title: Carabelli's trait in Croatian populations over 1800 years.
abstract: Examination and comparison of the morphological features of tooth crown in archaeological and recent samples can be difficult due to the different levels of tooth wear seen both within and between populations. These differences make the comparison of frequency data for Carabelli trait problematic. The aim of the present study is to detect the frequency and degree of expression of Carabelli's trait in Croatian populations from late antiquity to recent times and to use these data as supplementary evidence of complex population migration. A total of 1287 individuals from the late antiquity, medieval, early modern and modern periods were examined. Correlation between the presence of Carabelli's trait and tooth crown size was tested. The results of our analyses show that the frequency of Carabelli's trait is significantly greater in the early modern period (51.3%) and in the 21st century (43.1%) than in the late antiquity (20.4%) and medieval periods (23.4%). These results are consistent with historical evidence of migration and population change in the territory of present-day Croatia throughout the almost 1800 years covered by this study. The results also provide additional evidence for the complex nature of population change in the transition from the late antiquity to the early medieval period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Anthropology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Gundulićeva 5, Zagreb 10000, Croatia. vodanovic@sfzg.hr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vodanović
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zukanović
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galić
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Savić Pavičin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dumančić
authors.forename: Ž
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Bedić
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Njemirovskij
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Šlaus
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brkić
mesh_terms: D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D014071:Tooth Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000473:pathology*