo Sapiens instead of earlier stages of Homo. Thus it seems to belong to Late Homo sapiens and probably had been brought by flowing water or other forces into the fissue of the comparatively old Longgupo Cave deposits of Wushan and mixed with the Longgupo fauna.

Key words: Wushan; Incisor; Late Homo Sapiens