Teeth pitting may reveal hominin evolutionary relationships

Scientists have discovered that consistent, circular pits on the teeth of ancient hominins may be a new marker for tracing evolutionary relationships. This finding could help clarify the family tree of our ancestors. The study, published in the Journal of Human Evolution, analyzed 2-million-year-old fossil teeth. Researchers found the pitting in Paranthropus and some Australopithecus species, but not in Homo, suggesting a genetic origin and potential for identifying species. The consistent pitting, unlike defects from stress, could be a heritable trait. Further research on the pitting, including in Homo floresiensis, may refine our understanding of human evolution.