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Analysis of human dentition from Early Bronze Age: 4000-year-old puzzle

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A Letter to the Editor to this article was published on 02 December 2016

Abstract

This paper presents the first ever paleodontological investigation of human remains from an archeological site in Central Europe dating from the Early Bronze Age and attributed to the Strzyzow Culture. It corroborates the knowledge gained from archeological, anthropological and genetical investigations. Our study aimed to assess dental status, dental morphology and dental pathologies as well as tooth wear and enamel hypoplasia based on visual inspection and stereomicroscopic investigation. The research was supported by CBCT imaging to obtain digital images and 3D reconstructions as well as 2D radiographs essential for dental age estimation. All of the 191 teeth discovered showed morphological similarity, with adult teeth showing similar color, shape and size. A maxillary molar presenting with a unique root morphology and a mandibular molar with a rare occlusal surface were found. Both permanent and deciduous dentition presented significant tooth wear. A few specimens displayed signs of dental caries, periapical pathology and antemortem tooth loss. Three individuals exhibited linear enamel hypoplasia. CBCT provided high-quality 2D images useful for dental age estimation by non-destructive methods. Estimated dental age correlated with the age estimated by other anthropological methods. In one case, this was crucial because of insufficient material for anthropological analysis. The presented studies have proved that besides the skeleton, teeth can be used as a fundamental tool in assessing the overall health and living conditions of paleopopulations. It would seem that there is potential for considerable development to be made in the research and investigation of paleodontological material using CBCT.

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Notes

  1. Ritual burning of bodies have been recorded in the Strzyzow Culture.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mrs. Ruth Hounam for her language support.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Forensic Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland

      Agnieszka Przystańska, Dorota Lorkiewicz-Muszyńska, Monica Abreu-Głowacka, Artur Rewekant & Czesław Żaba

    2. Department of Anatomy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. Swiecickiego 6, 60-781, Poznan, Poland

      Agnieszka Przystańska & Alicja Sroka

    3. Oral Rehabilitation Clinic, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland

      Mariusz Glapiński

    4. Stanislaw Staszic Museum in Hrubieszow, Hrubieszow, Poland

      Anna Hyrchała & Bartłomiej Bartecki

    5. Section of Dental Radiology, Department of Biomaterials and Experimental Dentistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland

      Tomasz Kulczyk

    Authors
    1. Agnieszka Przystańska
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    2. Dorota Lorkiewicz-Muszyńska
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    Correspondence to Agnieszka Przystańska.

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    A. Przystańska and D. Lorkiewicz-Muszyńska equally contributed to the work.

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    Przystańska, A., Lorkiewicz-Muszyńska, D., Abreu-Głowacka, M. et al. Analysis of human dentition from Early Bronze Age: 4000-year-old puzzle. Odontology 105, 13–22 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10266-015-0220-7

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