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Sangiran 5,(“Pithecanthropus dubius”), homo erectus, “Meganthropus,” orPongo?

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Human Evolution

Abstract

There are now eleven known mandibular remains from the Lower and Middle Pleistocene of Java, all but one being from the Sangiran site. All of these have been assigned toHomo erectus by most workers, while others have suggested as many as four different hominoid taxa. The author finds that the jaws cannot be a homogeneous sample. Morphologically, they are a mixture of undoubtedH. erectus, “H. meganthropus,” and possibly a pongid. If the jaws are allH. erectus then they have a sexual dimorphism exceeding that of modern gorillas. The case of“Pithecanthropus dubius” (Sangiran 5) is even less certain; even its hominid status is disputed. If it is indeedHomo it must be placed with the other“H. meganthropus” specimens. Its size and morphology are well beyond the known range anyH. erectus.

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  1. Department of Anthropology, University of Idaho, 83844-1110, Moscow, Idaho, USA

    Tyler D. E.

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Tyler, D.E. Sangiran 5,(“Pithecanthropus dubius”), homo erectus, “Meganthropus,” orPongo? . Hum. Evol. 18, 229–241 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02436289

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