Saturday, March 20, 2021

Factoid of the day: the Truth is in the tooth

I always try to follow stories of DNA analysis that comes from analyzing the marrow inside teeth: not just human DNA that allows one to figure out who is related to whom or follow the course of migration, but the ability to identify infectious disease.

But teeth morphology (shape) can also give clues to ancient man's activity of daily lives. 

Including toothpicks: In this case, not from humans but in the Neanderthal teeth.


 Neanderthals used toothpicks 45 000 years ago.

Polish archeologists found evidence of wear on molars that probably had been caused by a "Fairly stiff cylindrical object".

headsup Archeology

I seem to remember that one evidence of domestication of horses was also implied by the wear patterns on teeth caused by bridles.

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