Abstract
In the African Pleistocene, the fossil evidence for early Homo sapiens populations is
still relatively limited. Here we present two additional specimens (two deciduous
teeth) recovered from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) deposits of Sibudu Cave
(KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa). We describe their morphology and metrics, using
three‐dimensional models of the teeth obtained from high‐resolution micro‐CT
images. The first specimen is a Ldm1 (HUM. TO 1) recovered in the BS5 layer dated
77.3 ± 2.7 ka, and associated with stone tools assigned to the “pre‐Still Bay”
assemblage. The other specimen is a Rdi1 (HUM. TO 2) coming from the Pinkish Grey
Sand (PGS) layer, dated 64.7±2.3 ka, and associated with a Howieson’s Poort
industry. Both teeth are well preserved, with minor post mortem cracks not affecting
the overall morphology, and they comprise the intact, worn crown and the remnants
of the roots, naturally resorbed. A large carious lesion occupies most of the distal
face and part of the occlusal surface in the Ldm1; also a chip of enamel is missing
from the disto‐buccal corner. In the Rdi1 average enamel thickness and relative
enamel thickness values have been measured. For both teeth, we compared mesiodistal
(MD) and bucco‐lingual (BL) diameters with those of other Late Pleistocene
deciduous teeth and extant Homo sapiens. The analysis has shown that the teeth are
comparable in size with the other MSA specimens described in the literature.