8705_doi_deposit
20210325120000
assa
nadiag@assaf.org.za
assa
South African Journal of Science
S. Afr. J. Sci
1996-7489
03292021
117
3/4
Dental caries in South African fossil hominins
Ian
Towle
Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0939-7222
Joel D.
Irish
Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in PaleoSciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7857-8847
Isabelle
De Groote
Department of Archaeology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9860-0180
Christianne
Fernée
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
Carolina
Loch
Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8949-4008
Once considered rare in fossil hominins, caries has recently been reported in several hominin species, requiring a new assessment of this condition during human evolution. Caries prevalence and location on the teeth of South African fossil hominins were observed and compared with published data from other hominin samples. Teeth were viewed macroscopically, with lesion position and severity noted and described. For all South African fossil hominin specimens studied to date, a total of 10 carious teeth (14 lesions), including 4 described for the first time here, have been observed. These carious teeth were found in a minimum of seven individuals, including five Paranthropus robustus, one early Homo, and one Homo naledi. All 14 lesions affected posterior teeth. The results suggest cariogenic biofilms and foods may have been present in the oral environment of a wide variety of hominins. Caries prevalence in studied fossil hominins is similar to those in pre-agricultural human groups, in which 1–5% of teeth are typically affected.
03292021
1
10.17159/sajs.2016/crossmark
sajs.co.za
false
2020-07-28
2020-10-08
2021-03-29
SettingsLiverpool John Moores University
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004144
University of Otago
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100008247
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
10.17159/sajs.2021/8705
20210325120000
https://sajs.co.za/article/view/8705
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https://sajs.co.za/article/view/8705/15892
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https://sajs.co.za/article/view/8705/15892
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https://sajs.co.za/article/view/8705/15892
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https://sajs.co.za/article/view/8705/15892
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https://sajs.co.za/article/view/8705/15892
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https://sajs.co.za/article/view/8705/15892
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https://sajs.co.za/article/view/8705/15892