title: Structural organization and tooth development in a Homo aff. erectus juvenile mandible from the Early Pleistocene site of Garba IV at Melka Kunture, Ethiopian highlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The immature partial mandible GAR IVE from the c. 1.7 Ma old Garba IV site at Melka Kunture (Upper Awash Basin, Ethiopia), the earliest human representative from a mountain-like environment, represents one of the oldest early Homo specimens bearing a mixed dentition. Following its first description (Condemi, ), we extended the analytical and comparative record of this specimen by providing unreported details about its inner morphology, tooth maturational pattern and age at death, crown size, and tooth tissue proportions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The new body of quantitative structural information and virtual imaging derives from a medical CT record performed in 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the extant human condition and to some fossil representatives of comparable individual age, the GAR IVE mandible reveals absolutely and relatively thick cortical bone. Crown size of the permanent lateral incisor and the canine fit the estimates of H. erectus s.l., while the dm2 and the M1 more closely approach those of H. habilis-rudolfensis. Molar crown pulp volumes are lower than reported in other fossil specimens and in extant humans. The mineralization sequence of the permanent tooth elements is represented four times in our reference sample of extant immature individuals (N = 795).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tooth developmental pattern displayed by the immature individual from Garba IV falls within the range of variation of extant human populations and is also comparable with that of other very young early fossil hominins. Taken together, the evidence presented here for mandibular morphology and dental development suggest GAR IVE is a robust 2.5- to 3.5-year old early Homo specimen.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire AMIS, UMR 5288 CNRS, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Clément
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanolli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M Christopher
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH), National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Yared
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Assefa
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire PACEA, UMR 5199 CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bayle
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire AMIS, UMR 5288 CNRS, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire ADES, UMR 7268 CNRS, Université d'Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Condemi
authors.affiliation: Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH), National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Metasebia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endalamaw
authors.affiliation: Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH), National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Blade
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engda Redae
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire HNHP, UMR 7194 CNRS, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France.|Unité de Formation Géosciences Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macchiarelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005002:Ethiopia; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Calabrian Stage; Homo aff. erectus; Melka Kunture; dentition; juvenile mandible