A European dentist made an unexpected discovery when he found a human mandible embedded in the newly installed tile floor at his parents’ house. The fossil, found in travertine tile sourced from Turkey, has attracted the attention of paleontologists worldwide. An international team of scientists plans to examine the fossil, which they suspect belongs to an extinct human lineage, and possibly display it in a museum.
Travertine tile is known to contain fossils of various plants, algae, and animals, but human fossils are a rare find. University of Wisconsin paleoanthropologist John Hawks described the discovery of the jawbone and speculated on what specialists might learn about the individual. The dentist, who is specialized in dental implants, immediately recognized the jawbone’s human characteristics and size upon discovering it. While the dentist has chosen to remain anonymous to protect his family’s privacy, the unusual find has sparked great interest among both professionals and amateurs in the field.
The discovery of the jawbone in the tile has surprised experts due to its unusual nature. Fossils in processed travertine tile are rare, with hominin fossils being even more so. The jawbone originated from a quarry in western Turkey, with scientists dating the stone to be between 1.8 million and 0.7 million years old. The international team led by Mirjana Roksandic plans to carefully extract the tile containing the jawbone without causing any damage to the fossil using specialized techniques.
The team will likely utilize CT scans, DNA extraction, and 3D printing to study the mandible and share the findings with other researchers. The public has shown great interest in the discovery, with many sharing their thoughts and inspecting their own building materials for potential surprises. The jawbone’s unique placement in the tile floor has sparked curiosity and excitement among professionals and the general public, with potential for significant insights into human evolution and history.
The unexpected discovery of the jawbone in the travertine tile has captured the imagination of many, leading to speculation about the individual’s life and significance. The international team of scientists involved in studying the fossil plans to conduct further research and potentially display the mandible in a museum. The dentist’s Reddit post continues to generate attention and discussion, highlighting the intrigue surrounding the unlikely find in the tile floor of his parents’ house. The story serves as a reminder of the mysteries that may lie hidden in everyday surroundings, waiting to be uncovered and shared with the world.
