title: A secondary mandibular condylar articulation and collateral effects on a Late Neolithic mandible from Bois Madame rockshelter in Arbre, Belgium.
abstract: A Neolithic Belgian mandible from Bois Madame rockshelter in Arbre presents an asymmetrical morphology resulting from a secondary, or false, articulation of the right mandibular condyle. The pathological articulation produced enlarged masseter, medial pterygoid and mylohyoid musculature on the right side as well as a flattening of the right incisal alveolus curvature. The secondary condylar articulation did not lead to pronounced asymmetry of attrition on the antimeres of the dental arcade. This is the most complete mandible from this Late Neolithic collective burial dating to the beginning of the Bronze Age circa 4000 years BP. It is possible that a fall or blow to the mental symphysis during early adolescence could have resulted in the partial intrusion of the mandibular condyle into the articulation disc of the temporomandibular joint capsule. When the affected condyle healed, a secondary, but serviceable articulation developed, producing unique stresses on the involved muscular tissue and ultimately resulted in an asymmetry of mandibular form.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Georgia State University, Atlanta GA 30303 USA. Electronic address: frankwilliams@gsu.edu.
authors.forename: Frank L'Engle
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Directorate Earth & History of Life, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels B-1000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Polet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle; D010163:Paleontology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint
keywords: Belgian Neolithic; Condylar dysplasia; Gonial eversion; Mandibular condyle