Changes in mandible characteristics during the terminal Pleistocene to Holocene Levant and their association with dietary habits

May, Hila; Sella-Tunis, Tanya; Pokhojaev, Ariel; Peled, Nathan; Sarig, Rachel

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.03.020

Cited by 10 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…The degree of circularity of cortical bone distribution is very similar among groups. Previous studies of external bone morphology, particularly from anthropological sciences, assign a rather high importance of masticatory load on bone morphology, with notorious differences between hunter-gatherer groups and agriculturalists [6][7][8]. Our results show far less differences among groups.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 45%

“…These results also suggest that the relative importance of factors affecting mandible morphology can differ between past and current populations. Consequently, although masticatory loads have been proposed as an important factor determining secular changes among populations sharing the same geographical location [7,8], the lack of functional constraints due to the modern diet may have led to the emergence of new, more relevant factors that should be taken into consideration. It is interesting that the amount of cortical bone, on the other hand, seems to behave the opposite than expected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…populations with more ancestral lifestyles whose diet consists of less processed items, and where infections leading to premature tooth loss are less common [1,5]. Tooth loss, and particularly a reduction in masticatory load, has been linked to the transition between hunter-gatherer and agricultural (also urban and modern) subsistence economies, causing a reduction in jaw size [6][7][8]. Traditionally in dentistry and physical anthropology, small jaws have been related to alterations like tooth crowding and an altered maxillomandibular relationship [1,[9][10][11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dental malocclusions are not just about small and weak bones: assessing the morphology of the mandible with cross-section analysis and geometric morphometrics

et al. 2019

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Objectives Dental malocclusions in modern populations would be the result of small and weak jaws developing under low masticatory loads. We assess the validity of this by characterising the external and internal morphology of mandibles affected by class II and III malocclusions and comparing them with those from individuals with different masticatory load patterns. Materials and methods CTs from up to 118 individuals exerting intensive, medium and low masticatory loads with harmonic occlusion, and from class II and III individuals, were used to compare their external shape using geometric morphometrics, as well as their internal amount and distribution of cortical bone. Results The low-load groups (harmonic, class II and III occlusion) are externally more gracile than the intense and medium load groups. But more relevant in shape variation is a marked allometric pattern, which differentiates class II (small) and III (large) mandibles. Despite gracility, the relative amount of cortical bone in the low-load groups is larger than in the remaining groups. Conclusions There is no evidence that the modern mandible, including class II and III individuals, is intrinsically small and weak. Instead, there is a rather large degree of morphological variation, which could be linked to a lack of constraints derived from low masticatory loads. Thus, the effect of other factors such as genetics, but also basal metabolism, should be looked in more depth. Clinical relevance Dental malocclusions are a common disorder whose aetiology has not been unravelled, and several to be considered in the prevention and therapy of malocclusion.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 45%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dental malocclusions are not just about small and weak bones: assessing the morphology of the mandible with cross-section analysis and geometric morphometrics

et al. 2019

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“…Various studies have tried to follow changes in mandibular morphology using the time dimension and the changes in dietary habits that followed it. It was demonstrated that in the Levant, as well as in other geographical regions, mandibular size (e.g., body length, ramus width, symphysis height, and coronoid width) was reduced continuously throughout time in accordance with subsistence changes 2,3,6,32,34–40 . It was also suggested that the orientation of the mandible changed over time, which was manifested in an increased mandibular angle and a more vertical inclination of the mandibular body 32,41 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was demonstrated that in the Levant, as well as in other geographical regions, mandibular size (e.g., body length, ramus width, symphysis height, and coronoid width) was reduced continuously throughout time in accordance with subsistence changes 2,3,6,32,34–40 . It was also suggested that the orientation of the mandible changed over time, which was manifested in an increased mandibular angle and a more vertical inclination of the mandibular body 32,41 . In the Levant, however, most studies have focused mainly on the Natufian and Neolithic populations 4,6,38–40,42 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in human mandibular shape during the Terminal Pleistocene-Holocene Levant

Pokhojaev

Avni

Tunis

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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The transition to food production, exploitation of ‘secondary’ products (e.g., milk), and advances in cookware technology have affected all aspects of human life. The aim of the present study was to follow changes in mandibular form and shape throughout the terminal Pleistocene-Holocene Levant. The hemimandibles of four populations were included in this study: Natufian hunter-gatherers (n = 10), Pre-pottery Neolithic early farmers (n = 6), Chalcolithic farmers (n = 9), Roman-Byzantine (n = 16), and modern (n = 63) populations. A surface mesh of each mandible was reconstructed from CT or surface scans. Changes in mandibular form and shape were studied using the Procrustes-based geometric morphometrics method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to examine differences in size and shape between the studied populations. Our results reveal considerable temporal changes in mandibular shape throughout the Holocene Levant, mainly between the pre-agricultural population (the Natufian) and the succeeding ones, and between the post-industrial (the Modern) and the pre-industrial populations. A tendency for a reduction in mandibular size was identified between the pre-agricultural population and the farmers. Most regions of the mandible underwent shape changes. In conclusion, substantial changes in mandibular shape occurred throughout the Holocene Levant, especially following the agricultural revolution. These changes can be explained by the “masticatory-functional hypothesis”.

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Assessing the reliability of virtual reconstruction of mandibles

Godinho

O’Higgins

Gonçalves

2020

American J Phys Anthropol

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Changes in mandible characteristics during the terminal Pleistocene to Holocene Levant and their association with dietary habits

Cited by 10 publications

References 53 publications

Dental malocclusions are not just about small and weak bones: assessing the morphology of the mandible with cross-section analysis and geometric morphometrics

Dental malocclusions are not just about small and weak bones: assessing the morphology of the mandible with cross-section analysis and geometric morphometrics

Changes in human mandibular shape during the Terminal Pleistocene-Holocene Levant

Assessing the reliability of virtual reconstruction of mandibles

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