WHO MADE THE EARLY AURIGNACIAN? A RECONSIDERATION OF THE BRASSEMPOUY DENTAL REMAINS
Journal:
Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d'Anthropologie de Paris
Number:
Volume:
17
Year:
2005
Pages:
115-121
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ISBN:
ISSN:
URL:
Abstract:
The dental human remains from the early Aurignacian layers of Brassempouy (Landes) have been recently described by Henry-Gambier et al. (2004). We provide a critical re-assessment of the features that have led these authors to conclude that the taxonomic status of these fossils is uncertain. Although the works of one of us (S.B.) have been partly used and cited by Henry-Gambier et al. (2004), we disagree with the conclusions that have been drawn from them. In our view and based on the available evidence, the early Aurignacian dental remains from Brassempouy are unambiguously modern in their anatomy. They indeed provide further evidence that the makers of the ancient Aurignacian were early anatomically modern Europeans.
