The Petralona dentition—Hominid or cave bear? |
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| Authors: | David G Gantt N Xirotiris Björn Kurtén JK Melentis |
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| Institution: | Department of Anthropology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, U.S.A.;Institut für Anthropologie, Johanees-Gutenbert-Universitat, Saarstrasse 21, D-6500 Mainz, West Germany;Department of Geology, Division of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Helsinki, Snellmaninkatu 5, 00170 Helsinki 17, Finland;Department of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Thessaloniki, Greece |
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| Abstract: | Four teeth were recovered from the Petralona cave site in Greece. These specimens were considered to be hominid remains and have become part of the dental data base for the Pleistocene hominids of Europe. SEM analysis of the anamel structure of these remains reveals an enamel prism pattern which is not hominid. A walled hexagonal prism was obtained which is representative of the carnivores.Subsequent analysis of a fragment of enamel from the Petralona hominid cranium revealed a keyhole enamel prism, typical of modern man, while analysis of a number of cave bear teeth revealed an identical walled hexagonal prism, as was found in the four isolated teeth.The conclusion is that the four isolated teeth are those of the Pleistocene cave bear which frequently populated the cave. |
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| Keywords: | Petralona enamel prisms hominid cave bear |
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