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Ectopic maxillary third molar in Early Pleistocene Homo antecessor from Atapuerca‐Gran Dolina site (Burgos, Spain)
Author(s) -
MartínFrancés Laura,
MartinónTorres María,
Martínez de Pinillos Marina,
Bayle Priscilla,
FernándezColón Pilar,
GarcíaCampos Cecilia,
ModestoMata Mario,
Carbonell Eudald,
Arsuaga Juan Luis,
Bermúdez de Castro José María
Publication year - 2020
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.24010
Subject(s) - early pleistocene , impaction , molar , maxilla , extant taxon , pleistocene , homogeneous , paleontology , geology , anatomy , medicine , biology , dentistry , evolutionary biology , physics , thermodynamics
Objectives Here we describe the case of an ectopic maxillary third molar (M 3 ), preventing the eruption of the M 2 , in the individual H3 of the hominin hypodigm of level TD6.2 of the Early Pleistocene site of Gran Dolina (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain). Materials and Methods The fossil remains from the TD6.2 level of the Gran Dolina site (about 170 specimens) are assigned to Homo antecessor . Different geochronological methods place these hominins in the oxygen isotopic stage 21, between 0.8 and 0.85 million years ago (Ma). The immature individual H3 is represented by an almost complete midface (ATD6‐69), preserving various teeth in situ. We used high‐resolution microtomograhy (mCT) to investigate the abnormal position of the left M 3 , virtually reconstruct M 2 , and M 3 as well as assessing the development stage of these. Finally, we compare this case with extinct and extant populations. Results Based on the identified signs, we suggest that individual H3 suffered from a unilateral impaction of the M 2 as a result of the ectopic position of the developing M 3 . Discussion We conclude that the most likely etiology for the ectopic position of the M 3 is the lack of space in the maxilla. We discuss possible contributing factors, such as morphometric aspects of the maxilla and the early mineralization of the M 3 , to support the M 2 impaction. Finally, due to the early age at death of this individual we did not identify any secondary lesion associated with the M 2 impaction.