Hominid enamel thickness: I. The Krapina Neandertals.
Dental x-rays were taken of isolated and in situ adult molar teeth of the Krapina Neandertal (n = 63) and of recent and contemporary molars (n = 423). The radiographs were digitized at high resolution (1,024 x 1,520 x 8 bits) with a 35 mm solid state scanner. Ratios of enamel cap area to the underlying dentinal-pulpal area were determined and comparisons were made between average ratios for the Neandertal and contemporary molars. Neandertal molars had significantly smaller ratios than did contemporary teeth (P < 0.05). It is suggested that the smaller ratios represent relatively thinner enamel for Neandertals and that the thin enamel may have been caused by a metabolic depression that resulted in reduced enamel quantity (hypoplasia). Alternatively, the observed differences may be related to expanded pulps seen in various stages of taurodontism.
Molnar
S
S
Department of Anthropology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130.
Hildebolt
C
C
Molnar
I M
IM
Radovcic
J
J
Gravier
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D017523:Croatia; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005580:Fossils; D049690:History, Ancient; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010161:Paleodontology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed