Brief communication: Bilateral aplasia of the condyles in a 1,400-year-oldmandible from Israel

A rare pathological mandible, manifesting bilateral absence of the condyles , is discussed. The pathology was identified as hemifacial microsomia. The mandible, dated to the Byzantine period in Israel, manifests bilateral apla sia of the condyles and extreme shortness, but normal width, of the body. T he extremely well-developed coronoid process, the grooved masseter insertio n area, and the manifestation of a medial pterygoid tubercle (MPT) suggest hypertrophy of the occlusal muscles. The presence of a large MPT is conside red a Neandertal autapomorphy Studying the biomechanic forces acting on the deformed mandible in hemifacial microsomia patients may shed Light on the mastication process in Neandertals. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.