Dentist finds ancient human mandible in floor tile
A European dentist, who specializes in dental implants, found the fossil of a human mandible in travertine tile at his parents’ house in Turkey.
A form of natural limestone deposited around mineral springs that is a popular choice for floor and wall tiles, travertine has been known to contain fossils of plants, algae and animals. But finding human fossils in travertine is a much rarer find.
“From my dentist point of view, I had no doubt it was some kind of human. The teeth distribution and size of the mandible is characteristic. Also, the width of the cortex is specific to ancient humans,” said the man who found the fossil.
Read more: Forbes
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