Odontometric systematic assessment of the Swartkrans SK 15 mandible

This study reports a comparison of molar crown and cusp size and shape in the Swartkrans early Homo mandible SK 15 with relevant Plio-Pleistocene taxa. Univariate and multivariate methods are employed to consider the morphological affinities of this specimen and to assess its taxonomy. The case exists for classifying SK 15 in Homo habilis with 11 features aligning it with this species. The results of multivariate studies are consistent with this hypothesis. Moreover, SK 15 lacks a number of important features that characterise the mandibular molars of Homo sapiens erectus. Considerable evidence for parallelism in the dental morphology of SK 15 and H. habilis with A. robustus is discussed. Fossil evidence for the presence of H. sapiens erectus during the Plio-Pleistocene of South Africa presently seems to be lacking. Archaeological interpretations should take greater account of this gap in the fossil record.