Neandertal features of the deciduous and permanent teeth from Portel-Ouest Cave (Ariège, France)
Résumé
Objectives: We describe 14 unpublished and nine published teeth from the Mousterian level of
Portel-Ouest (Ariège, France), dated to 44 ka. In a comparative context, we explore the taxo-
nomical affinities of those teeth with Neandertals and modern humans which are both known
to exist at that time. We further make some paleobiological inferences about this human group.
Methods: The comparative analysis of Neandertals and modern humans is based on nonmetric
traits at the outer enamel surface and the enamel–dentine junction, crown diameters and three-
dimensional (3D) enamel thickness measurements of lower permanent teeth. The crown and
roots are explored in detail based on the μCT-scan data to identify the multiple criteria involved
in the paleobiological approach.
Results: Nonmetric traits and 3D enamel thickness tend to be more similar to Neandertals than
modern humans, notably for C 1 , P 4 , and M 2 (included in all analyses) as well as volume of the
pulp cavity in roots of the anterior permanent teeth. The Portel-Ouest sample corresponds to a
minimum of seven juveniles, one or two adolescents and one adult, which exhibit recurrent lin-
ear enamel hypoplasia (up to five events for one individual), the torsiversion of one anterior
tooth and irregular oblique wear in some anterior deciduous teeth.
Discussion: This morphological study confirms that the remains from Portel-Ouest are Neander-
tals, associated with a Mousterian complex. Furthermore, we found the expected pattern of
mortality and stress for a Neandertal group, that is, various age categories and developmental
defects (nonexclusive to Neandertals), while adults are underrepresented and juveniles are over-
represented. Further excavations would contribute finding new remains and maybe complete
this demographic profile