Skip to main content

Identifying Ternifine

 Ternifine (or Tighenif) is an Algerian archeological site dating around 700,000 years old, representing an arid, treeless environment. From this fossil site, a plethora of animal remains and Acheulean tools were discovered, most notably including fossil hominin remains (Britannica). In this post, I examine the hominins at Ternifine, specifically the complete jawbone and teeth recovered.

Dataset

I use the typically H. ergaster specimens KNM-WT 15000, KNM-ER 992, and the Ternifine collection (Ternifine 1-4). Defining dental characters are from Tattersall 2013. 

This chart represents the dataset used. The examined traits are highlighted in colour and correlated to their key. 1=the trait is observed in the specimen, 0=the trait is not represented in the specimen, -=the examined area is not preserved. Below is a tally that directly demonstrates similarities and differences. 


Results

After examining the mandibular dental characters of specimens often assigned to Homo ergaster, I found that the specimens investigated are all very similar. However, they bear slight differences. Between the two Turkana specimens (Turkana Boy and the holotype of H. ergaster). Comparing ER 992 and WT 15000, the latter does not have high lower canines and distinct anterior-posterior forveae (APF) on the anterior lower premolar, but otherwise, they are nearly the same. Comparing WT 15000 with Ternifine, they differ with smaller lower molars that have deeper basins. Finally, comparing Ternifine with WT 15000, there is no APF on the anterior lower premolar and the lower molars are slightly less elongated. Aside from dental traits, the general body shape and the ramus, coronoid process, neck and head are nearly indistinguishable between specimens. It may also be noted that Ternifine bears distinctly Acheulean tools, which ergaster were known to have pioneered the production of; although this anecdote proves little, as the industry was common in Africa 1.6-1.4 mya (Klein 2005).

Cladogram made by myself to demonstrate the interrelations of ergaster mandible fossils. Note: Ternifine is much younger than the KNM clade, and likely represents an advanced morph of ergaster. Don't be mistaken, this diagram represents a lineage splitting into two subgroups, not that Ternifine is more archaic than KNM. 


Classification

The Ternifine hominins are most often called Homo mauritanicus, but were first described under the genus Atlanthropus. These are often dismissed and sunk into the larger Homo erectus (Britannica). The supplementary material for the description of the species H. longi also classifies the specimen in the rhodesiensis morphotype (Ni et al.); although I generally agree with the conclusions of this analysis, I (and John Hawks) have issues with this classification, which I will touch on below. However, if the ergaster model is used (which I am currently inclined to support based on morphological and phylogenetic conclusions), it is fair to say that the Ternifine hominins are most likely to represent a variation of Homo ergaster, and the justification for the name Homo mauritanicus is weak.

If, however, more material were to be uncovered from this site that justifies bringing back this name, the revival of mauritanicus could be welcomed. However, flooding at the site stopped work and it is not implausible to assume that remaining hominin fossils (if any) may have been damaged or destroyed in the event. The Ternifine hominins also resolve close to Homo rhodesiensis (Ni et al.), a stance that I am reluctant to accept for one reason: the Ternifine mandibles bear a superficial resemblance to Mauer 1, the only (at the time of writing) confirmed mandible of the species, which may or may not even be rhodesiensis (Stringer).

Instead, I am inclined to sink the Ternifine hominins into H. ergaster based on a greater resemblance. Still, the jaw is greatly robust, more so than the other specimens, and the teeth are too. I hypothesize that this morph slightly adapted to a different diet, perhaps one that includes harder foods such as seeds and/or nuts, which would account for the greater thickness. It is possible that this population is an example of generations undergoing minuscule changes to account for greater/lesser food availability, which would align with their goeographic placement in relation to Kenya. Additionally, it should be noted that ER 992, though close to the same age as WT 15000, bears archaic features from H. habilis (Tattersall 2013). I hypothesize this may be a relict from interbreeding with Homo habilis, which went extinct shortly before (Spoor et al. 2013), or a similar species.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cryptohominid: Spiny-Backed Chimpanzee

Guide des Animaux Cachés (2009) is an obscure cryptozoology handbook penned and illustrated by Philippe Coudray, notably including a diverse assemblage of cryptozoological phenomena. Of these is the curious "spiny-backed chimpanzee", created for this book ( Coudray 2009 ). Coudray states that an anonymous US Navy unit member—by their own request—recalls the incident. Between 1997 and 2002, a sensitive mission in the Congo came across a band of thirteen chimpanzees with "spines" perched on their back that rose upon agitation and a uniform gray colouration. Allegedly, the unit took a three minute video of the chimpanzees attacking a smaller animal that was seized by the United States government for having been taken during a secretive mission. Coudray describes them as small (1.35-1.5 meters in height, possibly), being partly carnivorous and with porcupine-like quills that react to excitement ( Coudray 2009 ).  Much of this story is quite dubious. Coudray himself adm
Post a Comment
Read more

The 'Rock Ape' and Cryptohominids in Vietnam

 For those who are unaware, the Vietnamese 'rock apes' are a type of cryptohominid reported during and sometimes before the Vietnam war, most times by troops, platoons, and even a battlefield, apparently. Most descriptions give a 5-6 foot range in terms of height, with red hair, a gut and hairlessness on the underside of their hands and feet, face and kneecaps. Some sources claim that their heads are oblong in profile. They are said to travel in troops during dusk or nightfall, presumably living so deep in the jungles that they are relatively unknown. Those eyewitnesses, seemingly in the hundreds as everybody's grandpa has seemingly encountered them.  Most information comes from  here and here . Note that these magazines are very likely not credible sources. I should also note that this article just explains my thoughts on these cryptids, their image, and I don't aim to explain the full story.  To start, although troops supposedly had an "epic battle" with t
Post a Comment
Read more

Homo naledi Dec 1/22: Fire, Hearths, Rituals, Oh My!

 As I type this just now, Lee Berger's Carnegie lecture about Homo naledi ecology has just ended. To be honest, I'm quite fatigued from livetweeting the lecture, so I will skip the preamble and jump straight into the discoveries and my thoughts. Berger begins the lecture by teasing a new Netflix docuseries releasing later this year and recounting his journey and the discovery of Rising Star, which takes up most of the broadcast. Now, we've the goodies. First, he discusses last year's infant skull found deep within remote fissures. This skull, which perhaps was overlooked by me initially so this may not be new information per se, was found isolated on top of a limestone shelf. Then I started getting anxious, he leaves this slightly open to interpretation—but he suggests that it was placed there. He starts to recall his first in-person experience with the cave, detailing his weight loss and struggle up and down the chute. Here's the meat and potatoes. In the chamber
Post a Comment
Read more