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：

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人类祖先永久性犬科动物的性别二态性指标。

古人类学家的主要关注点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种群的研究，而关于这些分类群之前的群体的种群内变异性的可用信息仍然不明确。在这项初步研究中，对前人牙齿样本进行了评估，目的是试图评估其永久性犬齿组织比例的可变性程度。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-牙髓复合体的牙冠体积和表面积。然后，评估 Pearson 变异系数和欧几里得距离以评估 Gran Dolina TD6.2 牙科样本的种群内变异性。获得的值还与来自 Sima de los Huesos 遗址（西班牙）、Krapina 的尼安德特人遗址（克罗地亚）以及广泛的已知性别的法医收集的牙齿样本进行了比较。我们的结果显示，该站点的个体 H1 和 H3 的犬齿组织测量值存在显着的种群内变异性。这种可变性可以解释为性别二态性的指标。如果是这种情况，H1 可能被视为男性个体，而 H3 将被视为女性。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。