Nonalimentary tooth use in the neolithic population of the Lengyel culture in central Poland (4600–4000 BC)

Abstract

One hundred and four skeletons of adult individuals representing Neolithic populations of the Brześć Kujawski group of the Lengyel Culture (Kuyavia, central Poland, 4600-4000 BC) were analyzed with regard to evidence of nonalimentary tooth use, periapical lesions and antemortem tooth loss (AMTL). Instances of nonalimentary behaviors were found in 47.1% of females and 27.5% of males. Females were primarily characterized by occlusal grooves on the incisors and canines, most probably resulting from yarn production or weaving. The most frequent defect in males was severe tooth wear extending from the incisors to first molars, caused by some hard-to-identify nonalimentary activities. Occlusal grooves were also found in males, but their morphology indicates processing of some coarser material. The occupational nature of the tooth defects has been confirmed by archaeological data. The only two burials with grave goods indicative of craft specialization at the sites studied contain the remains of individuals with marks of nonalimentary tooth use. Moreover, the sites provide unequivocal evidence of weaving and basketry production in the form of loom weights and imprints of cloth and mats. Periapical lesions have been found in 40.4% of males and 35.6% of females, and AMTL in 32.1% of males and 36.7% of females. Individuals with evidence of nonalimentary tooth wear are characterized both by a higher incidence of these lesions in general, and by their more frequent location in the anterior part of the alveolar arch.

Dental health and diet in early medieval Ireland

“…Similar cases of nonmasticatory dental modifications associated with habitual activities in archaeological contexts were recorded by various authors. [88][89][90][91][92][93] Irvine et al 93 reported changes on the labial side of one maxillary incisor very similar to those recorded in two females from the present study, and suggested it may occur as a result of the pressing of leather or sinew against the tooth whilst sucking them as part of the preparation technique.…”

Tooth grooves, occlusal striations, dental calculus, and evidence for fiber processing in an Italian eneolithic/bronze age cemetery

“…Cases related with para‐alimentary tooth alterations (Fiore, Radovčić, Bondioli, & Frayer, ; Lozano, Bermúdez de Castro, Carbonell, & Arsuaga, ) and hygienic practices as tooth picking (Bermudez de Castro, Arsuaga, & Perez, ; Frayer and Russell, ) have also been recorded. Among the various forms of AIDMs, occlusal and paraocclusal grooves are the most often described in literature, detected in past communities from all over the world and chronological horizons (Lorkiewicz, ). They usually involve the incisors and canine and they are linked to fiber manipulation (e.g., Frayer, ; Frayer and Minozzi, ; Larsen, ; Waters‐Rist et al, ).…”

“…Furthermore, differences in the groove's pattern between sexes at this site pointed to the likelihood that they were engaged in the production of different cultural items. At the Polish Neolithic site, Lorkiewicz () found grooves in both sexes with a higher frequency in females ( n = 34; 35.3%) than in males ( n = 40; 10.0%). Clearly, cultural patterns differ across time and space, but at Gricignano mainly the females were involved in fiber processing.…”

“…Activity induced dental modifications (AIDMs) offer evidence on cultural practices and general subsistence economies of ancient societies, together with insights on social distribution of working tasks within the communities. Numerous analyses of prehistoric human samples have detected the use of teeth in the production of diverse cultural items (Bocquentin, ; Bocquentin, Sellier, & Murail, ; Bonfiglioli, Mariotti, Facchini, Belcastro, & Condemi, ; Brown and Molnar, ; Cruwys, Robb, & Smith, ; Eshed, Gopher, & Hershkovitz, ; Frayer and Minozzi, ; Irvine, Thomas, & Dietrich‐Schoop, ; Larsen, ; Larsen, Teaford, & Sandford, ; Lorkiewicz, ; Minozzi, Manzi, Ricci, di Lernia, & Borgognini‐Tarli, ; Molnar, , ; Ravy, Clère, & Puech, ; Tanga, Quintili, Tinarelli, D'anastasio, & Viciano, ). Other examples from the more recent archaeological and ethnographic record contain cases of AIDMs.…”

Tooth ablation in Iron Age central Thailand: Evidence from the archaeological sites of Ban Mai Chaimongkol and Tha Kae

“…Habitual or occupational activities that engage teeth as tools can present additional diagnostic challenges. Activities associated with fabric weaving, basketmaking, and hide processing frequently involve dental manipulation of materials that can result in grooving, notching, and advanced attrition of anterior teeth that may lead to antemortem tooth loss (Larsen, ; Lorkiewicz, ; Scott & Jolie, ). Antemortem tooth loss caused by paramasticatory behaviour may be differentiated from ablation by assessing the presence or absence of grooves, notches, and other unusual macroscopic wear patterns typically associated with task‐related wear (Blakely & Beck, ; Milner & Larsen, ).…”