title: Dental-macrowear and diet of Tigara foragers from Point Hope, northern Alaska.
abstract: Ethnographic studies indicate that Eskimo foragers are characterized by well-defined sexual division of labor and extensive use of anterior teeth as a tool, resulting in higher degrees of wear. However, little is known about the intra-population variation in molar-macrowear rates and dietary implications. Here, percentages of dentin exposure (PDE) were recorded on first mandibular molars among Tigara foragers from Point Hope (Alaska) and attempt to correlate age and sex variation in wear patterns. We found that no overall sex-related differences in PDE exist and suggest that molars did not take a part in para-masticatory or cultural practices. Strong correlation with increasing age was found as expected but males wore their teeth at higher rates than females related to masticatory demands during growth. Our findings suggest that individual variation in molar-macrowear must be attributed to biomechanics of chewing and cultural behavior rather than sexual variation in food acquisition.
authors.affiliation: Secc. Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Dept. Biologia Evolutiva, Ecología i Ciències Ambientals. Fac. de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona. Av. Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Górka
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Alicante, 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Secc. Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Dept. Biologia Evolutiva, Ecología i Ciències Ambientals. Fac. de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona. Av. Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Pérez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska / Q000208:ethnology; D000072957:Alaska Natives / Q000208:ethnology*; D000885:Anthropology, Physical; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D057085:Tooth Wear / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult