Ancient human jawbone discovered by dentist in parents’ tile floor

A startling discovery was made when a dentist visiting his parents’ renovated home in Europe noticed a floor tile with what appeared to be a human mandible. The tile, made of travertine limestone imported from Turkey, sparked widespread interest when the dentist shared a photo on Reddit. The mandible’s resemblance to a CT scan image caught the attention of scientists, who are now studying it along with other suspicious tiles in the house.

Travertine, commonly used in architecture, is known to contain ancient fossils due to its formation near hot springs. Researchers have uncovered a variety of ancient fossils in travertine from the Denizli Basin, including mammoths, rhinos, giraffes, and even ancient human remains. In fact, a previous discovery in the Denizli Basin revealed the skull fragments of a Homo erectus, dating back over a million years.

The dentist’s find has led to collaboration with multiple universities to further study the specimen. They are exploring options such as CT scans, 3D printing the mandible, and potentially recovering ancient DNA from the remains. If individuals find possible human remains in their tile, experts advise reaching out to local authorities or historical societies.

The incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between construction projects and archaeology, where ancient remains can be both exposed and destroyed. Travertine quarries have been hotspots for such discoveries, emphasizing the need for careful excavation and preservation of these invaluable relics.