Dental Wear in Immature Late Pleistocene European Hominines

doi:10.1006/jasc.1996.0151

Journal of Archaeological Science

Volume 24, Issue 8, August 1997, Pages 677-700

https://doi.org/10.1006/jasc.1996.0151 Get rights and content

Abstract

The relationship between dental attrition (nine stage scale) and specimen age, or functional age of teeth, is compared between immature Middle Paleolithic (Neanderthal specimen count=28, tooth count=165) and Upper Paleolithic (anatomically modern specimen count=54, tooth count=338) samples. All specimens are from Western Europe. Maturation rate is treated as the same for both samples for analytical purposes and evaluated in terms of the results. Analysis of reduction in crown volume with age indicates that the wear rate for the posterior permanent (P4–M3) and primary teeth (dm2) does not differ between the samples; however the anterior primary teeth (di1–dm1) are more worn in the UP sample with age held constant. By contrast, anterior permanent teeth (I1–P3) wear more rapidly in the Neanderthal sample. Similar results are obtained in a comparison of relative attrition.

The MP sample of anterior primary teeth lags about a year behind the UP sample in the degree of accumulated wear up to about age 5 years. Thereafter differences disappear. Analysis on the basis of individual specimens (ANOVA) confirms these results with the MP sample of anterior primary teeth significantly older (P=0·0498) at successive wear stages. While the rate of wear of the anterior primary teeth does not differ between the samples, the age of attrition onset differs by about 1 year; age 2 years in the UP sample and 3 in the MP sample. It is concluded that dietary supplementation of infants commences 1 year earlier on average in the UP. Data are insufficient to determine whether the Late and Early Upper Paleolithic samples differ significantly in the study variables. Apart from the finding of earlier onset of dental wear in the UP, the lack of difference in the relationship between age and tooth wear supports a model of similar maturation rates and dietary abrasiveness in the Middle and Upper Paleolithic. Significantly earlier dietary supplementation of UP infants may have reduced birth spacing through diminished hormonal inhibition of ovulation. These results are compatible with demographic increase in the UP.

References (0)

Cited by (51)

Do rates of dental wear in extant African great apes inform the time of weaning?
2022, Journal of Human Evolution
Citation Excerpt :
Unlike previous wear studies that use dentine exposure as a proxy for wear (Elgart, 2010; Galbany et al., 2016), we use geographic information systems (GIS)-based topographic shape descriptors in M1s and contrast them with the isotope data to assess ontogenetic changes in tooth morphology in relation to the dietary independence of the individuals from their mother. Rather than focusing on the deciduous (Aiello et al., 1991) or on the mixed dentition (Skinner, 1997) however, here we only investigate rates of wear in M1s in an attempt to eliminate the confounding effects of differences in enamel thickness. Deciduous molars have thinner enamel than permanent teeth, although comparative data for extant species are scant and are virtually nonexistent for early hominins.
Reconstructing the life histories of extinct hominins remains one of the main foci of paleoanthropological inquiry, as an extended juvenile period impacts the social and cognitive development of species. However, the paucity of hominin remains, the lack of comparative hominoid data, and the destructive nature of many life history approaches have limited our understanding of the relationship between dental development (eruption) and weaning in primates. Alternatively, the rate of dental wear in early-forming teeth has been suggested a good proxy for the timing of weaning. Here we test this hypothesis on an ontogenetic series of Gorilla gorilla gorilla and Pan troglodytes troglodytes, using geographic information systems–based shape descriptors of M₁s in relation to the nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and carbon (δ¹³C) isotope composition of their associated hair. Results show that Gorilla g. gorilla are fully weaned considerably later than Pan t. troglodytes, that is, after M1s had been in full functional occlusion for some time. Yet, throughout ontogeny, gorilla dental wear rates are greater than they are in chimpanzees. This refutes the hypothesis that the rates of wear of early-forming teeth inform the time of weaning (i.e., nutritional independence). Instead, dietary breadth and seasonal variation in resource availability are implicated. This finding has implications for interpreting the hominin fossil record and raises questions about the triggers for, and the mechanisms of, life history change in hominin evolution. As a case in point, commonalities in life history patterns between early hominins and Western lowland gorillas seem to be a means to mitigate the effects of recurrent (i.e., seasonal) resource limitations and—conceivably—to prevent high infant mortality rates. Taken further, difference between hominid life histories are likely to be of degree, not kind.
Dental macrowear, diet, and anterior tooth use in Colobus polykomos and Piliocolobus badius
2022, Journal of Human Evolution
Two similarly-sized colobine species living sympatrically in the Ivory Coast's Taï Forest that differ in both diet and oral processing behavior provide an opportunity to explore the strength of associations between feeding behavior and dental wear patterns. Here we test the hypothesis that vigorous processing of tough, hard Pentaclethra macrophylla pods by Colobus polykomos manifests in greater anterior tooth wear relative to that observed in Piliocolobus badius, which does not exploit this resource. We assessed levels of anterior tooth wear in a sample of 160 upper incisors and 131 lower incisors from 18 adult Colobus polykomos and 62 adult Piliocolobus badius naturally deceased individuals from Taï National Park. We operationalized tooth wear by dividing the area of exposed dentin by total occlusal crown area. To assess relative degrees of incisor wear, we regressed incisor wear against molar wear (sample = 105 upper molars, 135 lower molars) for the pooled Colobus polykomos and Piliocolobus badius wear data and compared the number of individuals from each species that fell above and below the pooled regression curve for each model using Chi-square tests of independence and odds ratios. Under our hypothesis, we would expect more Colobus polykomos points above the pooled regression curve than Piliocolobus badius, indicating higher incisor wear relative to molar wear in Colobus polykomos. Nine of sixteen interspecific comparisons demonstrated this predicted pattern; however, none of the Chi-square tests or odds ratios were significant, indicating no difference between Colobus polykomos and Piliocolobus badius incisor wear relative to molar wear. The absence of significant differences in incisor wear relative to molar wear highlights the challenge of identifying idiosyncratic feeding behavior in fossil taxa and the necessity for continued exploration of the relationship between diet and macrowear.
Evidence of habitual behavior from non-alimentary dental wear on deciduous teeth from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic Cantabrian region, Northern Spain
2021, Journal of Human Evolution
The use of ‘teeth as tools’ (non-masticatory or cultural-related dental wear) has largely been employed as a proxy for studying of past human behavior, mainly in permanent dentition from adult individuals. Here we present the analysis of the non-masticatory dental wear modifications on the deciduous dentition assigned to eight Neanderthal and anatomically modern human subadult individuals from Mousterian to Magdalenian technocultural contexts in the Cantabrian region (Northern Spain). Although preliminary, we tentatively suggest that these eight subadults present activity-related dental wear, including cultural striations, chipped enamel, toothpick grooves, and subvertical grooves. We also found evidence of habitual dental hygienic practices in the form of toothpicking on a deciduous premolar. Orientation of the cultural striations indicates similar handedness development as in modern children. Taken together, these dental wear patterns support the participation of young individuals in group activities, making them potential contributors to group welfare. This study potentially adds new evidence to the importance of the use of the mouth in paramasticatory activities or as a third hand throughout the Pleistocene, which can be confirmed with a more specific reference sample.
Italian burials from the Palaeolithic period. The identification of dietary habits
2021, Anthropologie (France)
La reconstitution des habitudes alimentaires est de plus en plus considérée comme un aspect fondamental de l’étude des populations humaines du passé. Par conséquent, des projets visant à identifier les modèles nutritionnels des individus paléolithiques ont été développés afin d’interroger la composante organique du tissu osseux et identifier les marqueurs isotopiques permettant de reconstituer la typologie alimentaire dominante. Des fragments osseux de six individus ont été sélectionnés pour réaliser une analyse des isotopes stables du carbone et de l’azote. Afin d’offrir une perspective comparative à l’interprétation des données isotopiques humaines, on a utilisé un jeu de données de valeurs isotopiques concernant vingt-et-un individus paléolithiques italiens. Les éléments isotopiques produits pour les individus paléolithiques analysés concordent avec les informations du dossier archéologique concernant les communautés de chasseurs et de cueilleurs italiennes de l’époque. Dans tous les cas, on constate l’existence d’une économie de subsistance essentiellement fondée sur le recours à des aliments à forte proportion protéique, soit issus de ressources faunistiques terricoles, soit des eaux intérieures.
The identification of dietary habits is increasingly seen as a fundamental aspect for studying the ancient human populations. Accordingly, several projects aiming to identify Paleolithic individuals’ dietary patterns were developed to analyze the organic component of bone tissue and identify isotopic markers to reconstruct the food typology. Bone fragments from six individuals were selected for carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes analysis. The interpretation of human isotopic data was framed through a dataset of twenty-one Italian Paleolithic individuals. The isotopic data generated for the Paleolithic individuals agree with the information already provided by the archaeological record concerning the Italian hunter and gatherer communities. Their subsistence economy was essentially grounded upon the exploitation of high protein foods, either from terrestrial fauna resources or inland lacustrine or riverine species.
Diachronic analysis of cultural dental wear at the Atapuerca sites (Spain)
2017, Quaternary International
Citation Excerpt :
Table 1 summarises the information on all of the analysed samples. First of all, macroscopic occlusal wear was recorded for all analysed teeth in accordance with Skinner's nine-degree scale, with stage 0 being no dental wear and stage 8 corresponding to root involvement (Skinner, 1997). Dental microwear patterns were established through scanning electron microscopy.
Cultural dental wear provides useful information about the use of anterior teeth for non-masticatory purposes. Non-alimentary tasks are usually related to economic and cultural activities. The presence of cultural dental wear has been checked in four different Homo species from the Sierra de Atapuerca sites (Sima del Elefante, Gran Dolina-TD6, Sima de los Huesos and El Mirador cave). The chronology of these sites ranges from more than one million to 4000 years ago.
Evidence of dental wear has been documented in the four Homo species analysed, confirming that hominins began using their teeth as tools as far back as one million years ago. Each species exhibits specific typologies and frequencies of dental wear features. Also, dental features are located on different dental surfaces and tooth types, indicating a diversity of activities carried out using the anterior teeth as a tool.
The use of the teeth as a tool was a widespread habit in the genus Homo. However, the diversity of dental wear patterns can be related to cultural and economic activities, broadening our knowledge of the behaviour of ancient hominins.
How did the Qesem Cave people use their teeth? Analysis of dental wear patterns
2016, Quaternary International
Dental wear pattern is an important source of information regarding dietary habits, food preparation, and human economic behavior. In the current study we present our preliminary analysis of the dental wear patterns of the Middle Pleistocene (420–200 kya) Qesem Cave teeth. Five types of tooth wear were studied: Occlusal wear, interproximal wear, subvertical grooves, buccal microwear and root striations. We found mild to moderate occlusal wear (stage range 2–4), the largest proximal facet on the M₂ medial was 15.3 mm², presence of three subvertical grooves on the M₂ distal surface, a variety of microwear scratches (many are >200 mμ long and >5 mμ wide) and two types of root striations. The data obtained suggests that the Qesem Cave people possessed a strong masticatory system producing massive anterior component of force, and used small flints as food choppers.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Regular ArticleDental Wear in Immature Late Pleistocene European Hominines

Abstract

Regular Article
Dental Wear in Immature Late Pleistocene European Hominines