Behavioral inferences from the high levels of dental chipping in Homo naledi

Bibliographic Data

ID8317358
AuthorsIan Towle (0000-0001-8099-6220, Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, John Moores University Liverpool L3 3AF United Kingdom, corresponding author), Joel D Irish (0000-0001-7857-8847, Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, John Moores University Liverpool L3 3AF United Kingdom), I De Groote (0000-0002-9860-0180, Liverpool John Moores University)
Year2017
Volume164
Issue1
Pages184-192
Publication date2017-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.23250
PMID28542710
OpenAlexW2618174145
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited53

OBJECTIVES: A variety of mechanical processes can result in antemortem dental chipping. In this study, chipping data in the teeth of Homo naledi are compared with those of other pertinent dental samples to give insight into their etiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Permanent teeth with complete crowns evidencing occlusal wear were examined macroscopically. The location, number, and severity of fractures were recorded and compared to those found in samples of two other South African fossil hominin species and in samples of nonhuman primates (n = 3) and recent humans (n = 7). RESULTS: With 44% of teeth affected, H. naledi exhibits far higher rates of chipping than the other fossil hominin samples. Specifically, 50% of posterior teeth and 31% of anterior teeth display at least one chip. The maxillary teeth are more affected than the mandibular teeth (45% vs 43%, respectively), 73% of molar chipping occurs on interproximal surfaces, and right teeth are more often affected than left teeth (50% vs 38%). DISCUSSION: Results indicate that the teeth of H. naledi were exposed to acute trauma on a regular basis. Because interproximal areas are more affected than buccal and posterior teeth more than anterior, it is unlikely that nonmasticatory cultural behavior was the cause. A diet containing hard and resistant food, or contaminants such as grit, is more likely. The small chip size, and steep occlusal wear and cupped dentine on some molars are supportive of the latter possibility. This pattern of chipping suggests that H. naledi differed considerably-in terms of diet, environment, and/or specialized masticatory processing-relative to other African fossil hominins

Anterior teeth · Enamel paint · Molar · Posterior teeth · Tooth wear · Dentistry · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Medicine · Orthodontics · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Primate Behavior and Ecology