Earliest evidence of dental caries manipulation in the Late Upper Palaeolithic

Title
Earliest evidence of dental caries manipulation in the Late Upper Palaeolithic
Publication Date
2015
Author(s)
Oxilia, Gregorio
Peresani, Marco
Boscato, Paolo
Jaouen, Klervia
Dogandzic, Tamara
Broglio, Alberto
Moggi-Cecchi, Jacopo
Fiorenza, Luca
Hublin, Jean-Jacques
Kullmer, Ottmar
Benazzi, Stefano
Romandini, Matteo
Matteucci, Chiara
Spiteri, Cynthianne Debono
Henry, Amanda G
Schulz, Dieter
Archer, Will
Crezzini, Jacopo
Boschin, Francesco
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Place of publication
United Kingdom
DOI
10.1038/srep12150
UNE publication id
une:20546
Abstract
Prehistoric dental treatments were extremely rare, and the few documented cases are known from the Neolithic, when the adoption of early farming culture caused an increase of carious lesions. Here we report the earliest evidence of dental caries intervention on a Late Upper Palaeolithic modern human specimen (Villabruna) from a burial in Northern Italy. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy we show the presence of striations deriving from the manipulation of a large occlusal carious cavity of the lower right third molar. The striations have a 'V'-shaped transverse section and several parallel micro-scratches at their base, as typically displayed by cutmarks on teeth. Based on in vitro experimental replication and a complete functional reconstruction of the Villabruna dental arches, we confirm that the identified striations and the associated extensive enamel chipping on the mesial wall of the cavity were produced ante-mortem by pointed flint tools during scratching and levering activities. The Villabruna specimen is therefore the oldest known evidence of dental caries intervention, suggesting at least some knowledge of disease treatment well before the Neolithic. This study suggests that primitive forms of carious treatment in human evolution entail an adaptation of the well-known toothpicking for levering and scratching rather than drilling practices.
Link
Citation
Scientific Reports, v.5, p. 1-10
ISSN
2045-2322
Start page
1
End page
10

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