Dental Anthropology

Shelley Saunders This book offers a welcome diversity of topics covering the broader subjects of teeth and the study of teeth by anthropologists. There is an impressive array of coverage here including the history of anthropological study of the teeth, morphology and structure, pathology and epidemiology, the relationship between nutrition, human behavior and the dentition, age and sex estimation from teeth, and geographic and genetic variation. Most chapter authors have provided thorough reviews of their subjects along with examples of recent analytical work and recommendations for future research. North American researchers should particularly appreciate the access to an extensive European literature cited in the individual chapter bibliographies. Physical anthropologists with even a passing interest in dental research should greet the publication of this book with pleasure since it adds to a growing list of books on how the study of teeth can tell us so much about past human populations. In addition to the archaeological applications, there is the forensic objective of dental anthropology which the editors refer to in their introduction which is dealt with in this volume. The chapters dealing with methods of sex determination, age estimation of juveniles and age estimation of adults using the teeth are exhaustive and exacting and of critical importance to both "osteoarchaeologists" and forensic anthropologists. Authors Liversidge, Herdeg and Rosing provide very clear guidelines for the use of dental formation standards in juvenile age estimation, recommendations that are so obviously necessary at this time.

comprehensive view of this new field of dental anthropology basic introduction as well as a reference no up-to-date book on the market

Auteur
Kurt W. Alt ist geschäftsführender Leiter des Instituts für Anthropologie der Universität Mainz.

Texte du rabat

The study of teeth is an important key to the biology and culture of past and living populations. Their extreme hardness, their numerous and highly heritable characteristics and their susceptibility to environmental responses allow inferences of human evolution, adaptation, living conditions, environments, group affinity, kinship and the life and death of single persons. This has been gradually discovered during the last thirty years, and it lead to the formation of the new field of dental anthropology. It is rooted in biology and has strong ties to dentistry, forensics and the humanities. This book gives a comprehensive view of this new field of dental anthropology. It provides a basic introduction as well as a reference for the specialist in anthropology, forensics, ecology, paleontology and dentistry. Most aspects are completely new, particularly the syntheses. The basic experience and literature is of a broad international and multilingual origin.

Résumé
"... an excellent overview of the multidisciplinary nature of dental anthropology including some of the limitations of present approaches, as well as future directions ... a valuable addition to the literature in dental anthropology ... recommended to teachers, researchers and postgraduate students in the field." Anthropological Science "... A new, modern text on this interesting subject. Hundreds of excellent illustrations. Well referenced." Journal of the American Association of Forensic Dentists, 4-6/1999

Contenu
1 Dental Anthropology - An Introduction.- 2 Teeth in History.- 2.1 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Weimar, and Dental Anthropology.- 2.2 The History of Dental Anthropology.- 2.3 Roll Call: Thirty-Two White Horses on a Red Field. The Advantages of the FDI Two-Digit System of Designating Teeth.- 2.4 A Recently Discovered Etruscan Dental Bridgework.- 3 Dental Morphology, Structure, and Evolution.- 3.1 Anatomy and Morphology of Human Teeth.- 3.2 Hereditary Dental Anomalies.- 3.3 Micromorphological Features of Human Dental Enamel.- 3.4 The Temporomandibular Joint.- 3.5 The Maxillary Sinus of Extant Catarrhine Primates.- 3.6 Current Aspects of Dental Research in Paleoanthropology.- 4 Dental Pathology and Epidemiology.- 4.1 Caries Ancient Plague of Humankind.- 4.2 Periodontal Diseases Etiology, Classification, and Diagnosis.- 4.3 Periapical Lesions - Clinical and Anthropological Aspects.- 4.4 Paleopathological Evidence of Jaw Tumors.- 4.5 Enamel Hypoplasias in Archaeological Skeletal Remains.- 5 Nutrition and Human Behaviour.- 5.1 Diet and Nutrition in Prehistoric Central Europe.- 5.2 Archives of Childhood The Research Potential of Trace Element Analyses of Ancient Human Dental Enamel.- 5.3 Gross Dental Wear and Dental Microwear in Historical Perspective.- 5.4 Artificial Modifications on Human Teeth.- 6 Age and Sex Estimation.- 6.1 Dental Age Estimation of Non-Adults. A Review of Methods and Principles.- 6.2 Dental Age in Adults - A Review of Estimation Methods.- 6.3 Degeneration in Dental Hard Tissues and Pulp.- 6.4 Sex Determination Using Tooth Dimensions.- 6.5 The Reconstruction of Missing Tooth Dimensions as a Prerequisite for Sex Determination.- 7 Geographical and Familial Tooth Variation.- 7.1 World Variation of Tooth Size.- 7.2 Kinship Studies in Skeletal Remains Concepts and Examples.