Dental modifications and tool use in the western Great Basin

Larsen, Clark Spencer

doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330670411

Cited by 106 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(17 reference statements)

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“…Similar changes ha been recorded in recent ve human cases of carpenters, tailors, and shoemakers [48], as well as modern examples of "pen-biting" [49]. Occlusal grooving appears as single or multiple, well-defined, grooves on anterior teeth [50]. The grooves have been observed in dentitions from different time periods and geographical areas and have been attributed to the working of willow strands, fibres, and sinews.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Occlusal tooth wear in human sculls of antique period from Vendenis and Municipium Dardanorum DD, Kosovo

Koçani¹,

Kamberi²,

Dranqolli³

et al. 2012

OJST

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Aim: To describe the presence, frequency of attrition in permanent dentition of human skulls from two ancient archeological locations. Aims: To determine the rate of attrition using a specific quantitative and qualitative method. Methods: Twenty one human skulls from two ancient archeological necropolises (Vendenis and Municipium Dardanorum DD) were included in the analysis of samples for this study. A total of 498 teeth were present in all human skulls. The skulls (with their accompanying teeth) were then divided into groups according to locality of origin, age and sex. Macroscopic (observational) analysis of the teeth relied on inspection and exploration of the teeth in their totality. The classification system that was used to rate tooth wear was Tooth Wear Index (TWI). Statistical analysis used: Chi-test for small samples was used to evaluate the observations obtained from the study. Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis was not performed due to the small number of teeth and the content of zero values in respective age groups. Results: The results show that out of total 498 teeth, 89.35% had attrition and 10.65% had no attrition or Grade 0 TWI. 21.48% were Grade 1, 28.71% Grade 2, 26.90% Grade 3, 7.42% Grade 4 and 4.81% Grade 5. Conclusions: Grade 2 and higher rate of attrition, was predominantly present in first permanent molars.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Occlusal tooth wear in human sculls of antique period from Vendenis and Municipium Dardanorum DD, Kosovo

Koçani¹,

Kamberi²,

Dranqolli³

et al. 2012

OJST

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“…In addition, the heavy wear on their anterior teeth was likely further promoted by paramasticatory behavior associated with such activities as processing fibers for baskets and cordage for twine (Molnar, 1972;Schulz, 1977;Larsen, 1985). In order to increase the geographic range and overall size range of our recent comparative sample, we also included 2 unprovenienced Australian Aboriginals (1 male, 1 female) with moderate dental wear, and 4 unprovenienced male specimens from the Indian subcontinent with moderate to light dental wear (Stanford University Teaching Collection).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bite force production capability and efficiency in Neandertals and modern humans

O'Connor

Franciscus

Holton

2005

Am. J. Phys. Anthropol.

102

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Although there is consensus that Neandertal craniofacial morphology is unique in the genus Homo, debate continues regarding the precise anatomical basis for this uniqueness and the evolutionary mechanism that produced it. In recent years, biomechanical explanations have received the most attention. Some proponents of the "anterior dental loading hypothesis" (ADLH) maintain that Neandertal facial anatomy was an adaptive response to high-magnitude forces resulting from both masticatory and paramasticatory activity. However, while many have argued that Neandertal facial structure was well-adapted to dissipate heavy occlusal loads, few have considered, much less demonstrated, the ability of the Neandertal masticatory system to generate these presumably heavy loads. In fact, the Neandertal masticatory configuration has often been simultaneously interpreted as being disadvantageous for producing large bite forces. With rare exception, analyses that attempted to resolve this conflict were qualitative rather than quantitative. Using a three-dimensional digitizer, we recorded a sequence of points on the cranium and associated mandible of the Amud 1, La Chapelle-aux-Saints, and La Ferrassie 1 Neandertals, and a sample of early and recent modern humans (n = 29), including a subsample with heavy dental wear and documented paramasticatory behavior. From these points, we calculated measures of force-production capability (i.e., magnitudes of muscle force, bite force, and condylar reaction force), measures of force production efficiency (i.e., ratios of force magnitudes and muscle mechanical advantages), and a measure of overall size (i.e., the geometric mean of all linear craniofacial measurements taken). In contrast to the expectations set forth by the ADLH, the primary dichotomy in force-production capability was not between Neandertal and modern specimens, but rather between large (robust) and small (gracile) specimens overall. Our results further suggest that the masticatory system in the genus Homo scales such that a certain level of force-production efficiency is maintained across a considerable range of size and robusticity. Natural selection was probably not acting on Neandertal facial architecture in terms of peak bite force dissipation, but rather on large tooth size to better resist wear and abrasion from submaximal (but more frequent) biting and grinding forces. We conclude that masticatory biomechanical adaptation does not underlie variation in the facial skeleton of later Pleistocene Homo in general, and that continued exploration of alternative explanations for Neandertal facial architecture (e.g., climatic, respiratory, developmental, and/or stochastic mechanisms) seems warranted.

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“…In adults of both sexes, anterior wear patterns suggest a possible usage of the mouth as a "tool." However, no grooves marking the occlusal surfaces of incisors or canines (Larsen, 1985) were macroscopically noted. Well rounded anterior teeth were found on upper dentitions only; rounded occlusal surfaces were recorded on premolars of both the arches.…”

Section: Dental Wear and Oral Healthmentioning

confidence: 98%

Prehistoric “fish‐eaters” along the eastern Arabian coasts: Dental variation, morphology, and oral health in the Ra's al‐Hamra community (Qurum, Sultanate of Oman, 5th–4th millennia BC)

Macchiarelli

1989

American J Phys Anthropol

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The Ra's al-Hamra prehistoric fishermen lived in isolation on the Qurum rocky promontorium in Oman during the 5th-4th millennia BC. To date, they represent the most ancient and numerous human fossil group excavated from the Arabian peninsula. Like other contemporaneous archaeologically documented small communities along the desert Arabian coasts, they intensively exploited ocean resources and collected molluscs from nearby mangrove swamps. The present study analyzes aspects of dental anthropology (including crown variation, morphology, dental wear, and oral health), in 600 permanent teeth from 49 individuals of both sexes excavated at the Mesolithic RH5-site by the Italian Archaeological Mission in Oman from 1981 to 1985. In association with a general low degree of morphometric variation, the Ra's al-Hamra dental crowns show low sexual dimorphism and are consistently reduced in size. These features are unexpected in a preagricultural population, especially when these data are compared to other eastern African and near Middle Eastern prehistoric populations. These data are discussed within the general context of human dental structural reduction occurring during the post-Pleistocene and are interpreted according to the "increasing population density effect" model. There are other significant differences that characterize the Ra's al-Hamra dentitions with respect to both eastern and western prehistoric human groups. The frequency of numerous nonmetric crown traits supports the hypothesis that a microdifferentiation phenomenon occurred in this marginal area. The preliminary skeletal analysis and the palaeodemographic profile show that the Omani prehistoric fishermen were affected by genetic isolation and inbreeding as well as strong environmental stress. Because of the grit assimilated with dried fish and the high shellfish consumption, dental wear was extreme in all age groups at Ra's al-Hamra and occasionally was responsible for serious hematogenously spread infections. In spite of the great anthropological importance of ancient Arabian populations, very few studies on skeletal and dental samples have been completed. The present paper offers an odontological data set for future comparative research in the area.

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Dental modifications and tool use in the western Great Basin

Cited by 106 publications

References 21 publications

Occlusal tooth wear in human sculls of antique period from Vendenis and Municipium Dardanorum DD, Kosovo

Occlusal tooth wear in human sculls of antique period from Vendenis and Municipium Dardanorum DD, Kosovo

Bite force production capability and efficiency in Neandertals and modern humans

Prehistoric “fish‐eaters” along the eastern Arabian coasts: Dental variation, morphology, and oral health in the Ra's al‐Hamra community (Qurum, Sultanate of Oman, 5th–4th millennia BC)

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