[Arthur Keith and the first settlement of human being in Malta. Two subversive teeth].
The paper aims to give historical example of errors to which the examination of two fragmentary - and probably pathological - fossil remains can lead in the field of human palaeontology. In 1917, two very special human molars with a wide extension of their pulp cavity and fused fang were found in Neolothic excavations in Malta. As he had observed such a dental morphology of Neanderthal man in Jersey Arthur Keith (1866-1955) called that taurodontism and claimed it was a characteristic between Malta and the Italian coast he asserted that Neanderthat Man had lived in Malta. The theory has never been corroborated and taurodontism is not so characteristic as supposed by Keith. Furthermore it might be an individual pathological feature. Up to now there is no proof of human beings in Malta before about 5,000 BC.
Boulinier
Georges
G
D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D008319:Malta; D010164:Paleopathology / Q000266:history*; D014070:Tooth; D006113:United Kingdom