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Avila V, Betlrán EO, Cortés A, Usuga-Vacca M, Castellanos Parras JE, Diaz-Baez D, Martignon S. Prevalence of erosive tooth wear and associated risk factors in Colombian adolescents. Braz Oral Res 2024; 38:e050. [PMID: 38922210 DOI: 10.1590/1807-3107bor-2024.vol38.0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Accurate determination of the prevalence of erosive tooth wear (ETW) and associated risk factors in adolescents can inform clinical management guidelines. The aim of this analytical cross-sectional study was to estimate the prevalence, severity, and risk factors of ETW in adolescents aged 12-15 years in the municipality of Usaquén in Bogotá, Colombia. Two calibrated examiners clinically assessed ETW using Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) Index (range: 0-3). All tooth surfaces (excluding proximal) were scored to allow estimation of the Highest (0-3) and Total BEWE (sum of Highest BEWE score per sextant: 0-18) scores per patient. Sociodemographic characteristics, ETW risk factors, and caries severity (ICDAS-epi-merged) were evaluated, and their association with the presence of ETW (indicated by a Highest BEWE score of 2-3) was examined using preliminary analyses and logistic regression models. The study sample included 454 adolescents (mean age: 13.5±1.1 years; female: 61.7%), and the prevalence of ETW was 71.6%. The majority of participants exhibited a Highest BEWE score of 3 (58.0%) and a Total BEWE score ≤8 (84.3%). The preliminary analysis showed an association between the presence of ETW and age, caries, and brushing teeth before eating (p-value < 0.05). Risk factors for ETW included always brushing teeth before eating [adjusted Prevalence Ratio (PRa) 1.31, p-value=0.014], presence of extensive carious lesions (PRa 1.23, p-value = 0.024), male gender (PRa 1.14, p-value = 0.028), and age > 14 years (PRa 1.17, p-value = 0.009). Although ETW was highly prevalent, most Colombian adolescents exhibited low Total BEWE scores. ETW was associated with frequent fruit intake, age, toothbrushing habits, caries lesions, and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Avila
- Universidad El Bosque, Unica - Caries Research Unit, Research Department, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Edgar Orlando Betlrán
- Universidad El Bosque, Unica - Caries Research Unit, Research Department, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrea Cortés
- Universidad El Bosque, Unica - Caries Research Unit, Research Department, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Margarita Usuga-Vacca
- Universidad El Bosque, Unica - Caries Research Unit, Research Department, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - David Diaz-Baez
- Universidad El Bosque, School of Dentistry, Unit of Basic Oral Investigation, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Stefania Martignon
- Universidad El Bosque, Unica - Caries Research Unit, Research Department, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia
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Decaup PH, Garot E, Vanderesse N, Couture C. How geographical origin and dietary habits interact with the shape of cortical mandibular sections? A geometric morphometrics study in an archaeological context. Arch Oral Biol 2024; 161:105938. [PMID: 38430644 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2024.105938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mandibular shape is strongly influenced by biomechanics, particularly during dietary shifts that often occurred in past populations. The relationship is considered extremely complex as development of the mandible is a multifactorial process. Since cortical bone distribution is purportedly more biomechanically sensitive than external shape, comparison of its distribution in past populations can provide new input to understand this complex relationship. The present study examined the effects of geographical origin and dietary habits on the internal anatomy of the mandibular corpus and symphysis. DESIGN A morphometric analysis was conducted on 72 mandibles from different populations, sampled by their geographical origin and subsistence strategies. Procrustes ANOVAs were performed to test the impact of section-plane location, geographical origin, and dietary habits on the groups' shapes. RESULTS The specimens' geographical origin and dietary habits had a significant effect on the shapes of the sections (Generalized Goodall F-test, F = 3.2745, df = 6, 304: p < 0.001 and F = 3.7007, df = 4, 306: p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Geographical origin and dietary habits influenced the shape of the mandibular sections in our sample. These relationships become more complex when analysed in isolated sections. Indeed, this study revealed that symphysis sections could be predominantly influenced by individual variables, whereas intermediate sections of the corpus could be predominantly influenced by populational variables. Future studies could focus on specific sections to better identify the specific "rules of dependence" in each cross-section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Hadrien Decaup
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, Pessac, France; Université de Bordeaux, UFR des sciences odontologiques, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Elsa Garot
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, Pessac, France; Université de Bordeaux, UFR des sciences odontologiques, Bordeaux, France
| | - Nicolas Vanderesse
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, Pessac, France
| | - Christine Couture
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, Pessac, France
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Massé L, d’Incau E, Souron A, Vanderesse N, Santos F, Maureille B, Le Cabec A. Unraveling the Life History of Past Populations through Hypercementosis: Insights into Cementum Apposition Patterns and Possible Etiologies Using Micro-CT and Confocal Microscopy. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:43. [PMID: 38248474 PMCID: PMC10813066 DOI: 10.3390/biology13010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The "teeth-as-tools" hypothesis posits that Neanderthals used their anterior teeth as a tool or a third hand for non-dietary purposes. These non- or para-masticatory activities (e.g., tool-making or food preparation prior to ingestion) have also been described in other past and extant human populations, and other Primates. Cementum is the mineralized tissue that covers the tooth root surface and anchors it to the alveolar bone. Under certain conditions (e.g., mechanical stress, infection), its production becomes excessive (i.e., beyond the physiological state) and is called 'hypercementosis'. Several studies in dental anthropology have established a correlation between the teeth-as-tools and hypercementosis. The present work aims to characterize the different patterns of cementum apposition on archeological teeth and discuss their supposed etiology. Using microtomography and confocal microscopy, the patterns of cementum apposition (i.e., thickness, location, and surface characteristics) were analyzed in 35 hypercementotic teeth (Sains-en-Gohelle, France; 7th-17th c. A.D.). Four groups were identified with distinct hypercementosis patterns: (1) impacted, (2) infected, (3) hypofunctional, and (4) hyperfunctional teeth. Characterizing hypercementosis can contribute to documenting the oral health status (paleopathology) and/or masticatory activity of individuals, even from isolated teeth. This has implications for the study of fossil hominins, particularly Neanderthals, known for their use of anterior teeth as tools and frequent and substantial occurrence of hypercementosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Massé
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
- UFR des Sciences Odontologiques de Bordeaux, Univ. Bordeaux, F-33076 Bordeaux, France;
- University Hospital, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Emmanuel d’Incau
- UFR des Sciences Odontologiques de Bordeaux, Univ. Bordeaux, F-33076 Bordeaux, France;
- University Hospital, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, SANPSY, UMR 6033, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Antoine Souron
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
| | - Nicolas Vanderesse
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
| | - Frédéric Santos
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
| | - Bruno Maureille
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
| | - Adeline Le Cabec
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
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Oudkerk J, Grenade C, Davarpanah A, Vanheusden A, Vandenput S, Mainjot AK. Risk factors of tooth wear in permanent dentition: A scoping review. J Oral Rehabil 2023; 50:1110-1165. [PMID: 37147932 DOI: 10.1111/joor.13489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tooth wear (TW) prevalence is high and increasing and has important consequences on the patient's quality of life. Knowledge of risk factors is crucial to promote diagnosis, prevention strategies and timely interceptive treatment. Many studies have identified TW risk factors. OBJECTIVE This scoping review aims to map and describe suspected available factors associated with TW in permanent dentition based on quantitative measurement. METHODS The scoping review was conducted using the PRISMA extension of the Scoping Reviews checklist. The search was conducted in October 2022 from the Medline® (PubMed® interface) and Scopus® databases. Two independent reviewers selected and characterised the studies. RESULTS 2702 articles were identified for assessment of titles and abstracts, and 273 articles were included in the review. The results show a need to standardise TW measurement indices and the study design. The included studies highlighted various factors, classified into nine domains: sociodemographic factors, medical history, drinking habits, eating habits, oral hygiene habits, dental factors, bruxism and temporomandibular disorders, behavioural factors, and stress. Results related to chemical TW (erosion) risk factors underline the importance of eating disorders, gastroesophageal reflux and lifestyle, particularly drinking and eating behaviours, which supports developing public health information campaigns and interventions. Besides chemical, this review identifies evidence of several mechanical TW risk factors, such as toothbrushing and bruxism; the influence of this last factor needs to be further explored. CONCLUSIONS TW management and prevention require a multidisciplinary approach. Dentists are in the first line to detect associated diseases such as reflux or eating disorders. Consequently, practitioners' information and guideline diffusion should be promoted, and a TW risk factors checklist (the ToWeR checklist) is proposed to help diagnostic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Oudkerk
- Dental Biomaterials Research Unit (d-BRU), Institute of Dentistry, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
- Department of Fixed Prosthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, University of Liège Hospital (CHU), Liège, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Grenade
- Dental Biomaterials Research Unit (d-BRU), Institute of Dentistry, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
- Department of Fixed Prosthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, University of Liège Hospital (CHU), Liège, Belgium
| | - Anoushka Davarpanah
- Dental Biomaterials Research Unit (d-BRU), Institute of Dentistry, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
| | - Alain Vanheusden
- Dental Biomaterials Research Unit (d-BRU), Institute of Dentistry, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
- Department of Fixed Prosthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, University of Liège Hospital (CHU), Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Amélie K Mainjot
- Dental Biomaterials Research Unit (d-BRU), Institute of Dentistry, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
- Department of Fixed Prosthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, University of Liège Hospital (CHU), Liège, Belgium
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Godinho RM, Umbelino C, Garcia S, Gonçalves C. Changes in dental wear magnitude in the last ∼8000 years in southwestern Iberia. Arch Oral Biol 2023; 147:105626. [PMID: 36701952 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2023.105626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examines changes in dental wear magnitude in the past ∼8000 years, i.e., since Mesolithic until the 19th century, in southwestern Iberia. Thus, it encompasses the transition from hunting-gathering to agro-pastoralism, and then to the industrialization of food production and pre-processing. DESIGN Dental wear magnitude was scored in a total of 191 individuals and 1557 teeth from Mesolithic (individuals=56; teeth=643), Neolithic (individuals=35; teeth=169), Chalcolithic (individuals =35; teeth=221), Modern Age (individuals=17; teeth=209), and Late Modern Age (individuals=48; teeth=315) samples originating in southwestern Iberia (i.e., present central and southern Portugal) and according to the 8 levels ordinal scale of Smith (1984). RESULTS Results show a general trend for decreased wear magnitude in these two major transitions and during this timespan (although the hunting-gathering - agro-pastoralism transition had larger impact). The only meaningful differences in wear rate were found between the Late Modern Age and all remaining samples. CONCLUSION Dental wear generally decreased during this timespan (although wear magnitude was less impacted by the industrialization of food production and pre-processing). Our results are consistent with studies documenting skull morphological gracilization associated with reduced masticatory demands due to the adoption of softer diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Miguel Godinho
- Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArEHB), University of Algarve, Faculdade das Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Umbelino
- Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArEHB), University of Algarve, Faculdade das Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Susana Garcia
- Centre for Public Administration and Public Policies, Institute of Social and Political Sciences, MUHNAC, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua Almerindo Lessa, 1300-663 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Célia Gonçalves
- Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArEHB), University of Algarve, Faculdade das Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, Campus Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
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Walsh S. Early evidence of extra-masticatory dental wear in a Neolithic community at Bestansur, Iraqi Kurdistan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY 2022; 32:1264-1274. [PMID: 37066120 PMCID: PMC10087735 DOI: 10.1002/oa.3162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents the first evidence of extra-masticatory dental wear from Neolithic Bestansur, Iraqi Kurdistan (7700-7200 BC). Bestansur is a rare, recently excavated burial site of this period in the Zagros region, of Iraqi Kurdistan. A total of 585 teeth from 38 individuals were analyzed for features indicative of activities including oblique wear planes, notches, grooves, and chipping. Indications of extra-masticatory wear were found in 27 of 38 individuals, and 277 of 585 teeth (47%) available for study. The most frequent features were chipping and notches suggesting activities such as processing fibers by using the teeth as a "third hand." Evidence for these wear features was present in both males, females, and in children aged five and older. These aspects of childhood life-course and dentition are rarely investigated. The presence of dental wear features in the deciduous dentition can indicate an age range at which activities began in different groups and highlights the importance of including juvenile remains in such studies. The variety of forms of dental wear may relate to the mixed diet and activities of these people. This study adds to our understanding of human behaviors and socio-cultural aspects of life during this transitional period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Walsh
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of Central LancashirePrestonUK
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Monaco M, Riccomi G, Minozzi S, Campana S, Giuffra V. Exploring activity-induced dental modifications in medieval Pieve di Pava (central Italy, 10th-12th centuries AD). Arch Oral Biol 2022; 140:105449. [DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2022.105449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Evidence of habitual behavior from non-alimentary dental wear on deciduous teeth from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic Cantabrian region, Northern Spain. J Hum Evol 2021; 158:103047. [PMID: 34403991 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2021.103047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The use of 'teeth as tools' (non-masticatory or cultural-related dental wear) has largely been employed as a proxy for studying of past human behavior, mainly in permanent dentition from adult individuals. Here we present the analysis of the non-masticatory dental wear modifications on the deciduous dentition assigned to eight Neanderthal and anatomically modern human subadult individuals from Mousterian to Magdalenian technocultural contexts in the Cantabrian region (Northern Spain). Although preliminary, we tentatively suggest that these eight subadults present activity-related dental wear, including cultural striations, chipped enamel, toothpick grooves, and subvertical grooves. We also found evidence of habitual dental hygienic practices in the form of toothpicking on a deciduous premolar. Orientation of the cultural striations indicates similar handedness development as in modern children. Taken together, these dental wear patterns support the participation of young individuals in group activities, making them potential contributors to group welfare. This study potentially adds new evidence to the importance of the use of the mouth in paramasticatory activities or as a third hand throughout the Pleistocene, which can be confirmed with a more specific reference sample.
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Gagnon CM. Exploring oral paleopathology in the Central Andes: A review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2020; 29:24-34. [PMID: 31711738 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2019.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This targeted review of oral paleopathology in the Central Andes explores research that focuses on a set of interrelated, multifactorial processes: dental caries, macrowear, alveolar abscess, antemortem tooth loss (AMTL), periodontal disease, and the presence of dental calculus. These conditions help characterize oral health because they result from the culturally mediated interaction of individuals' oral cavity with their external environment. To better understand how osteologists working in the Central Andes have interpreted the frequencies of these conditions, I review the etiology of each, as well as discuss the important issues in their analyses. I then highlight studies that integrate of a number of oral paleopathological conditions, that examine associations between oral conditions and other skeletal indicators of health, or that use multivariate statistical techniques to analyze conditions. In the Central Andes, these proxies for oral health have generally focused on several key research themes including the introduction of domesticated foods may have occurred earlier than expected, but that populations may have maintained mixed subsistence strategies for a significant period. Researchers have also identified that changes accompanying Inca imperialism were likely not as detrimental to local populations as was Spanish colonialism. Finally, the long-practiced, culturally important, activity of chewing coca has been shown to create an identifiable pattern of oral paleopathological conditions.
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Stibbard‐Hawkes DNE, Attenborough RD, Mabulla IA, Marlowe FW. To the hunter go the spoils? No evidence of nutritional benefit to being or marrying a well‐reputed Hadza hunter. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 173:61-79. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert D. Attenborough
- Department of Archaeology and AnthropologyCambridge University Cambridge UK
- School of Archaeology and AnthropologyThe Australian National University Canberra Australia
| | - Ibrahim A. Mabulla
- Institute of Resource AssessmentUniversity of Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam Tanzania
| | - Frank W. Marlowe
- Department of Archaeology and AnthropologyCambridge University Cambridge UK
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Krueger KL, Willman JC, Matthews GJ, Hublin JJ, Pérez-Pérez A. Anterior tooth-use behaviors among early modern humans and Neandertals. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224573. [PMID: 31774826 PMCID: PMC6880970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Early modern humans (EMH) are often touted as behaviorally advanced to Neandertals, with more sophisticated technologies, expanded resource exploitation, and more complex clothing production. However, recent analyses have indicated that Neandertals were more nuanced in their behavioral adaptations, with the production of the Châtelperronian technocomplex, the processing and cooking of plant foods, and differences in behavioral adaptations according to habitat. This study adds to this debate by addressing the behavioral strategies of EMH (n = 30) within the context of non-dietary anterior tooth-use behaviors to glean possible differences between them and their Neandertal (n = 45) counterparts. High-resolution casts of permanent anterior teeth were used to collect microwear textures of fossil and comparative bioarchaeological samples using a Sensofar white-light confocal profiler with a 100x objective lens. Labial surfaces were scanned, totaling a work envelope of 204 x 276 μm for each individual. The microwear textures were examined for post-mortem damage and uploaded to SSFA software packages for surface characterization. Statistical analyses were performed to examine differences in central tendencies and distributions of anisotropy and textural fill volume variables among the EMH sample itself by habitat, location, and time interval, and between the EMH and Neandertal samples by habitat and location. Descriptive statistics for the EMH sample were compared to seven bioarchaeological samples (n = 156) that utilized different tooth-use behaviors to better elucidate specific activities that may have been performed by EMH. Results show no significant differences between the means within the EMH sample by habitat, location, or time interval. Furthermore, there are no significant differences found here between EMH and Neandertals. Comparisons to the bioarchaeological samples suggest both fossil groups participated in clamping and grasping activities. These results indicate that EMH and Neandertals were similar in their non-dietary anterior tooth-use behaviors and provide additional evidence for overlapping behavioral strategies employed by these two hominins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin L. Krueger
- Department of Anthropology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - John C. Willman
- Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES), Tarragona, Spain
- Àrea de Prehistòria, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Tarragona, Spain
| | - Gregory J. Matthews
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jean-Jacques Hublin
- Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alejandro Pérez-Pérez
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Romero A, Ramirez-Rozzi FV, Cuesta-Torralvo E, Pérez-Pérez A. Age-related tooth wear in African rainforest hunter-gatherers. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 170:622-628. [PMID: 31599980 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Central African small-scale foragers subsist primarily on hunting game activities and wild plant-food gathering. Starch-rich tubers are underground storage organs (USOs) and staple food resources in savanna and tropical rainforests. However, little is known about the effect of USO consumption on tooth wear development in living hunter-gatherers. We report age- and sex-dependent tooth wear rates in forest-dwelling Baka Pygmies with well-documented wild-yam-tuber-based diet to explore the long-term impact of USO mechanical hardness and abrasiveness on the wearing down of the teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS Percentages of dentine exposure (PDEs) of permanent left mandibular first molars (M1 ) were recorded using in vivo high-resolution replicas of Baka individuals (aged 8-33 years), inhabiting Le Bosquet district in Cameroon (Western Africa). Regression and covariance analyses were used to test the effect of individual aging by sex on PDE rates. RESULTS We found a strong increase of PDE by age among Baka individuals. No evidence of sexual dimorphism in wear patterns suggests similar sex-related dietary and masticatory demands during growth. Overall, greatest dentine exposure values ≈4% denote unexpected slow wear down rates for foraging diets relying on USO consumption. DISCUSSION The low molar wear rates with age found in Baka Pygmies contrast with extensive wear rates in savanna-dwelling foragers, reflecting differences in thermal processing techniques affecting fracture toughness and grittiness of mechanically challenging foods. Our findings reveal that culture-specific dietary proclivities influence tooth wear among foraging behaviors with important implications in hominin dietary versatility and abrasive stress on chewing surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Romero
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | | | - Elisabeth Cuesta-Torralvo
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciencies Ambientals, Secció Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandro Pérez-Pérez
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciencies Ambientals, Secció Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Ungar PS, Livengood SV, Crittenden AN. Dental microwear of living Hadza foragers. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 169:356-367. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter S. Ungar
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas
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Hoover KC, Berbesque JC. Early Holocene morphological variation in hunter-gatherer hands and feet. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5564. [PMID: 30202658 PMCID: PMC6129140 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Windover mortuary pond dates to the Early Archaic period (6,800–5,200 years ago) and constitutes one of the earliest archaeological sites with intact and well-preserved human remains in North America. Unlike many prehistoric egalitarian hunter-gatherers, the Windover people may not have practiced a sex-based division of labor; rather, they may have shared the load. We explore how mobility and subsistence, as reconstructed from archaeological data, influenced hand and foot bone morphology at Windover. Methods We took length and width measurements on four carpal bones, four tarsal bones, and load-bearing tarsal areas (calcaneus load arm, trochlea of the talus). We analyzed lateralization using side differences in raw length and width measurements. For other hypothesis testing, we used log transformed length-width ratios to mitigate the confounding effects of sexual dimorphism and trait size variation; we tested between-sex differences in weight-bearing (rear foot) and shock-absorbing (mid foot) tarsal bones and between-sex differences in carpal bones. Results We identified no significant between-sex differences in rear and midfoot areas, suggesting similar biomechanical stresses. We identified no significant between-sex differences in carpal bones but the test was under-powered due to small sample sizes. Finally, despite widespread behavioral evidence on contemporary populations for human hand and foot lateralization, we found no evidence of either handedness or footedness. Discussion The lack evidence for footedness was expected due its minimal impact on walking gait but the lack of evidence for handedness was surprising given that ethnographic studies have shown strong handedness in hunter-gatherers during tool and goods manufacture. The reconstructed activity patterns suggested both sexes engaged in heavy load carrying and a shared division of labor. Our results support previous findings—both sexes had stronger weight-bearing bones. Male shock-absorbing bones exhibited a trend towards greater relative width (suggesting greater comparative biomechanical stress) than females which may reflect the typical pattern of male hunter-gatherers engaging in walking greater distances at higher speeds than females. While there were no significant between-sex differences in carpal bones (supporting a shared work load model), females exhibited greater variation in index values, which may reflect a greater variety of and specialization in tasks compared to males. Because carpals and tarsals are so well-preserved at archaeological sites, we had surmised they might be useful proxies for activity in the absence of well-preserved long bones. Tarsals provide a stronger signal of past activity and may be useful in the absence of, or in addition to, preferred bones. Carpals, however, may not be useful as the effect size of biomechanical stress (in this study at least) is low and would require larger samples than may be possible at archaeological sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara C Hoover
- Department of Anthropology and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, United States of America
| | - J Colette Berbesque
- Centre for Research in Evolutionary, Social and Inter-Disciplinary Anthropology, University of Roehampton, London, United Kingdom
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Fragiadakis GK, Smits SA, Sonnenburg ED, Van Treuren W, Reid G, Knight R, Manjurano A, Changalucha J, Dominguez-Bello MG, Leach J, Sonnenburg JL. Links between environment, diet, and the hunter-gatherer microbiome. Gut Microbes 2018; 10:216-227. [PMID: 30118385 PMCID: PMC6546328 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2018.1494103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of traditional populations provides a view of human-associated microbes unperturbed by industrialization, as well as a window into the microbiota that co-evolved with humans. Here we discuss our recent work characterizing the microbiota from the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania. We found seasonal shifts in bacterial taxa, diversity, and carbohydrate utilization by the microbiota. When compared to the microbiota composition from other populations around the world, the Hadza microbiota shares bacterial families with other traditional societies that are rare or absent from microbiotas of industrialized nations. We present additional observations from the Hadza microbiota and their lifestyle and environment, including microbes detected on hands, water, and animal sources, how the microbiota varies with sex and age, and the short-term effects of introducing agricultural products into the diet. In the context of our previously published findings and of these additional observations, we discuss a path forward for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela K. Fragiadakis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Samuel A. Smits
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Erica D. Sonnenburg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - William Van Treuren
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gregor Reid
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Department of Surgery, Western University, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rob Knight
- Departments of Pediatrics and Computer Science & Engineering and Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Alphaxard Manjurano
- Parasitic Diseases Programme and Laboratory Sciences Programme, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - John Changalucha
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme and Laboratory Sciences Programme, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Department of AnthropologyRutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJUSA
| | - Jeff Leach
- Human Food Project, Terlingua, Texas, USA
- The Department of Twin Research and Genetic EpidemiologyKing’s College London, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK
| | - Justin L. Sonnenburg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Faillace KE, Bethard JD, Marks MK. The applicability of dental wear in age estimation for a modern American population. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2017; 164:776-787. [PMID: 29076127 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2017] [Revised: 08/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Though applied in bioarchaeology, dental wear is an underexplored age indicator in the biological anthropology of contemporary populations, although research has been conducted on dental attrition in forensic contexts (Kim et al., , Journal of Forensic Sciences, 45, 303; Prince et al., , Journal of Forensic Sciences, 53, 588; Yun et al., , Journal of Forensic Sciences, 52, 678). The purpose of this study is to apply and adapt existing techniques for age estimation based on dental wear to a modern American population, with the aim of producing accurate age range estimates for individuals from an industrialized context. MATERIALS AND METHODS Methodologies following Yun and Prince were applied to a random sample from the University of New Mexico (n = 583) and Universidade de Coimbra (n = 50) cast and skeletal collections. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between tooth wear scores and age. RESULTS Application of both Yun et al. () and Prince et al. () methodologies resulted in inaccurate age estimates. Recalibrated sectioning points correctly classified individuals as over or under 50 years for 88% of the sample. Linear regression demonstrated 60% of age estimates fell within ±10 years of the actual age, and accuracy improved for individuals under 45 years, with 74% of predictions within ±10 years. DISCUSSION This study demonstrates age estimation from dental wear is possible for modern populations, with comparable age intervals to other established methods. It provides a quantifiable method of seriation into "older" and "younger" adult categories, and provides more reliable age interval estimates than cranial sutures in instances where only the skull is available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie E Faillace
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Jonathan D Bethard
- Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620
| | - Murray K Marks
- Department of General Dentistry, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, Tennessee 3792
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17
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Watson JT, Haas R. Dental evidence for wild tuber processing among Titicaca Basin foragers 7000 ybp. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2017; 164:117-130. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James T. Watson
- Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona; Tucson Arizona 85721
- School of Anthropology; University of Arizona; Tucson Arizona 85721
| | - Randall Haas
- Department of Anthropology; University of California; Davis California 95616
- Collasuyo Archaeological Research Institute; Puno Peru
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18
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Littleton J. Dental wear and age grading at Roonka, South Australia. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2017; 163:519-530. [PMID: 28374451 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In many hunter-gatherer populations, the teeth are used as a third hand or a tool. Much attention has been paid to wear and its relationship to gendered division of labor, but age is also a significant organizing factor in many societies. In this article, I analyze whether the pattern of wear at Roonka, Australia, reflects the age-graded acquisition of tasks. MATERIALS AND METHODS The remains analyzed come from Roonka and date from c6000 BP to 150 BP. In total 126 adults and juveniles were analyzed. Wear gradients were calculated for each tooth relative to wear on the first molar. Data were compared using nonparametric statistics and cluster analysis to assess the degree of patterning within the sample. RESULTS Dental wear proceeded rapidly. There is no evidence of sex differences in the pattern of wear. Age differences do occur. While disproportionate anterior wear occurs among juveniles and young adults, by middle adulthood the pattern is less variable and involves the premolars. Old adults have a much flatter pattern of wear. DISCUSSION The pattern of wear is consistent with ethnographic observations, which suggest a degree of latitude in the activities of juveniles and young adults. By middle age variability between individuals declines reflecting shared tasks and more intensive use of the teeth. The pattern of wear amongst old adults, however, is much flatter presumably due to changes in occlusion. While dental wear is informative about the organization of labor there is a need to take into account both patterns of activity and occlusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Littleton
- Department of Anthropology, University of Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
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Crittenden AN, Sorrentino J, Moonie SA, Peterson M, Mabulla A, Ungar PS. Oral health in transition: The Hadza foragers of Tanzania. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172197. [PMID: 28296885 PMCID: PMC5351833 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional wisdom holds that a decline in oral health accompanies the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture, given increased consumption of carbohydrates. This widely touted example of the mismatch between our biology and modern lifestyle has been intuited largely from the bioarchaeological record of the Neolithic Revolution in the New World. Recent studies of other populations have, however, challenged the universality of this assertion. Here, we present the first comprehensive study of oral health among a living population in transition from the bush to village life, the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania, to test the hypothesis that the shift from foraging to farming, or agricultural intensification, inevitably leads to increased periodontal disease, caries, and orthodontic disorders. Our results showed that women living in villages consuming a mostly agricultural diet exhibited more caries and periodontal disease than those living in the bush consuming a mostly wild-food diet. Furthermore, men living in the bush consuming mostly a wild-food diet had more than those living in the village consuming a mostly agricultural diet. These findings are explained by the high incidence of maize consumption in village settings, along with previously recognized variation in rate of caries between men and women. The unexpected discovery of high caries incidences for men in the bush is likely explained by heavy reliance on honey, and perhaps differential access to tobacco and marijuana. These data support the notions that mechanisms of cariogenesis are multifactorial and that the relationships between oral health and the shift from a predominantly wild-food diet to one dominated by cultigens are nuanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa N. Crittenden
- Metabolism, Anthropometry, and Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America
| | - John Sorrentino
- D.M.D. Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, New York, United States of America
| | - Sheniz A. Moonie
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America
| | | | - Audax Mabulla
- Department of Archaeology, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Peter S. Ungar
- Department of Anthropology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Estalrrich A, El Zaatari S, Rosas A. Dietary reconstruction of the El Sidrón Neandertal familial group (Spain) in the context of other Neandertal and modern hunter-gatherer groups. A molar microwear texture analysis. J Hum Evol 2017; 104:13-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Berbesque JC, Wood BM, Crittenden AN, Mabulla A, Marlowe FW. Eat first, share later: Hadza hunter–gatherer men consume more while foraging than in central places. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Górka K, Romero A, Pérez-Pérez A. First molar size and wear within and among modern hunter-gatherers and agricultural populations. HOMO-JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE HUMAN BIOLOGY 2015; 66:299-315. [PMID: 26032341 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchb.2015.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Apart from reflecting modern human dental variation, differences in dental size among populations provide a means for studying continuous evolutionary processes and their mechanisms. Dental wear, on the other hand, has been widely used to infer dietary adaptations and variability among or within diverse ancient human populations. Few such studies have focused on modern foragers and farmers, however, and diverse methods have been used. This research aimed to apply a single, standardized, and systematic quantitative procedure to measure dental size and dentin exposure in order to analyze differences among several hunter-gatherer and agricultural populations from various environments and geographic origins. In particular, we focused on sexual dimorphism and intergroup differences in the upper and lower first molars. Results indicated no sexual dimorphism in molar size and wear within the studied populations. Despite the great ethnographic variation in subsistence strategies among these populations, our findings suggest that differences in sexual division of labor do not affect dietary wear patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Górka
- Secció Antropologia, Departament de Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Alejandro Romero
- Departament de Biotecnología, Facultat de Ciencias, Universidad de Alicante, 03690, Spain
| | - Alejandro Pérez-Pérez
- Secció Antropologia, Departament de Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Spain.
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Botha D, Steyn M. Dental health of the late 19th and early 20th century Khoesan. HOMO-JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE HUMAN BIOLOGY 2015; 66:187-202. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchb.2015.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Estalrrich A, Rosas A. Division of labor by sex and age in Neandertals: an approach through the study of activity-related dental wear. J Hum Evol 2015; 80:51-63. [PMID: 25681013 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2014.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Revised: 06/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The analysis of activity-related dental wear patterns in prehistoric anatomically modern humans and modern hunter-gatherers has shown sex differences attributable to a gendered division of labor. Neandertals are known to have extensive anterior dental wear related to the use of their front teeth as a tool. In this study we analyze the i) cultural striations (scratches on the labial surface of the anterior teeth with a cut-mark morphology), and ii) dental chipping (ante-mortem microfracture involving enamel or both enamel and dentine) in 19 Neandertal individuals from the l'Hortus (France), Spy (Belgium), and El Sidrón (Spain) sites, and compare the characteristics of those traits with the age and sex estimation for the individuals and among samples. The study reveals that all individuals have cultural striations, but those detected on the adult females are longer than the striations found in adult males. Regarding the distribution of dental chipping, the prevalence of this trait is higher in the maxillary dentition of males whereas females have the majority of dental chipping on their mandibular teeth. The differences detected on the overall activity-related dental wear pattern denote a difference or a division of labor by age and sex in Neandertals while using the mouth as a third hand, i.e., in activities other than the provisioning of food, and provide new evidence for the lifestyle of this Pleistocene fossil human species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almudena Estalrrich
- Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Antonio Rosas
- Paleoanthropology Group, Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), C/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Romero A, Ramírez-Rozzi FV, De Juan J, Pérez-Pérez A. Diet-related buccal dental microwear patterns in Central African Pygmy foragers and Bantu-speaking farmer and pastoralist populations. PLoS One 2013; 8:e84804. [PMID: 24367696 PMCID: PMC3868657 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 11/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pygmy hunter-gatherers from Central Africa have shared a network of socioeconomic interactions with non-Pygmy Bantu speakers since agropastoral lifestyle spread across sub-Saharan Africa. Ethnographic studies have reported that their diets differ in consumption of both animal proteins and starch grains. Hunted meat and gathered plant foods, especially underground storage organs (USOs), are dietary staples for pygmies. However, scarce information exists about forager–farmer interaction and the agricultural products used by pygmies. Since the effects of dietary preferences on teeth in modern and past pygmies remain unknown, we explored dietary history through quantitative analysis of buccal microwear on cheek teeth in well-documented Baka pygmies. We then determined if microwear patterns differ among other Pygmy groups (Aka, Mbuti, and Babongo) and between Bantu-speaking farmer and pastoralist populations from past centuries. The buccal dental microwear patterns of Pygmy hunter-gatherers and non-Pygmy Bantu pastoralists show lower scratch densities, indicative of diets more intensively based on nonabrasive foodstuffs, compared with Bantu farmers, who consume larger amounts of grit from stoneground foods. The Baka pygmies showed microwear patterns similar to those of ancient Aka and Mbuti, suggesting that the mechanical properties of their preferred diets have not significantly changed through time. In contrast, Babongo pygmies showed scratch densities and lengths similar to those of the farmers, consistent with sociocultural contacts and genetic factors. Our findings support that buccal microwear patterns predict dietary habits independent of ecological conditions and reflect the abrasive properties of preferred or fallback foods such as USOs, which may have contributed to the dietary specializations of ancient human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Romero
- Universidad de Alicante, Departamento de Biotecnología, Alicante, Spain
| | - Fernando V. Ramírez-Rozzi
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Propre de Recherche “Dynamique de l’Évolution Humaine,” Paris, France
| | - Joaquín De Juan
- Universidad de Alicante, Departamento de Biotecnología, Alicante, Spain
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