New Middle Pleistocene Hominin Dental Remains From Velika Balanica, Serbia

The cave site of Velika Balanica in Sićevo Gorge, Serbia, has previously yielded early Neanderthal dental remains from Layer 3a, dated by thermoluminescence to 285 ± 34 and 295 ± 74 ka. We describe and compare four additional dental specimens recovered from the Middle Pleistocene Layers 3a and 3b of the cave: a right I¹ (BH-8), a right I₂ (BH-7), an incisor crown fragment (BH-16), and a left M₃ (BH-15).

The fossil teeth were scanned using micro-computed tomography (μCT), and the resulting digital models were used to record dimensions and assess internal morphology, including the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ). Morphological traits were analyzed on both outer and internal surfaces. Dental measurements were compared to those of relevant hominin samples.

BH-8 and BH-7 show large, robust crowns and roots, consistent with Pleistocene Eurasian hominins. Linear enamel hypoplasia is present in BH-8 and BH-16. BH-15 displays a continuous middle trigonid crest-a trait considered diagnostic of the Neanderthal lineage. Notably, BH-15 also presents an extreme case of taurodontism, as well as a severe antemortem tooth fracture accompanied by multiple pulp stones, which are rarely recorded in the hominin fossil record.

These findings align with earlier results, reinforcing evidence for early Neanderthal presence at Velika Balanica around 300 ka. While Neanderthals may have been present in the region earlier, this represents the earliest dated evidence of their spread into the Balkans.