One of the main concerns of paleoanthropologists is to make a correct interpretation of the variability observed in the fossil record. However, the current knowledge about sexual dimorphism in the human lineage comes mainly from the study of modern human, Neanderthal and pre-Neanderthal populations, whereas information available about the intrapopulation variability of the groups that preceded these taxa is still ambiguous. In this preliminary study, Homo antecessor dental sample was assessed with the aim of trying to evaluate the degree of variability of their permanent canines` dental tissue proportions. Microtomographic techniques were here employed in order to measure and compare the crown volumes and surface areas of their enamel caps and dentine-pulp complexes. Then, the Pearson`s Coefficient of Variation and the Euclidean Distance were assessed to evaluate of intrapopulation variability of Gran Dolina TD6.2 dental sample. The values obtained were also compared with those of the dental samples from Sima de los Huesos site (Spain), the Neanderthal site of Krapina (Croatia), as well as from a broad forensic collection of known sex. Our results showed a marked intrapopulation variability in the dental tissues measurements of the canines of the individuals H1 and H3 from this site. This variability may be interpreted as an indicator of sexual dimorphism. If this is the case, H1 may be considered as a male individual, whereas H3 would be a female. Future discoveries of new fossils in the level TD6.2 of Gran Dolina site might help to confirm or refute this hypothesis.

中文翻译：

---

人祖先永久犬齿的性别二态性指标。


古人类学家主要关心的问题之一是对化石记录中观察到的变异性做出正确的解释。然而，目前关于人类谱系中性别二态性的知识主要来自对现代人类、尼安德特人和前尼安德特人群体的研究，而有关这些类群之前的群体的群体内变异性的现有信息仍然不明确。在这项初步研究中，对先人牙齿样本进行了评估，目的是试图评估其永久犬齿牙齿组织比例的变异程度。这里采用显微断层扫描技术来测量和比较牙釉质帽和牙本质牙髓复合物的牙冠体积和表面积。然后，评估皮尔逊变异系数和欧几里德距离，以评估 Gran Dolina TD6.2 牙齿样本的群体内变异性。获得的值还与来自西马德洛斯休索斯遗址（西班牙）、克拉皮纳尼安德特人遗址（克罗地亚）以及广泛的已知性别法医收集的牙齿样本的值进行了比较。我们的结果显示，该地点个体 H1 和 H3 的犬齿的牙组织测量值存在明显的群体内变异。这种变异性可以解释为性别二态性的指标。如果是这种情况，H1 可以被视为男性个体，而 H3 则可以被视为女性。未来在 Gran Dolina 遗址 TD6.2 层发现的新化石可能有助于证实或反驳这一假设。