Overview
Known from five crania and associated postcranial remains from the site of Dmanisi in the Republic of Georgia — the earliest hominins found outside Africa. Remarkable for the range of cranial variation at a single site, including both small-brained (~600 cc) and larger-brained (~730 cc) individuals. The D3444 skull — an elderly individual who had lost all teeth long before death — provides powerful evidence that other group members cared for disabled individuals. Often classified as early Homo erectus rather than a separate species.
Key Fossils
D2600, D2700, D2280, D3444 (edentulous skull), D4500
Brain Anatomy
No Cranial Data Available
Tools & Technology
No Tool Associations
Diet
Omnivorous
Social Behavior
Dmanisi edentulous individual Probable
An elderly Homo georgicus individual (D3444) survived the loss of all teeth and complete reabsorption of tooth sockets, implying extended care by group members who provided soft food.
Evidence: Complete skull with fully reabsorbed tooth sockets; individual survived years without teeth
Dmanisi site re-use Confirmed
Multiple hominin individuals deposited at single site over time.
Evidence: Five crania + postcrania
Social Organization
| Group Size | 25–45 individuals |
|---|---|
| Method | Site area |
| Structure | Multi male multi female |
| Sexual Dimorphism | 1.15x (male/female body mass) |
| Task Differentiation | Care for D3444 |
| Teaching | Tool use |
Dmanisi: small-bodied Homo; earliest Eurasian dispersal.
Genetics & Ancient DNA
| Genome Coverage | % |
|---|---|
| DNA Source | |
| Sequencing Year | |
| mtDNA Available | No |
| Nuclear DNA | No |
| Divergence Date (fossil calibrated) | 1.9 MYA |
H. georgicus/Dmanisi: ancient DNA not recovered; morphology-only.
Molecular clock data from TimeTree 5 (Kumar et al. 2022).
Phylogenetic Relationships
| Related Species | Relationship | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homo ergaster | Proposed ancestor | Moderate | H. georgicus may derive from an early H. ergaster/erectus dispersal |
Archaeological Evidence
The D3444 skull is an elderly individual who lost all teeth long before death and whose tooth sockets had been completely reabsorbed. Survival without teeth implies other group members provided soft food.
Key Specimens
| Specimen | Name | Site | Year | Age (MYA) | Completeness | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D2700 | Dmanisi Skull 3 | Dmanisi | 2001 | 1.77 | 75.00% | Small-brained early Homo from Dmanisi |
| D3444 | Dmanisi edentulous | Dmanisi | 2002 | 1.77 | 70.00% | Evidence of survival with severe dental loss |
Pathology & Healthcare Evidence
Edentulism — D3444 Evidence of care
Affected: Maxilla/mandible
Complete antemortem tooth loss with socket resorption (D3444).
Care inference: Soft-food provisioning inferred; oldest argued case of long-term care.
Survival: ~2 years edentulous minimum
Infection — D2700
Affected: Leg elements (Dmanisi postcrania)
Possible localized infection/inflammatory lesions in some Dmanisi postcrania (general comparative row).
Survival: Unknown
Isotope Analyses
| System | Value | Material | Site | Date (MYA) | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| delta C13 | -11.50 | Enamel | Dmanisi | 1.800 | Dmanisi earliest Eurasian hominin ecosystem (Caucasus). |
Dating Evidence
| Method | Date (MYA) | Uncertainty | Material | Site / Specimen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paleomagnetism | 1.7800 | ± 0.0500 | Section through Dmanisi | Dmanisi |
| Ar Ar | 1.7700 | ± 0.0200 | Basalt beneath hominin layers | Dmanisi / D3444 |
Fossil Occurrences
The Paleobiology Database records 1 fossil occurrence(s) attributed to Homo georgicus. View on map →
| Identified As | Location | Formation | Age (MYA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homo georgicus n. sp. | GE | – | 2.58 – 0.77 |
Data from the Paleobiology Database (CC-BY).
Scientific References
- (2013). "A complete skull from Dmanisi, Georgia, and the evolutionary biology of early Homo". Science 342:326-331. DOI:10.1126/science.1238484 (392 citations)
- (2005). "The earliest toothless hominin skull". Nature 434:717-718