Premium
Computed tomography and enamel thickness of maxillary molars of Plio‐Pleistocene hominids from Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Kromdraai (South Africa): An exploratory study
Author(s) -
Macho Gabriele A.,
Thackeray J. Francis
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330890202
Subject(s) - enamel paint , plio pleistocene , molar , dentistry , biology , pleistocene , paleontology , medicine
This paper is one in a series which explores the possibility of using the non‐destructive CT technique to identify patterns in tooth enamel distribution and structure of hominid molars from Plio‐Pleistocene sites in South Africa, notably Swartkrans, Sterkfontein, and Kromdraai. Whereas previous investigators have emphasised gross differences in absolute and relative or average enamel thickness between hominid taxa, the present study highlights differences in enamel thickness over functionally significant regions of the crown. Differences in the distribution of enamel in A. robustus , A. africanus , and Homo sp. are identified through the use of bivariate and multivariate analyses, and are interpreted in terms of dietary regimes. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.