The affinities of Homo antecessor – a review of craniofacial features and their taxonomic validity

Abstract

The phylogenetic affinities of Homo antecessor, a hominin dating from the early Middle Pleistocene of Europe, are still unclear. In this study we conducted a comprehensive review of the TD6 hypodigm within the context of the historical development of paleoanthropological issues concerning this species. H. antecessor, based on all available craniofacial features to date, displays a midfacial morphology very similar to specimens attributed to Classic Homo erectus, suggesting that H. antecessor is the geographical European variant of Classic H. erectus.

Retrodeformation of the Steinheim Cranium: Insights into the Evolution of Neanderthals

“…For example, the highly diagnostic infraorbital plate and orbitomaxillary region are preserved only on the left side. This part of Steinheim's face shows an angled transverse profile, which was interpreted in the past as 'anticipating' the modern human morphology to some degree [30,43], but has been conversely interpreted as the result of the retention of archaic facial morphology, also observed in some Western European earlier taxa (i.e., Homo antecessor) [46][47][48]. The relatively low and long neurocranium of Steinheim, possessing a rather vertical occipital plane, also shows a slightly angled coronal profile, or a 'roofed' appearance [36], with the maximum cranial width occurring in the lower portion [35].…”