Teeth and the past in Portugal: pathology and the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition.
Carious lesions are considered an important marker of dietary change at the transition from hunting and gathering to horticulture. Within the context of the transition to the Neolithic in Central Portugal, this paper discusses factors which must be taken into consideration in reporting dental pathology frequencies. Three sites are examined, two late Mesolithic shell middens and one early Neolithic burial cave dating before 5500 calBP which is taken to b e the end of the transition period. Comparability of results across different burial types and depositional environments requires close attention to methodology. Despite inclusion of necessary detail on caries type, age of onset of pathology and age distribution within the sample, factors such as the use of teeth as tools and post-mortem alteration of teeth may make it impossible to be certain of rates of pathology. Inter-site differences in dental pathology may result, not only from diet, but from differing adult age distributions: when burial modes and deposits are dissimilar, differing diagenesis and taphonomy may further bias pathology rates, as well the use of teeth as tools which can affect attrition, trauma and tooth loss rates.
Jackes
Mary
M
D000383:Agriculture / Q000266:history*; D003468:Cultural Evolution; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D005580:Fossils; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology*; D010161:Paleodontology; D010164:Paleopathology; D011174:Portugal; D019217:Tooth Attrition / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology*