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

Abstract

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.

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)

“…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).…”