In the analysis of human skeletal remains, teeth provide valuable information regarding the biological profile of an individual, as well as health status and dietary patterns in populations of varying subsistence. Atypical dental wear patterns and oral lesions are especially helpful in reconstructions of habitual behavior, as well as social factors such as sexual division of labour and specific physical activities. Four oral lesions were recorded in the dental remains of Alfedena(V–III centuries BCE; central-southern Italy): chipping, notching, interproximal grooving and lingual surface attrition of the maxillary anterior teeth. Four hundred teeth from 23 individuals (11 males, 10 females, and 2 individuals of undetermined sex) were examined macroscopically to document these lesions as evidence of possible habitual behavior. Results suggested that all the four dental lesions analyzed could have been caused by extra-masticatory activities in the Alfedena sample. Sex differences observed in the distribution, number and grade of the lesions in the Alfedena sample may reveal different dietary and/or extra-masticatory habits by the use of the teeth as ‘a tool’ or ‘a third hand’ in daily activities
EXTRA-MASTICATORY DENTAL WEAR IN THE SAMNITE NECROPOLIS OF ALFEDENA (V–III CENTURIES BC, ITALY)
TANGA, CARMEN;D'ANASTASIO, RUGGERO;VICIANO BADAL, JOAN ANTONI
2016-01-01
Abstract
In the analysis of human skeletal remains, teeth provide valuable information regarding the biological profile of an individual, as well as health status and dietary patterns in populations of varying subsistence. Atypical dental wear patterns and oral lesions are especially helpful in reconstructions of habitual behavior, as well as social factors such as sexual division of labour and specific physical activities. Four oral lesions were recorded in the dental remains of Alfedena(V–III centuries BCE; central-southern Italy): chipping, notching, interproximal grooving and lingual surface attrition of the maxillary anterior teeth. Four hundred teeth from 23 individuals (11 males, 10 females, and 2 individuals of undetermined sex) were examined macroscopically to document these lesions as evidence of possible habitual behavior. Results suggested that all the four dental lesions analyzed could have been caused by extra-masticatory activities in the Alfedena sample. Sex differences observed in the distribution, number and grade of the lesions in the Alfedena sample may reveal different dietary and/or extra-masticatory habits by the use of the teeth as ‘a tool’ or ‘a third hand’ in daily activitiesI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.