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The natural environment of the Gansu-Qinghai region in northwest China exhibits spatial variation, resulting in distinct adaptive strategies among populations in different geographical areas. In this study, we analyzed the diachronic trend and regional variations in caries prevalence among 10 different middle and late-Holocene groups by examining dental caries data to explore the correlation between different adaptation strategies and caries frequency. Frequency data was used to compare dental caries between populations, and the Chi-square test was employed to detect statistical differences. A multidisciplinary approach was employed to investigate the relationship between these changes and the adaptive strategies adopted by the populations in this region. The result shows that there was a gradual increase in caries prevalence over time in eastern Gansu, which corresponded with development of millet farming and social hierarchy. In the Hexi Corridor, caries prevalence exhibited fluctuations attributable to climate variability, human migration, and regime change. The research proposes that changes in adaptive strategies due to various social and environmental factors are reflected in human teeth, while also presenting a novel endeavor of aggregating a large, multisite bioarchaeological dataset in order to investigate the interactions between Holocene populations and palaeoenvironments in northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological variation in modern human dentition is still an open field of study. The understanding of dental shape and metrics is relevant for the advancement of human biology and evolution and is thus of interest in the fields of dental anthropology, as well as human anatomy and medicine. Of concern is also the variation of the inner aspects of the crown which can be investigated using the tools and methods of virtual anthropology. In this study, we explored inter- and intra-population morphometric variation of modern humans' upper third and fourth premolars (P3s and P4s, respectively) considering both the inner and outer aspects of the crown, and discrete traits. We worked by means of geometric morphometrics on 3D image data from a geographically balanced sample of human populations from five continents, to analyse the shape of the dentinal crown, and the crown outline in 78 P3s and 76 P4s from 85 individuals. For the study of dental traits, we referred to the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System integrated with more recent classification systems. The 3D shape variation of upper premolar crowns varied between short and mesio-distally broad, and tall and mesio-distally narrow. The observed shape variation was independent from the geographical origin of the populations, and resulted in extensive overlap. We noted a high pairwise correlation (r1 = 0.83) between upper P3s and P4s. We did not find any significant geographic differences in the analysed non-metric traits. Our outcomes thus suggest that geographical provenance does not play a determinant role in the shaping of the dental crown, whose genesis is under strict genetic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human feeding patterns have been reconstructed in Archaeology by analysing either oral pathology or stable isotope ratios in human skeletal remains. However, no clear agreement has been developed between these two methodologies. The main objective of this study is to determine if we can establish a link between them when analysing a population with a hyper-specialized diet, in this case marine resources (and millet/maize). To reach this goal we developed a conjoined multi-isotope analysis using collagen and bioapatite (δ13Ccol, δ15Ncol and δ13Ccar) and a detailed study of oral health (caries, antemortem loss, periapical lesions, periodontal disease, calculus, and wear). All available skeletons with at least one preserved tooth from two cemeteries of the medieval town of Pontevedra (n = 34) were studied. The buried individuals belonged to the guild of fishers and artisans, professions which were dominant among the families of medieval Pontevedra. A detailed FTIR-ATR study of extracted bone bioapatite showed a high correlation between bioapatite carbonate content, carbonate typical vibrations, and FTIR-ATR indices related to bone diagenesis, which is in line with previous research. No significant correlations were found with bioapatite yield and isotopic composition (δ13Ccar and Δ13C), ruling out possible diagenetic effects. The diet was based on marine fish protein with contributions of millets (e.g., δ13Ccar -11.9 ± 1.8‰) that seems to be slightly higher in individuals linked to artisanal guilds. The oral pathology study shows severe dental wear from an early age (Grade 2–4 in permanent dentition for 20% of infants and 60% of juveniles in M1), as well as moderate-high presence of caries in permanent dentition (64%, 22/34) and dental calculus (72%, 24/33). Both the oral pathology and the isotopic signal differ from that observed in other areas of the Iberian Peninsula. This study points to the existence of connections between findings of the two methodologies, and specifically an association between intense dental wear and high consumption of marine resources and millet. At the same time, this analysis implies the necessity of caution in estimation of age by dental wear in populations linked to the sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of the subject in Ecuador and a new case is reported for this country. A comparison is made of the cases found in Ecuador with others of the E4 and E5 types in Mesoamerica in times close to Classic Period. The origin of this cultural practice in the region is discussed and it is concluded as a result of contacts with groups from the near Atlantic and Pacific coasts in earlier times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nonmetric dental traits have a crucial role in ethnic classification of populationsthat help in forensic racial identification. Many studies have demonstrated the differencesin the expression and frequency of dental traits between various ethnic groupsfor ancestry determination in the context of forensic dental anthropology. The present study is an attempt to assess the frequency and variation in nonmetric traits for establishing ethnicity in the Vidarbha subpopulation. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the frequency and variation of nonmetric traits in permanent teeth for establishing ethnicity in the Vidarbha subpopulation. Materials and Methods: Participants of the Vidarbha subpopulation were selected by random sampling method. Molars, premolars, and incisors were evaluated for frequency of nonmetric traits, and variations were graded according to Dentoanthropological System of State University of Arizona criteria. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and Student’s t-test were used for analysis of data. Results: The most common occlusal morphology in mandibular first and second molar was 5 cusp and 4 cusp, respectively, with the “+” groove pattern. Cusp 3 and cusp 4 were observed frequently in the maxillary molars. One lingual cusp was most commonly seen in mandibular premolars show while incisors showed faint shoveling. Conclusion: Our study concludes that nonmetric traits were present and showed variation in permanent maxillary and mandibular teeth among the Vidarbha subpopulation. Cusp 5 and Cusp 4 in first and second mandibular molars, respectively, groove pattern “+” and grade 1 protostylid were the most frequent grades observed in permanent mandibular molars. One lingual cusp was most commonly seen in mandibular premolars and faint shoveling was a notable feature in incisors of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental treatment essential to justice Action, review of evidence, appropriate evaluation and presentation of dental examination results. Most involve the use of teeth and oral samples for identification in a legal context. Dental anthropology, on the other hand, provides information such as characteristics of teeth, tooth morphology, size and shape changes, restoration, disease, tooth loss, wear pattern, dentistry, color and teeth. Dental records are also useful for comparing teeth; this can help determine a person's age, gender, race or ethnicity, personality and occupation, all of which can take on meaning on their own. The dental profession plays an important role as well as the responsibility to maintain accurate dental records to provide the necessary information to assist in the identification of victims. This article provides an overview of how forensic odontology and dental anthropology play an important role in identifying individuals and finding ways to resolve legal issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European colonization of the Canary Islands was accompanied by new farming and food processing techniques as well as new dietary patterns. The current study sheds light on the impact of these new techniques and foodstuffs by delving into the oral conditions of members of this society in this timeframe. The analyses of the oral conditions of 85 adults of the Modern Era of Gran Canaria combined with spatial, temporal, and sex criteria led to identifying a paleodietary profile characteristic of this population. This pattern served to evaluate differences among other populations of the archipelago such as the earlier Indigenous Period of Gran Canaria and the Modern Era populations of the neighboring islands of Tenerife and Lanzarote. This study reveals a high prevalence of caries, dental calculus, and antemortem tooth loss, notably along the lines of sex. Comparisons between the different Indigenous and the Modern populations also point to statistical differences between dental caries and heavy macrowear. The Gran Canaria’s Modern Era population had a carbohydrate-rich diet compatible with the intake of cereal and sugar cane products. Oral conditions among males were likely influenced by the newly introduced consumption of tobacco. The results also confirm that the European colonization strongly altered the dietary patterns and food processing techniques inherited from the Indigenous Period. Finally, the comparisons of the Modern Era populations of the three islands of the archipelago reveal an asymmetry between dietary patterns and food processing techniques from one island to another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the region of Central Europe, population movements have transcended political boundaries throughout history. The Early (6th to 11th centuries AD) and High (11th to 14th centuries AD) Medieval periods were times of constantly shifting cultural relationships, as well as climatic fluctuations. Limited archeological and historic records for the region often focus on the broader cultural processes of the time, and to a large degree, on elites. Very little work has focused on population movement, particularly across cultural boundaries. Here we examine the potential effects of cultural processes on the movement and subsequent genetic exchange among the people throughout the region. We compare biological, cultural, geographic, and temporal relationships using biological distance analysis and model matrix comparison. To examine population structures, we combine dental morphological and metric data derived from human skeletal remains representing Early and High Medieval groups. Our results support the important influence of cultural processes on migration and population structures among Early and High Medieval groups. Distances based on the cultural complexity model we employ here is significantly correlated with biological distances (p = 0.028), while temporal period (p = 0.099), geographic proximity (p = 0.104), and shared origin (p = 0.193) models are not significant. Although our model is limited in the complex breadth of cultural processes during the Early and High Medieval period, we assert that these processes played an important role in population movement. Finally, we support an inter‐regional approach to examining population interactions among Central European and neighboring areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genealogical samples that couple dental data and documented relatedness information provide unique opportunities to examine the biological foundations of tooth variation. Over the past century, these resources have been critical for examining the various factors that influence dental phenotypes—the same traits that anthropologists regularly apply to reconstructions of past phenomena. Genealogical samples are uniquely suited to test long‐standing assumptions underlying bioanthropological practice, for example, biodistance and phylogenetic analysis, which commonly reference aspects of tooth size and form as proxies for latent genetic information. This article provides an overview of published genealogical research, with a focus on the practical implications of quantitative genetic and environmental studies of (non)human primate dentitions. To highlight the utility of genealogical samples for understanding the influence of specific non‐genetic factors on dental characters, we also present novel data on gestational hormone effects in opposite‐sex dizygotic twin pairs as a test of the twin testosterone transfer (TTT) hypothesis. This article discusses fruitful next steps in genealogical dental research, as well as important ethical considerations surrounding the use of associated datasets, which are sensitive in nature. As we forge ahead in an age of phenomics, genealogical samples are likely to play a key role in generating comprehensive genotype–phenotype maps of the dentition and in refining bioanthropological methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of the study of the dental anthropology complexes of the population of the Sargat, Gorokhovo and Kashino cultures of the Early Iron Age in Western Siberia are presented. The study is based on the evaluation and statistical analysis of the frequencies of certain non-metric dental traits within each population. The source base of the study is 480 individuals from burials located in the Tobol, Ishim, Irtysh River regions, as well as on the territory of the Baraba forest-steppe zone. The aim of this study is to reconstruct the possible biological affinities between the Sargat, Gorokhovo and Kashino Cultures groups and Early Iron Age and Bronze Age tribes of Southern Urals and Western Siberia based of new dental non-metric data. The Sargat groups from the Tobol, Ishim and Irtysh regions and the Gorokhovo population reveal a weak biological affinity with the chronologically preceding population of Western Siberia of the Bronze Age. For the groups of these territories, the main component was introduced by the descendants of the carriers of the Petrovsky, Srubno-Alakul and Sintashta Cultures of the Southern Urals - the Savromats and Sarmatians. The affinities are especially strong among the Middle Sargat groups. Sargat population of Baraba demonstrated strong biological affinities to the local Late Bronze Age groups - the Fedorovo population and their descendants, Irmen Culture groups. Gorokhovo population reveals the same affinities as the Sargat groups. Relatedness between the Sargat and Gorokhovo groups and their contacts with the Sarmatians contributed to the convergence of their anthropological composition. Kashino Culture group is the most specific. Based on the results of study assumed divergence between Kashino and Sargat populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of the subject in Colombia and two new cases are reported for this country. A comparison is made of the cases found in Colombia with others of the E1 type in Mesoamerica in times close to the year 1000 BP. Another possible case B3-B6 is mentioned. The origin of this cultural practice in the region is discussed and it is concluded as a result of contacts with groups from the near Atlantic and Pacific coasts in earlier times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study seeks to accomplish three objectives: assess the biological impact of historically documented Pathan‐speaking populations on present‐day Hazarewal ethnic groups, determine consilience in patterns of relationships identified by molecular genetics and dental morphology analyses, and determine which of the current models for the peopling of the Indian subcontinent is best supported by dental morphology analysis. Materials and Methods: Dental morphology traits were scored with the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System among living members of 18 ethnic group samples from South Asia in northern Pakistan and 13 prehistoric samples from south‐central Asia and South Asia. Affinities were summarized with raw percentages and Smith's MMD. Affinities based on the former were accomplished with correspondence analysis and principal components analysis. Affinities based on the latter were undertaken with neighbor‐joining cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling. Results: Biodistances based on 17 tooth‐trait combinations suggest the human biological history in South Asia is dominated by long‐standing continuity, but this continuity is not absolute. There is no evidence for influx of Central Asians or Pathan influences on Hazarewal ethnic groups. Instead, gene flow likely occurred, albeit from other sources, near the beginning of the Holocene and at the beginning of the Iron Age. Discussion: Consilience in results obtained with molecular genetics and dental morphology analyses is good. Both indicate long‐standing population continuity over time and clinal variation emanating from Hazarewal to the south and east. However, dental morphology suggests an early Holocene influx of exogenous genes, perhaps from southern Iran, while ruling out a steppe‐based influx during the mid‐2nd millennium BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological investigation of the dentoalveolar complex in situ within a human skull requires detailed measurements using non‐invasive techniques. Standard macroscopic and radiographic methods have limitations but large volume micro‐computed tomography (LV micro‐CT) scanning has the potential to acquire data at high resolution in microns. In this study, archaeological specimens are analyzed using three‐dimensional data visualization software from LV micro‐CT scans with the aims of (1) determining whether LV micro‐CT can act as a single technique to provide detailed analysis of the dentoalveolar complex and (2) how findings from the LV micro‐CT technique compare with standard methods. These aims are explored by measuring a range of human skull specimens from a rare archaeological sample requiring non‐invasive methods, for multiple dental and alveolar bone health categories. The LV micro‐CT technique was the only method to provide a full range of detailed measurements across all categories studied. A combination of macroscopic and radiographic techniques covered a number of categories, but the use of multiple methods was more time consuming, did not provide the same level of accuracy, and did not include all measurements. There were high levels of reproducibility for intra‐operator scoring and good inter‐operator agreement from four operators with one operator whose results were outliers. As a further investigation of the potential of the LV micro‐CT technique, an additional individual, a fragile, fragmented skull of an infant was studied. This investigation confirms the value of LV micro‐CT scanning as a non‐invasive, accurate, single technique for the extensive analysis of the dentoalveolar complex within archaeological skulls, which also allows the relationship of different tissues to be studied in situ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study continues the series of works aimed to evaluate non-metric dental characters in medieval and postmedieval human populations from eastern Romania. In this paper, the frequency and degree of expression of some non-metric traits was analysed in a sample of 115 permanent molars belonging to skeletons of 16th-17th centuries recovered from the archaeological site of Vovidenia Church, in Iasi city, Romania. 14 non-metric traits were followed, but only nine of them were identified and analysed. The lack of the y groove pattern and cusp 5 at the lower second molar were noticed. Also, deflecting wrinkle and enamel extensions represent new traits identified medieval dental materials from the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethnic groups inhabiting the lowland and highland terrain in far northern Pakistan have recently been suggested to have served as middlemen in an interregional exchange network between Turkestan and the Indus Valley -- an exchange network that may have involved populations at the northern end of the Inner Asian Mountain Corridor or populations of the Bactrian Margianan Archaeological Complex (BMAC) of southern Central Asia. Alternatively, it may be that waves of Pathan immigration during the mediaeval period into northern Pakistan introduced such extensive gene flow from the west that all trace of contacts north has been lost. Patterning of morphological trait frequencies of the permanent tooth crown are known to correlate closely with DNA patterns and are largely free of natural selection making them ideal for tracing patterns of past gene flow and genetic drift. Dental morphometric trait frequencies from living members of 11 ethnic groups of the lowlands of Hazarewal and the highlands of Chitral-Gilgit-Baltistan, along with nine archaeologically-derived samples from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Indus Valley, and southern Central Asia (n= 2576 individuals), were analysed. Varying operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and data reduction techniques reveal a striking absence of evidence for interactions with populations to the north, meagre evidence of Pathan-related gene flow from the west or northwest, and little support for a genetic contribution from Chalcolithic era populations from the Indus Valley, signaling long-term local biological continuity in this region of northern Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skeletal remains obtained from anthropological and archaeological excavations provide a lot of information about the biological structure and socio-cultural behavior of people. The teeth constitute the most important part that lets us unearth the skeleton’s biological character. Provided that the tooth is the hardest substance in the body, it is more resistant to taphonomic processes. Therefore, comprehensive evaluations can be made thanks to dental studies, such as the diets of individuals and societies, the food they consume and the frequency of their consumption, food preparation techniques, oral and dental hygiene, and the diseases they suffered. The subject of this study is the oral and dental health of infant and child skeletons excavated from Börükçü Site of Muğla Province, dating back to the Late Geometric-Roman Period. A total of 823 sockets and teeth belonging to 125 infants and 698 children were examined within the scope of the study. Dental wear, tooth decay, hypoplasia, calculus, abscess,aleolar loss, ante-mortem tooth loss were examined in the study based on jaw and dental pathologies. At the end of the study, wear was 81.7%, caries 3.5%, hypoplasia 25.8%, calculus 10.8% in total milk and permanent teeth; Abscess, antemortem tooth loss and alveolar loss were not found. The data obtained show that Börükçü infants and children are exposed to nutritional deficiencies and factors that will negatively affect their developmental processes. However, the fact that the results of the analysis are in the range of average values shows that the living conditions of Börükçü were not very bad, and that he was included in the general health profile of ancient societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "Hyksos" commonly refers to the foreign dynasty that inhabited and held power in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period, ca. 1650–1550 BCE. The later historian Manetho described the Hyksos as invading foreigners, and this view persisted until the modern period. Recent research has integrated archaeological, artistic, and textual evidence revealing the Hyksos origin and presence in Egypt to be more complex than previously envisioned. To investigate the provenance of the so-called Hyksos, human remains from Tell el-Dab'a, the ancient Hyksos capital of Avaris, were analyzed using Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System dental nonmetric traits. An intra- and intersite biodistance analysis of individuals from Tell el-Dab'a (n = 92) and other contemporary sites in the Near East (n = 285) was conducted. Two statistical tests, mean measure of divergence and Gower distance analysis, were selected. The archaeological and biological evidence suggests continued occupation spanning from the end of the Middle Kingdom through the Hyksos dynasty, offering further evidence contra Manetho, who described a sudden invasion. The intersite analysis supports the archaeological finds from Tell el-Dab'a, suggesting that not only commodities but also people made their way to Tell el-Dab'a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Descriptive morphology of tooth roots traditionally focuses on number of canals and roots. However, how or if canal and root number are related is poorly understood. While it is often assumed that canal number is concomitant with root number and morphology, in practice canal number and morphology do not always covary with external root features. To investigate the relationship between canal and root number, fully developed, adult post‐canine teeth were examined and quantified from computerized tomography scans from a global sample of 945 modern humans. We tested the hypotheses that root and canal number do not follow a 1:1 ratio, that canal to root ratios differ between teeth, and that canal to root ratios differ across major human geographical groups. Results indicate that not only is root number dependent on canal number, but that this relationship becomes more variable as canal number increases, varies between individual teeth and by major geographical group, and changes as these groups increase in geographical distance from Sub‐Saharan Africa. These results show that the ratio of canal number to root number is an important indicator of variation in dental phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study examines dental morphology trait prevalence among three southern Naga groups and compares them to 10 ethnic groups from other regions of South Asia to accomplish two objectives: assess the biological relationship of these Tibeto‐Burman‐speakers to speakers of non‐Tibeto‐Burman languages in other South Asian regions, and determine which traits distinguish northeast Indians from other South Asians. Methods: Dental morphology traits were scored with the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System. Tooth‐trait combinations were evaluated for significant inter‐trait correlation and intra‐trait correspondence within dental fields. Comparisons were based on simple trait prevalence and with Smith's MMD. Affinities based on the former were accomplished with correspondence analysis and principal components analysis. Affinities based on the latter were undertaken with neighbor‐joining cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling. Results: After elimination due to inter‐trait correlations and uniform prevalence, biodistances based on the remaining 17 tooth‐trait combinations identify significant differences between northeast Indians and other South Asian ethnic groups due to high frequencies of shoveling on the maxillary incisors and Cusp 6 on the mandibular molars coupled with low frequencies of Carabelli's trait and Cusp 5 on UM1 and UM2, respectively. Conclusions: Patterns of biodistances obtained from dental morphology are consilient with those obtained from DNA indicating statistically significant differences between northeast Indians from members of ethnic groups of other regions of South Asia. Researchers should explore the sex‐specific patterns. Biodistances should not be limited to "key" teeth within dental fields, for in almost every case traits present on mesial and distal teeth yield non‐redundant information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Uto‐Aztecan premolar (UAP) is a rare dental morphological variant long thought to be restricted to non‐Arctic Native Americans. The recent discovery of four individuals with this trait in a Hungarian sample invites reassessment of its geographic distribution. Our goal is to assess the variation of this trait on a global level and provide an explanation for its distribution. Observations on over 300 medieval Hungarian dentitions, along with data from the C.G. Turner II database, provide the authors with a global perspective on the distribution of UAP. In addition to four instances of UAP from Hungary, additional European cases have been reported from Germany, Spain, Yugoslavia, and France. Although the trait is most common in non‐Arctic Native Americans, it is absent in Africa, Arctic America, the Pacific, and Asia with a few isolated and problematic exceptions. Most papers on UAP have focused on the trait's presence in the Americas with some authors suggesting a possible New World mutation. Although rare outside of the Americas, four examples from Hungary, in addition to other reported cases from Europe, suggest a more complex history of the UAP. Recent paleogenomic research indicates that direct gene flow from a west Eurasian lineage to an Ancient Native American population may have taken place after their divergence from the ancestral Arctic Native American population (Ancient Paleo‐Siberians), thus explaining its current distribution among Europeans and non‐Arctic Native Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I Dental Cementum in Anthropology i , edited by Naji, Rendu, and Gourichon, represents an important and long-awaited undertaking that updates scholars on the latest research on cementochronology (the study of cementum growth). Part I of the book presents an excellent overview of cementum biology, its past (Chapter 1) and current (Chapters 2-5) state of knowledge, and its research potential, including nondestructive imaging approaches to cementum microstructure (Chapters 6 and 7) and its use in life history studies (Chapter 8). As such, I believe that a comprehensive review on the impact of taphonomy to cementum microstructure was needed, as was a more nuanced approach to current limitations and the many loose ends that are still associated with cementum growth and variation. [Extracted from the article]

This study aims to expand our understanding of the genetic architecture of crown morphology in the human diphyodont dentition. Here, we present bivariate genetic correlation estimates for deciduous and permanent molar traits and evaluate the patterns of pleiotropy within (e.g., m1–m2) and between (e.g., m2–M1) dentitions. Morphology was observed and scored from dental models representing participants of an Australian twin and family study (deciduous n = 290, permanent n = 339). Data collection followed Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System standards. Genetic correlation estimates were generated using maximum likelihood variance components analysis in SOLAR v.8.1.1. Approximately 23% of deciduous variance components models and 30% of permanent variance components models yielded significant genetic correlation estimates. By comparison, over half (56%) of deciduous–permanent homologues (e.g., m2 hypocone–M1 hypocone) were significantly genetically correlated. It is generally assumed that the deciduous and permanent molars represent members of a meristic molar field emerging from the primary dental lamina. However, stronger genetic integration among m2–M1/M2 homologues than among paired deciduous traits suggests the m2 represents the anterior-most member of a "true" molar field. The results indicate genetic factors act at distinct points throughout development to generate homologous molar form, starting with the m2, which is later replaced by a permanent premolariform crown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Descriptive observational cross-sectional study to determine the AOP of the second molars (55, 65, 75, 85) and the first permanent molars (16, 26, 36 and 46) in 459 study models corresponding to six ethnic groups in Colombia, Embera indigenous of Alto Baudó (Chocó), Caucasoid mestizos of Cali (Valle del Cauca), African descent of Cali (Valle del Cauca), Misak indigenous of Silvia (Cauca), Nasa indigenous of Morales (Cauca), and indigenous of Leticia (Amazonas). There were no significant differences of AOP among the six ethnic groups except when compared to the Amazon Indians with African descent of Cali, Embera indigenous and Nasa indigenous. There was no sexual dimorphism except tooth 65 for all ethnic groups. There was bilateral symmetry except between teeth 16 and 26. The distance matrix showed that Caucasoid mestizos of Cali were grouped with microdont populations, Amazon indigenous, Embera indigenous, Misak indigenous and Nasa indigenous, and African descendants of Cali were grouped with mesodont populations. The Embera and Amazon indigenous had the highest values of OAP associated with the relative isolation and less mestizaje. Overall, there was no sexual dimorphism or bilateral asymmetry. This study coincides with the different theories about reducing the size of the teeth as evolutionary characteristic of hominids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral status is an important indicator of past lifestyles. Determining the presence and extent of oral pathologies helps reconstruct average oral health, paramasticatory activities and diet of ancient and historical populations. In this study, the dental remains from the early medieval cemetery of Früebergstrasse in Baar (Canton of Zug, Switzerland) and the high medieval Dalheim cemetery (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) were analyzed. Caries, periodontal condition, periapical lesions, antemortem tooth loss, and enamel hypoplasia were assessed in 654 teeth (993 observable loci) from 68 individuals (Baar: n = 36; Dalheim: n = 32). The oral status of both populations was affected by age with higher values of tooth wear in advanced age individuals. High tooth wear values in both populations point towards the consumption of abrasive foods. Pronounced anterior tooth wear in Baar may also be due to non-masticatory tooth usage. Finally, possible nutritional deficiencies were hypothesized for the Baar population. A higher caries prevalence was observed in the Baar group, probably due to differences in carbohydrate intake. The oral conditions observed in the two studied populations exhibited several analogies, suggesting comparable lifestyles despite their separation in space and time. The only differences observed are related to the use of teeth as "tools" and are thus determined by behavioral choices rather than diverse socioeconomic factors. Using multiple dental parameters to examine the oral health of premodern individuals can provide useful insights into the interactions between humans and their environment, from dietary patterns to paramasticatory activities. • Different lifestyles can be inferred by studying past human dentitions. • Oral health did not differ massively in the two early and high medieval populations. • Paramasticatory activities were identified only in the earlier population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than three decades have passed since the publication of Lamendin et al.'s proposal in 1992. Over this time, numerous investigations have been conducted to assess the applicability of the technique in different populations with acceptable results in terms of estimation errors. The proposal by Lamendin and colleagues remains relevant today, and has made a significant contribution to adult age-at-death estimation due to its simplicity, repeatability, replicability, and high performance. Indeed, significant progress towards systematizing and strengthening the procedure has been reported in the published literature. One noteworthy advancement is the development of an international database that supports the use of Bayesian statistics for age-at-death estimation. This resource plays a crucial role in standardizing the methodology and improving the reliability for obtaining more reliable results on a global scale. The aim of this study is to investigate the historical evolution of the technique, to assess the accuracy of the results obtained by different analytic procedures, and to explore its impact in forensic applications through a systematic analysis of the specialized literature on this field. The current state of research indicates that this type of methodological research is an ongoing process, far from being completed. Many questions and challenges that require further attention to address effectively these issues remain unanswered, such as the development of non-linear regressions and probabilistic approaches, the deepening of procedures that improve global approximations, and the intensification of research focused on achieving more accurate estimations among individuals over 70 years-old. However, studies generally agree that the Lamendin technique works well for individuals between the ages of 30–60 years. It is still in force today, although the method has been significantly perfected. Despite the degree of research development in this area, further efforts are needed to improve the understanding and performance of these kinds of procedures. This will ultimately lead to an improvement in the accuracy and reliability of forensic investigation results worldwide. • Lamendin technique is one of the most validated adult dental age estimation methods. • Research has shown an acceptable performance of the technique in age estimation. • Linear regression is the main statistical approach used for adult dental age estimation. • An openly website for age estimation through this technique was recently developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to show, in the first place, the dental morphologic characteristics of the species Homo neanderthalensis, Homo sapiens, Denisovans and Homo floresiensis. And from there, the second principal object is to attain a comparative analysis of such morphologies between the species Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis. Through dental anthropology, dental remains f indings in archeological sites has led and still leads to a significant increase in the amount of information that may be drawn from such human populations. Due to dental anthropology, evidence of diet, oral diseases and pathologies, evolution of the mandible and, therefore, of the size of the cranium and encephalon, even of the individual's body dimension have been extracted. Genetics have proven that some modern populations share ancient genes, present in DNA, with species such as Denisovans, primarily in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Likewise, this paper will adress the phenomena of hybridization in species, an increasingly clear event among species that had a major impact on morphologic traits of these human groups. Lastly, the discovery of species such as Homo floresiensis suggests that evolution took different forms, expressed in the dental remains of Homini and therefore demonstrating that there is still much to be know about human evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leonardo Polo's Transcendental Anthropology could be a substantial contribution to the foundation of «Education», that's why it is pertinent to broaden its study and use it in the philosophy of education. Polo's anthropology distinguishes in man a triple dimension: a) the human nature, composed of the body and the soul -with its faculties of intelligence and will-in a natural state; b) the human essence, consisting of the perfections acquired in nature -habits of the intelligence and virtues of the will-from the act of being through the innate habit of synderesis (the modern self); c) the personal act of being, composed by free coexistence, personal knowing and personal loving. Approaching issues of philosophy of education, Polo defines the educational task as «helping to grow», a notion he acquires from the Spanish educator Tomás Alvira. Through a bibliographical review of Polo's anthropological work, this concept of education is explored in depth. Analyzing the Polian writings, it is concluded that education must be developed from the person, because in this way, each man -unique and unrepeatable-, with the guidance and help of his educators, will be able to fulfill his intimate mission and grow in an unrestricted way in habits of the intelligence and virtues of the will. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports on research into a nasal tooth sample belonging to a 12-years-old child excavated from the Kayalıpınar archaeological site in Sivas province, Turkey. The individuals of Kayalıpınar were dated between the Hellenistic-Early Byzantine periods. In the anthropological analysis of the child, a supernumerary tooth defined as inverted mesiodens on the maxilla was encountered. The tooth had an amorphous structure, the tooth root was very short and the tooth crown extended into the nasal cavity. The latest feature proves that it is a supernumerary nasal tooth. This evaluation is in parallel with similar studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that frugivorous anthropoids have wider incisors than folivores relative to body mass, and that catarrhines have relatively wider incisors than platyrrhines. This study reexamines these contrasts using mandibular length as a biomechanical standard to quantify relative incisor width. Materials and Methods: Dental, mandibular, and body‐mass data for 86 anthropoid species were taken from the literature. Incisor width was size‐adjusted using shape ratios, with mandibular length and body mass as the denominators. Dietary and phylogenetic effects were examined using phylogenetic generalized least squares. Results: Mandible‐based ratios provide a signal that is very similar to the one derived from ratios computed using body mass. Frugivores have relatively wider incisors than folivores, as expected. There is limited support for a stronger dietary effect in platyrrhines when mandible‐based ratios are used, but neither type of ratio indicates an overall difference between platyrrhines and catarrhines. Discussion Although both ratios support a link between incisor size and diet, there is some evidence indicating that mandible‐based ratios are more sensitive to dietary variation at smaller phylogenetic scales. Understanding why the signals from the two ratios diverge at such scales may help clarify the functional significance of variation in incisor width. The results of this study undermine the view that platyrrhines, as a group, tend to have narrower incisors than catarrhines, regardless of diet. Instead, the difference between the two clades noted in previous studies can be explained by greater incisor functional diversity in platyrrhines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental anthropology is an important aspect of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. In forensic anthropological studies, identifying an unknown individual from a mangled and decomposing body is a challenging task. Cranial remains are the only critical clues available for personal identification. Age, sex, and stature are significant parameters in establishing the identity of an unrecognized individual. Stature is the natural height of the individual in an upright position. Stature can be estimated from various parts of the body such as long bones, short bones, and skull. Few studies conducted in specific population have established a correlation for predicting stature from cephalometric and odontometric parameters. Thus, the present study was conducted to determine stature and gender based on cephalometric and odontometric parameters in the population of Tamil Nadu. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of predicting the stature and gender of an individual based on odontometric measurements, facial height, and bizygomatic width. Materials and methods: A total of seventy individuals in the age group of 18–24 years were selected for the study. The facial height, bizygomatic width and length ,mesiodistal and labiolingual diameter of clinical crown of maxillary central,lateral and canine teeth of both the right and left quadrants were measured. The values were analyzed statistically. Through this analysis, regression equations for estimation of stature from odontometric and facial index were derived. Results: Pearson correlation test was carried out to establish a correlation between the stature and the measured parameters. Regression analysis was carried out to establish stature from the odontometric and facial index of the individual. The regression equations were used to get estimated stature in the same sample of volunteers from which regression equations were obtained. Tabulated results showed a probable correlation between various parameters. Conclusion: In our study, a positive correlation between cephalometric measurements, gender, crown length of permanent left central incisor, and combined mesiodistal diameter of permanent maxillary anteriors with stature was found. This can be used as a supplementary method for estimating the stature of unknown human bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioarchaeological analysis of human remains from St Hilda's Church cemetery, South Shields was undertaken to investigate ancestral diversity in post-medieval Britain. Methodological evaluations argue that when diversity is explored through phenotypic traits, biological affiliations are best investigated through dental morphology due to its resistance to exogenous influences, whereas cranial form appears to be increasingly influenced by environmental and cultural factors in the post-medieval period. A novel quantitative model was developed for a within-group analysis of dental morphology assessed through the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System, successfully identifying an ancestral outlier. An osteobiographical narrative for this individual, combining osteological and historical data with social theory, suggests that personhood is malleable and multifaceted. Ancestry is therefore most appropriately understood as one aspect of identity which also included sex, occupation, social status and linguistic affiliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to systematically investigate the value of combining traits from different anatomical regions in osteological sexing by contrasting the utility of single traits and established scores with those of ensembles of traits from single or multiple anatomical regions, allowing metric and morphological traits to be combined. The utility was defined as the fraction of the population for whom we could reach a posterior probability above 95% of being male or female. A total of 675 adult individuals from the sixth to eighth century AD cemetery of Mannheim Bösfeld, Germany, were assessed, and 27 postcranial metric traits and 41 morphological traits from the pelvis, mandible, and cranium were used. In addition, 13 metric and 3 morphological scores were considered. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to construct rules and cross validation to determine accuracy and utility. These parameters were determined for single traits and scores, trait groups defined by anatomical regions and/or previously considered in the literature, and ensembles of traits defined by selecting several promising traits from different anatomical regions. Accuracy of single traits ranged from 0.76 to 0.94, with scores even reaching 0.97, but utility remained around 0.2–0.4 for metric traits and up to 0.6 for morphological traits. Only scores and ensembles combining traits from different anatomical regions reached a utility above 0.7; that is, sex could be estimated in more than 70% of the individuals with a posterior probability above 95%. When selecting a limited number of traits for systematic sexing in a human skeletal series, it is advisable to select traits from different anatomical regions to obtain a reasonably reliable result in as many individuals as possible. Large scale investigations covering all relevant anatomical regions and involving a wide range of populations are required for more precise recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental anthropology is an important aspect of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. In forensic anthropological studies, identifying an unknown individual from a mangled and decomposing body is a challenging task. Cranial remains are the only critical clues available for personal identification. Age, sex, and stature are significant parameters in establishing the identity of an unrecognized individual. Stature is the natural height of the individual in an upright position. Stature can be estimated from various parts of the body such as long bones, short bones, and skull. Few studies conducted in specific population have established a correlation for predicting stature from cephalometric and odontometric parameters. Thus, the present study was conducted to determine stature and gender based on cephalometric and odontometric parameters in the population of Tamil Nadu. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of predicting the stature and gender of an individual based on odontometric measurements, facial height, and bizygomatic width. Materials and methods: A total of seventy individuals in the age group of 18-24 years were selected for the study. The facial height, bizygomatic width and length, mesiodistal and labiolingual diameter of clinical crown of maxillary central, lateral and canine teeth of both the right and left quadrants were measured. The values were analyzed statistically. Through this analysis, regression equations for estimation of stature from odontometric and facial index were derived. Results: Pearson correlation test was carried out to establish a correlation between the stature and the measured parameters. Regression analysis was carried out to establish stature from the odontometric and facial index of the individual. The regression equations were used to get estimated stature in the same sample of volunteers from which regression equations were obtained. Tabulated results showed a probable correlation between various parameters. Conclusion: In our study, a positive correlation between cephalometric measurements, gender, crown length of permanent left central incisor, and combined mesiodistal diameter of permanent maxillary anteriors with stature was found. This can be used as a supplementary method for estimating the stature of unknown human bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to expand the theoretical basis of personalised education with the help of Leonardo Polo's transcendental anthropology. Specifically, it addresses the difficulty of arranging learning and teaching so that they can be regarded as parts of a strict duality, that is to say, exercises that cannot be done without both elements. This particular mutual reference or intrinsic opening enables personalised educational growth, which is intrinsic or habitual perfecting, thus preventing learning and teaching from becoming disconnected as parallel processes that are only coincidentally related. Personalised education, inspired by Leonardo Polo, is understood as a perfecting in common of educators and learners that each of them achieves in duality with the other. In personalised education, teaching and learning are intersubjective or social manifestations that are peculiar to the essence of each human being, given that teaching and learning happen in living-with others, with the performance of individual tasks in a secondary position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that there is a direct and strong relationship between dental pathology, dietary habits, and subsistence economies. Dental caries, the most frequently used bioanthropological data source for determining the dietary habits of past people, provides considerable information about the types of foods predominantly consumed. On the other hand, analyzing dental wear provides an insight into food preparation techniques. In this study, the dental caries and wear on the dentition of individuals from İkiztepe, Bakla Tepe, and Titriş Höyük, dated to the Late Chalcolithic (3500–3000 bc) and the Early Bronze Age (3100–2000 bc), were analyzed to examine potential differences in their dietary habits. The highest caries frequency was observed at Bakla Tepe (10%), followed by İkiztepe with 6.8% and then Titriş Höyük with 4.2%. Stable isotope analyses previously carried out on the same populations suggest a homogenous, predominantly terrestrial C3‐based mixed diet. However, statistically significant differences in caries frequencies and caries surface and depth scores suggest that there are interpopulation differences regarding the amount of carbohydrate and protein in their diet. The dental wear of all populations can be considered as slight, which indicates the consumption of well‐processed, soft, and fine‐grained foods. However, İkiztepe, with the highest mean value of dental wear (x¯: 3.14), is an exception within the sample populations (Bakla Tepe: 2.93; Titriş Höyük: 2.85) examined in this study. Differences in the economic and ecological characteristics of these settlements were effective in explaining the differences observed in dental caries and wear. Although C3‐based foods were common for all of the populations, the relative amount they were consumed is likely different for each sample population, suggesting heterogeneity within and between populations with regard to consumed resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some researchers posit population continuity between Late Palaeolithic hunter–gatherers of the late Pleistocene and Holocene agriculturalists from Lower (northern) Nubia, in northeast Africa. Substantial craniodental differences in these time-successive groups are suggested to result from in situ evolution. Specifically, these populations are considered a model example for subsistence-related selection worldwide in the transition to agriculture. Others question continuity, with findings indicating that the largely homogeneous Holocene populations differ significantly from late Pleistocene Lower Nubians. If the latter are representative of the local populace, post- Pleistocene discontinuity is implied. So who was ancestral to the Holocene agriculturalists? Dental morphological analyses of 18 samples (1075 individuals), including one dated to the 12th millennium BCE from Al Khiday, near the Upper Nubian border, may provide an answer. It is the first Late Palaeolithic sample (n = 55) recovered within the region in approximately 50 years. Using the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System to record traits and multivariate statistics to estimate biological affinities, Al Khiday is comparable to several Holocene samples, yet also highly divergent from contemporaneous Lower Nubians. Thus, population continuity is indicated after all, but with late Pleistocene Upper—rather than Lower Nubians as originally suggested—assuming dental traits are adequate proxies for ancient DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: While genetic studies have documented variation in admixture proportions in contemporary African Americans across the US, relatively little is known about the socio‐historical roots of this variation. Our goal in this study is to use dental morphology to explore the socio‐historical correlates of admixture, localized gene flow, and drift in African Americans. Methods: Our data are ordinally‐graded dental morphological traits scored in 196 Africans, 335 Europeans and European Americans, 291 pre‐Spanish‐contact Native Americans, and 722 African Americans. The African American data derived from contemporary and historic samples. We eliminated from analysis individuals and traits with greater than 20% missing data. We summarized the major axes of trait variation using principal component analysis (PCA), estimated biological distance, constructed multidimensional scaling (MDS) plots of the distances, and measured the correlation between geographic and biological distance. Results: In the PCA, African American groups clustered between Africans and Europeans on PC 1, reflecting admixture between the groups. PC 2 separated African American samples, possibly reflecting movement, isolation, and drift. MDS analyses confirmed the existence of sizable biological distances between African American samples, especially between contemporary and past African American samples. We found no relationship between biological and geographic distances. Discussion: We demonstrate that admixture and drift can be inferred from multi‐variable analyses of patterns of dental morphology in admixed populations. Localized gene flow has not affected patterns of trait variation in African Americans, but long‐range movement, isolation, and drift have. We connect patterns of dental trait variation to efforts to flee oppression during the Great Migration, and the repeal of anti‐miscegenation laws. Special Issue: Race reconciled II: Interpreting and communicating biological variation and race in 2021 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental anomalies are developmental cases that are mostly reported in clinical studies and infrequent in archaeological skeletal populations. The skeleton series which obtained from Kayalıpınar archaeological site of the Sivas Province and dated to the Hellenistic-Early Byzantine period comprise the materials of the study. In this study, it was intended to determine the prevalence and types of dental anomalies in Kayalıpınar individuals, their distribution by sex and their possible causes. As a result of the research, one or more dental anomalies were detected in the jaws and teeth of 12 (8%) out of 150 individuals. The most common dental anomaly after impacted teeth is absence of congenital tooth. There is no statistical difference between genders in terms of proportional distribution. It is more emphasized on the importance of genetic and environmental factors related to etiology of tooth anomaly. In this study, it is thought that a stress to have experienced during the tooth development process and retained deciduous teeth have/may have an effect on the detected dental anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological variations in tooth structure exhibit as metric and non-metric traits which play an important role in dental anthropology. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of morphometric traits and mean crown dimensions of primary molars in children This cross-sectional study was carried out in 4256 sectional dye casts of caries-free children aged 2.5–4 years from Puducherry. Two calibrated examiners graded the non-metric traits utilising the Arizona State University Dental Anthropological System classification and measured the crown dimensions in primary molars. The results are expressed in the form of numbers and percentages. Of the eight non-metric traits studied, metaconule (30.17%), Cusp of Carabelli (90.6%), and deflecting wrinkle (87.41%) in second primary molars, and distal trigonid crest (93.06%) and parastyle (3.48%) in first primary molars, seemed to have higher prevalence, and the overall crown dimensions were found to be smaller in comparison with those in other populations. This study highlights the prevalence of aberrant dental traits in primary molars in a population. The study describes, for the first time, the existence of these traits in first primary molars, adding anthropological significance of primary dentition in various other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its transformative impact on human history, the early domestication of the horse (Equus caballus) remains exceedingly difficult to trace in the archaeological record. In recent years, a scientific consensus emerged linking the Botai culture of northern Kazakhstan with the first domestication of horses, based on compelling but largely indirect archaeological evidence. A cornerstone of the archaeological case for domestication at Botai is damage to the dentition commonly linked with the use of bridle mouthpieces, or "bit wear." Recent archaeogenetic analyses reveal, however, that horse remains from Botai are not modern domesticates but instead the Przewalski's horse, E. przewalskii—warranting reevaluation of evidence for domestication. Here, we compare osteological traits hypothesized to have been caused by horse transport at Botai with wild Pleistocene equids in North America. Our results suggest that damage observed in Botai horse teeth is likely generated by natural disturbances in dental development and wear, rather than through contact with bridle equipment. In light of a careful reconsideration of the mid-Holocene archaeological record of northern Eurasia, we suggest that archaeological materials from Botai are most effectively explained through the regularized mass harvesting of wild Przewalski's' horses—meaning that the origins of horse domestication may lie elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The food that people and animals consume leaves microscopic traces on teeth in predictable ways, and analyses of these markings—known as dental microwear analyses—allow us to reverse engineer the characteristics of diet. However, the microwear features of modern human diets are most often interpreted through the lens of ethnographic records. Given the subtle variation within human diets when compared to other species, we need better models of how foods and processing techniques produce marks on teeth. Here, we report on the second study to target the occlusal surface microwear of living human populations, and the first to target populations other than foragers. Methods: We collected 150 dental impressions from five Kenyan communities: El Molo, Turkana (Kerio), Luhya (Webuye), Luhya (Port Victoria), and Luo (Port Victoria), representing a range of subsistence strategies and associated staple diets—fishing, pastoralism, and agriculture. Our results suggest that the occlusal microwear of these groups records differences in diet. However, biofilm obscured most of the molds obtained despite the steps taken to remove it, resulting in only 38 usable surfaces. Results: Due to the biofilm problem and final sample size, the analysis did not have enough power to demonstrate the differences observed statistically. The results and problems encountered are here explained. Conclusions: Considering that in vivo studies of dental microwear texture analysis have the potential to increase our understanding of the association between patterns of dental microwear and complex, mixed human diets, resolution of the current pitfalls of the technique is critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odontological studies of ancient populations represent different indicators related to health state, lifestyle and human diet. The aim of this paper is to determine the dental health indicators in the Chernyakhov population (the end of the IVth c. AD) from Ukraine. The paper also attempts to identify the relationship between sex and these indicators in the studied population. The sample analysed consisted of the dental remains of 25 adult individuals (11 males and 14 females) and 8 children individuals excavated from the cemetery at the archaeological site of Shyshaki (Poltava region of Ukraine). A total of 760 teeth were examined for caries, tooth wear and calculus clinically, and 647 teeth of adults were observed radio-graphically. The studied population presents frequency of caries in individuals of 12.5%. This indicator in adult male and female dentition is 42.86% and 14.0% respectively, and 25% in children. The presented population frequency of caries teeth was 0.88%. Females presented higher caries rate than males (2.72 % females vs. 0.36 % males) (p<0.05). The most frequent were caries lesions of cementum-enamel junction (40%) and combined lesions of crown and root (40%) with no difference in terms of sex. Frequency of dental wear in adult individuals and 8-10 year-old individuals was 100%. The studied population represented TWI (tooth wear index) in adults (2.26), which increased with aging, but the difference in terms of sex is insignificant. Calculus was observed in 64.28% of the females and 63.33% of the males, showing no statistical difference (p>0.5). These findings confirm a very low rate of caries teeth in the territory of Shyshaki during the Late Roman period, which could be related to regional diet and concentration of fluorine in drinking water. The Chernyakhov population presents high dental wear and similar frequency of dental calculus when compared to the population from Roman Britain. Females presented significantly higher frequency of caries than males, whereas no significant sex differences were found regarding dental wear, calculus, and localisation of caries lesions. The authors presume that dental health indicators in the Chernyakhov culture need to be studied more with bigger sample size and data of the populations from other regions of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two human lateral mandibular incisors exhibiting exceptional dental wear in the form of lingual surface grooves along the cementoenamel junction were recovered from the superficial levels of a pit grave attributed to the Bronze Age at the archaeological site of Monte do Vale do Ouro 2 (Ferreira do Alentejo, Beja, Portugal). Although a number of analyses of dental wear features acknowledge the relatively common use of the dentition for nondietary purposes (using the 'teeth as tools') during the Early/Middle Bronze Age (2200–1200 BC) of southwest Iberia, the form of dental wear documented at Monte do Vale do Ouro 2 is not only a novel finding in this region but also has seldom been described in any bioarchaeological context. The present study provides a macroscopic and low‐magnification description of the atypical dental wear for this individual. Results indicate that the incisors are likely antimeres. In addition to the deep lingual grooves, asymmetrical wear removed a substantial portion of the laterolingual crown volume of each tooth. Occlusal and lingual surface wear accumulated slowly enough for tertiary dentin to form. An occlusal groove is also present on the right I2. A review of ethnohistoric and bioarchaeological literature suggests that some form of craft production involving the manipulation of cordage or fibre with the mouth and teeth can account for the unique wear patterns from Monte do Vale do Ouro 2. The hand‐spinning of flax requires wetting which can be accomplished by passing flax fibres through the mouth in a mediolateral direction while using a hand spindle. Similar habitual behaviours were probably practiced by the Bronze Age individual from Monte do Vale do Ouro 2. The wear grooves represent the embodiment of aspects of craft production and maintenance activities that occurred during this individual's lifecourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims at assessing the frequency of dental non-metric traits in the 17th century population of Iaşicity (Romania). The analysed sample consists of 73 lower (mandibular) second molars (M2), and the evaluated non-metric characters are based on the criteria of Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System (ASUDAS). Considering the degree of the teeth wear, only the following non-metric traits were analysed: anterior fovea, groove patterns, cusp numbers and hypoconulid. The most common occlusal morphology in the analysed sample of mandibular second molar shave a pattern with four cusps and "+" groove. The fifth cusp is represented by large size hypoconulid and it is present in only 9.72% of the sample. The anterior fovea is present mostly in 41.1% of the dental sample; it has a large variability, dominating the molars with a weak ridge that connects the mesial faces of protoconid and metaconid cusps (score 1). This study is a preliminary one, and the analysis of non-metric characters will be extended to other archaeological human populations from Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The health-disease-care process is a universal event, which each society and culture develops in its own way. The specialized literature suggests that more studies and preventive actions are needed to improve the oral health of indigenous peoples, respecting their cultures. The Guahibo people are originally from the Venezuelan and Colombian plains, they are a heterogeneous population that is scattered both in the national territory and in eastern Colombia. Until now, no studies on the oral health from the Guahibo perspective have been found. Purpose: This research aimed to describe oral health from the perspective of members of the Guahibo community in Amazonas state, Venezuela. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive, and phenomenological study using ethnographic data collection techniques (open interviews, observation, and field notes) was carried out. Triangulation was used as the data analysis technique. Results: It was found that the Guahibo people merge western practices with the ancestral practices of their ethnic group in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. Among the indigenous practices are religious rites, use of medicinal plants and mineral products. Conclusions: The presence of disease for Guahibo people is determined by the painful symptoms. The most widely used treatments are those that include plants and religious rites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gigapixel and gigapixel-like (GPL) imaging strategies are a powerful means of communicating scientific results of visual observations in academic and public spheres. GPL images are made from a photomosaic of multiple, adjacent extended focus images, which allows users to "pan and zoom" across a surface to document or analyze specific features. Microscopic approaches using GPL imaging strategies are gaining popularity in use-wear analyses of lithics and bone implements but have not been applied to the study of human skeletal or dental remains. Here we present three examples of GPL imaging using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the dental surfaces of teeth excavated from the Chalcolithic contexts of El Mirador Cave (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain). Numerous common features are identifiable in the GPL examples from El Mirador Cave that include wear features (e.g., enamel chipping, labial striations), perikymata, calculus deposits, hypoplasias, and postmortem taphonomic features. One GPL example shows a less-commonly documented pair of lingual surface features (i.e., lingual surface attrition of the maxillary anterior teeth [LSAMAT] and a continuous cingular lesion [CCL]) for which co-occurrence has not been previously documented. Another example using a combination of GPL, macrophotography, and additional high magnification SEM images shows a case of chemical erosion on a labial surface of the tooth - a seldom documented form of wear in bioarchaeological contexts. This latter example also highlights the complementary nature of SEM (and GPL) with digital macrophotography for documenting dental wear features. Together, these examples illustrate the utility of GPL images of dental surfaces for didactic purposes and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tetonius-Pseudotetonius (T-P) transition is an often-cited example of phyletic gradualism, but rates of evolution and the roles of neutral and adaptive processes across this lineage remain unclear. Linking Tetonius and Pseudotetonius, two omomyid primates, are a series of stratigraphic and morphologic intermediates revealing trends suggestive of a functional and developmental reorganization of the dentition. Notable changes involved the P3, which reduced size and became indistinguishable from the canine and I2, and the P4, which became a robust tall-cusped tooth comparable to a molar. We test two hypotheses: (1) neutral evolution can explain the observed phenotypic differences in the lineage, and (2) P4 lost developmental association with P3 and became integrated with the molars. First, we calculate the rate of evolutionary differentiation, based on the ratio between inter- and intra-species variation in length and width of P3, P4, M1, and M2 teeth, between lineage segments and over the entire lineage. We test the second hypothesis by comparing bivariate correlations between teeth within individual lineage segments. As the lineage evolved, correlations between P3 and the molars diminished, whereas correlations between P4 and the molars increased. We found evidence of varying degrees of stabilizing selection in the lengths and widths of all cheek teeth and evidence of neutral evolution in the width of P4. These results support a trend towards P4 becoming integrated into the molar morphogenetic field, and demonstrates that morphological rates of evolution, and consequently the degree of selective pressures, vary through time and between teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five multituberculate species have been reported to date from the upper Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) Shahai and Fuxin formations in Liaoning Province, northeastern China. We herein describe an additional species of eobaatarid multituberculate from the Fuxin Formation, Dolichoprion lii, gen. et sp. nov., with a long (relative to height) crown of the fourth lower premolar, which is unique among eobaatarids. We also describe the upper dentition possibly referable to another eobaatarid genus previously known only from lower jaws, Liaobaatar, based on a newly discovered specimen. The new species is the sixth multituberculate (and the fourth eobaatarid) species described from the Shahai and Fuxin formations. These species suggest that multituberculates, especially eobaatarids, were taxonomically quite diverse in the mammalian fauna of East Asia at that time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Crown and root traits, like those in the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System (ASUDAS), are seemingly useful as genetic proxies. However, recent studies report mixed results concerning their heritability, and ability to assess variation to the level of genomic data. The aim is to test further if such traits can approximate genetic relatedness, among continental and global samples. Materials and Methods: First, for 12 African populations, Mantel correlations were calculated between mean measure of divergence (MMD) distances from up to 36 ASUDAS traits, and FST distances from >350,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among matched dental and genetic samples. Second, among 32 global samples, MMD and FST distances were again compared. Correlations were also calculated between them and inter‐sample geographic distances to further evaluate correspondence. Results: A close ASUDAS/SNP association, based on MMD and FST correlations, is evident, with rm‐values between.72 globally and.84 in Africa. The same is true concerning their association with geographic distances, from.68 for a 36‐trait African MMD to.77 for FST globally; one exception is FST and African geographic distances, rm = 0.49. Partial MMD/FST correlations controlling for geographic distances are strong for Africa (.78) and moderate globally (.4). Discussion Relative to prior studies, MMD/FST correlations imply greater dental and genetic correspondence; for studies allowing direct comparison, the present correlations are markedly stronger. The implication is that ASUDAS traits are reliable proxies for genetic data—a positive conclusion, meaning they can be used with or instead of genomic markers when the latter are unavailable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]