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Homo heidelbergensis: Mauer 1

  • Common Name:

    Heidelberg Man

  • Geologic Age:

    500 Ka - 400 Ka

  • Discovery Date:

    21 Oct 1907

  • Discovered By:

    D. Hartmann

  • Discovery Location:

    Quarry near the village of Mauer

  • Specimen Age:

    Adult

  • Sex:

    Undetermined

    Mauer 1 was assigned to the species Homo heidelbergensis based on a combination of primitive and derived features. The molars are smaller than those of Homo erectus, but their size overlaps with the molars of some early modern humans1. The teeth, however, lack typical Neanderthal traits, and the mandible lacks a chin1. The nearly upright, robust ascending rami are also unique.

    1. Johanson D and Edgar B. 2006. From Lucy to Language: Revised, Updated, and Expanded. New York: Simon and Schuster.
    2. Schwartz JH and Tattersall I. 2002. The Human Fossils Record Vol 1: Terminology and Cranioddental Morphology of Genus Homo (Europe). New York: Wiley-Liss

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