Dental morphology of deciduous molars from late Neolithic Caves of the Meuse River Basin of Belgium

Williams, Frank; George, Rebecca L; Polet, Caroline

doi:10.26575/daj.v31i2.17

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Although only limited samples are available for each cave burial, it appears that our predictions were confirmed. Hastière M is only partly distinct from the other cave deposits in the expression of traits, corroborating an analysis of deciduous molar morphology from the Late Neolithic caves of the Belgian Meuse basin (Williams et al, 2018). The final/late collective burials of Sclaigneaux and Bois Madame exhibit a greater range of expression of the hypoconulid, entoconulid, protostylid, Carabelli's cusp, metacone and metaconulid.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…Based on an earlier study of deciduous molar morphology (Williams et al, 2018), it was predicted that the early/late Neolithic cave burial of Hastière M would be distinctive and should differ from the final/late sites of Sclaigneaux and Bois Madame. Although this prediction was confirmed for some traits, the deciduous molar morphology of Hastière M is more distinctive compared to the permanent molars.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Permanent molar trait expression in the Late Neolithic cave burials of the Meuse Basin, Belgium

Williams

George

2021

DAJ

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At least 250 cave burials along the Meuse river basin of Belgium yield prehistoric remains, and most date from the Late Neolithic period. Several have been radiocarbon dated, including the early/late Neolithic deposits of Hastière Caverne M and Hastière Trou Garçon C and the final/late Neolithic caves of Sclaigneaux and Bois Madame. An additional collective burial, Maurenne Caverne de la Cave is radiocarbon dated to the Middle Neolithic and final/late Neolithic periods, circa 4,635 to 3,830 BP, encompassing the range of dates for the other collective burials. Most individuals are represented by fragmentary gnathic remains with in situ dental elements. Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System (ASUDAS) scores of permanent molars are employed to examine whether differences within and between the caves exist, and whether chronology and ecogeography can account for the variation in traits. The final/late Neolithic cave of Sclaigneaux, the most geographically distinct cave burial, and Hastière Caverne M, possibly the earliest site, emerge as the most distinctive. The final/late Neolithic sites of Sclaigneaux and Bois Madame exhibit the greatest variability of trait expression. These results bear on the mobility and continuity of human groups in Belgium during the terminus of the Neolithic prior to the Bronze Age.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Permanent molar trait expression in the Late Neolithic cave burials of the Meuse Basin, Belgium

Williams

George

2021

DAJ

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“…The narrow time interval between -and grouping of -Sclaigneaux and Hastière Trou Garçon C, despite a distance of roughly 35 kilometers, as well as the separation of the two sites within Hastière rockshelter, corroborates the importance of chronology to account for the differences among sites in maxillary first molar crown shape. The deciduous molars of Hastière Caverne M also differ from those of final/late Neolithic sites by the near ubiquity and large size of Carabelli's cusp and the expression of a protostylid (Williams et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To the extent to which geography accounts for the difference among individuals, Hastière Trou Garçon C and Hastière Caverne M should be the most similar to one another since they are both found within Hastière rockshelter. Meanwhile, Sclaigneaux is separated by a distance of about 35 km away from the rockshelter at Hastière (Williams et al 2018). If geographic distance is a proxy for relatedness, then Sclaigneaux should be distinctive from the two burials from Hastière rockshelter.…”

Section: Research Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing maxillary first molar crown shape using elliptical Fourier analysis in the Late Neolithic cave burials of Belgium

Bryan

Williams

2021

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The Belgian Meuse karstic basin holds more than 200 Late Neolithic collective burials. Four of the largest include Hastière Caverne M, Hastière Trou Garçon C, Sclaigneaux and Bois Madame. The remains from these caves are commingled and fragmentary. However, in situ maxillary molars are well preserved permitting an investigation of molar crown shape within and across sites. Crown outlines from the burials are compared using elliptical Fourier analysis to capture shape distinctions in the relatively numerous first maxillary molars (n = 27). Elliptical Fourier analysis is designed to compare deviations between each shape outline and an idealized ellipse, recorded as amplitudes of the harmonics which are reduced to principal components (PC) scores. We expect individuals from each site will be more similar to one another than to other internments in PC scores, and that the sites will be distributed along PC axes according to differences in chronology and geographic location. Principal components analysis reveals that individuals tend to cluster together based on cave burial as well as time period. Geographic distance only differentiates the final/late Neolithic cave burials. The earliest of the sites, Hastière Caverne M, is distinctive and includes multiple outliers. Hastière Trou Garçon C from earlier in the Late Neolithic does not cluster with Hastière Caverne M as expected. Instead, this cave burial groups with Sclaigneaux, the most geographically distant site but chronologically the closest to Hastière Trou Garçon C. Although the limited sample sizes for each site must be considered, it appears that early farmers of the Belgian Meuse basin exhibited intricate human population dynamics which may have included small, semi-isolated groups early in the Late Neolithic and larger communities with greater contact toward the onset of the northern European Bronze Age.

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“…Identifying which of the commingled skeletal and dental elements belong to the same individual is rarely possible. Despite this limitation (Polet, 2011), ongoing studies have provided insights into stature and overall health status (De Paepe & Polet, 2007;Orban et al, 2000;, diet (Sherrill & Williams, 2019), molar morphology (Williams et al, 2018;Williams & George, 2021), markers of activity (Polet et al, 2019) and paleopathology (Williams & Polet, 2017). In an extensive stable carbon and nitrogen (C and N) isotopic study, Bocherens et al (2007) established that freshwater resources were of negligible importance during the Late and Final Neolithic period (Bocherens et al, 2007).…”

Section: Neolithic Belgium and Cave Burialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

First insights into human mobility in Neolithic Belgium using strontium isotopic analysis and proteomics: A case study of Grotte de La Faucille (Sclayn, province of Namur)

Hattum

Costas‐Rodríguez

Hobin

et al. 2023

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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Objectives So far, no 87Sr/86Sr mobility studies have been done for Neolithic remains from Belgium and information on the Sr isotopic variability in the region is scarce. This study aims to explore mobility in a Final Neolithic population from the funerary cave ‘Grotte de La Faucille’, contribute to the understanding of the isotopic composition of bioavailable Sr in Belgium, assess evidence for male mobility using proteomic analysis, and explore possible places of origin for nonlocal individuals. Materials and Methods The 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio of dental enamel from six adults and six juveniles was determined. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry‐based protein analysis was employed to identify individuals of male biological sex. 87Sr/86Sr of micromammal teeth, snail shells, and modern plants from three geological areas in Belgium were measured to establish isotopic signatures for bioavailable strontium. Nonlocality was assessed by comparing human 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios to the 87Sr/86Sr range for bioavailable Sr. Results Four individuals yielded 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios consistent with a nonlocal origin. No statistical differences were found between adults and juveniles. Three males were detected in the sample set, of which two show nonlocal 87Sr/86Sr values. Discussion This study provides evidence for mobility in Final Neolithic Belgium. The four nonlocal 87Sr/86Sr signatures correspond with the 87Sr/86Sr of bio‐available Sr in Dutch South Limburg, the Black Forest in Southwest Germany, and regions of France, such as parts of the Paris Basin and the Vosges. The results support the ruling hypothesis of connections with Northern France, brought to light by archeological research.

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Dental morphology of deciduous molars from late Neolithic Caves of the Meuse River Basin of Belgium

Cited by 3 publications

References 18 publications

Permanent molar trait expression in the Late Neolithic cave burials of the Meuse Basin, Belgium

Permanent molar trait expression in the Late Neolithic cave burials of the Meuse Basin, Belgium

Comparing maxillary first molar crown shape using elliptical Fourier analysis in the Late Neolithic cave burials of Belgium

First insights into human mobility in Neolithic Belgium using strontium isotopic analysis and proteomics: A case study of Grotte de La Faucille (Sclayn, province of Namur)

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