A comparative study of tooth root morphology in the great apes, modern man and early hominids
Year: 1984
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This thesis sets out to document and analyse some aspects \nof the metric and morphological variation of tooth roots within \nthe Hominoidea. Samples of the extant species Gorilla gorilla, \nPan troglodytes, Pongo pygmaeus and Homo sapiens formed the \nbasis of this study, but fossil hominid specimens from the \nEast African Plio/Pleistocene sites of Koobi Fora, Laetoli, \nOlduvai and Peninj were also included. The maximum of 182 \nroot, crown and jaw measurements were taken for each specimen \nincluded in the comparative samples and included information \nfor all permenent teeth except the maxillary canine. Premolar \nroot number and form were also recorded for each specimen. \nThe corresponding measurements and observations for the mandibular \ndentition were made, where possible, on the fossil hominid \nspecimens. \nThe metrical description of tooth roots in the pongids \nand modern man was accomplished by computing basic descriptive \nstatistics for each measurement and for indices derived from \nthe measurements. These statistical summaries formed the basis \nof an assessment of root size in the comparative samples. \nThe pattern of sexual dimorphism in root dimensions is presented \nfor each comparative sample, and assessment is also made of \nthe contribution of sexual dimorphism to the variation recorded \nfor root dimensions in the pooled-sex samples. Correlation \nanalysis was used for a preliminary assessment of any interrelationship \nbetween root height and other dimensions. \nIn the pongid and modern human samples, root number and \nform were recorded for both maxillary and mandibular premolars but in the fossil hominid sample this was possible only for \nthe latter teeth. The assessment of the root and crown dimensions in the fossil hominid sample was conducted by grouping \nthe fossil hominid specimens according to their mandibular \npremolar root morphology and then examining the dimensions in \nthese fossil hominid groups.
Author: S A Abbott
Language: English
Subfield: Anthropology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1568630684