Prehistoric "fish-eaters" along the eastern Arabian coasts: dental variation, morphology, and oral health in the Ra's al-Hamra community (Qurum, sultanate of Oman, 5th-4th millennia BC)

The Ra's al-Hamra prehistoric fishermen lived in isolation on the Qurum rocky promontorium in Oman during the 5th-4th millennia BC. To date, they represent the most ancient and numerous human fossil group excavated from the Arabian peninsula. Like other contemporaneous archaeologically documented small communities along the desert Arabian coasts, they intensively exploited ocean resources and collected molluscs from nearby mangrove swamps. The present study analyzes aspects of dental anthropology (including crown variation, morphology, dental wear, and oral health), in 600 permanent teeth from 49 individuals of both sexes excavated at the Mesolithic RH5-site by the Italian Archaeological Mission in Oman from 1981 to 1985. In association with a general low degree of morphometric variation, the Ra's al-Hamra dental crowns show low sexual dimorphism and are consistently reduced in size. These features are unexpected in a preagricultural population, especially when these data are compared to other eastern African and near Middle Eastern prehistoric populations. These data are discussed within the general context of human dental structural reduction occurring during the post-Pleistocene and are interpreted according to the "increasing population density effect" model. There are other significant differences that characterize the Ra's al-Hamra dentitions with respect to both eastern and western prehistoric human groups. The frequency of numerous nonmetric crown traits supports the hypothesis that a microdifferentiation phenomenon occurred in this marginal area. The preliminary skeletal analysis and the palaeodemographic profile show that the Omani prehistoric fishermen were affected by genetic isolation and inbreeding as well as strong environmental stress. Because of the grit assimilated with dried fish and the high shellfish consumption, dental wear was extreme in all age groups at Ra's al-Hamra and occasionally was responsible for serious hematogenously spread infections. In spite of the great anthropological importance of ancient Arabian populations, very few studies on skeletal and dental samples have been completed. The present paper offers an odontological data set for future comparative research in the area.     

Crown diameters of the deciduous teeth in Australian Aboriginals

Mesiodistal and buccolingual crown diameters were measured from dental casts representing the deciduous dentitions of 197 Aboriginal children from the Northern Territory of Australia. Double determination analysis indicated that the semi-automatic recording procedure used was reliable leading to observer errors of no practical significance. Tooth-size was greater in the male subjects but the sexual dimorphism was less marked than in the permanent teeth of the same subjects. The mandibular teeth were more uniform than maxillary with respect to buccolingual size relative to mesiodistal. Extremes of general tooth-size were more marked in the deciduous dentition than in the permanent as a consequence of the relatively large deciduous second molar which in Aboriginals approximates in size the permanent first molar of many other ethnic groups.     

Molar size sequence in Australian Aboriginals

Percentage frequencies for molar size sequence of first and second molars were calculated in a group of contemporary Australian Aboriginals using mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions, as well as crown areas. Comparisons were made between sexes, arches, and dimensions within the Aboriginal groups and also between Aboriginal data and those published for other populations. The frequencies of the M2 > M1 molar size sequence in the Aboriginals fell within the range of frequencies reported for other contemporary populations. Differences in the frequencies of the M2 > M1 sequence between the sexes and between arches, together with the relatively high frequency of asymmetry in molar size sequence within Aboriginals, supported the notion that local environmental conditions acting during odontogenesis, together with differential responses to other environmental influences, play an important role in determining observed patterns of molar tooth size.     

Deciduous dental morphology of the prehistoric Jomon people of Japan: Comparison of nonmetric characters

Morphological variations of the deciduous dentition are as useful as those of the permanent dentition for determining the biological affinities of human populations. This paper provides material on morphological variations of deciduous teeth of the prehistoric Japanese population from the Late and the Latest Jomon Period (ca. 2000–ca. 300 B.C.). The expression of nonmetric traits of the deciduous teeth in the Jomon sample shows a closer affinity with modern Japanese and Native American samples than with American White, Asiatic Indian, and African samples. However, the frequency of shoveling in deciduous upper incisors in the Jomon sample is lower than those in modern Japanese and Native American samples. The Jomon sample also expresses a much higher frequency of cusp 6 in deciduous lower second molars than seen in modern Japanese, Ainu, and Native American samples. The frequency in the Jomon sample is equal to that in the Australian Aboriginal sample, which shows cusp 6 most frequently among the samples compared. A somewhat low incidence of incisor shoveling in the Jomon sample was also reported in the permanent dentition (Turner [1976] Science 193:911–913, [1979] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 51:619–635, [1987] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 73:305–321, [1990] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 82:295–317; T. Hanihara [1992] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 88:163–182, 88:183–196). However, the frequency of cusp 6 in the Jomon sample shows no significant difference from those of Northeast Asian or Native American samples in the permanent dentition (Turner [1987] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 73:305–321; T. Hanihara [1992] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 88:1–182, 88:183–196). Evidently, some nonmetric traits express an inter-group difference only in the deciduous dentition. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Principal axis analysis of dental attrition data from two Australian Aboriginal populations

Dental attrition scores from two distinct Australian Aboriginal populations were compared by principal axis analysis. The first group was composed of members of the Narrinyeri group who occupied the river basin and mouth of the River Murray. The second group consisted of members of the Kaurna tribe who occupied the coastal plain to the west of the Narrinyeri. The groups were isolated both physically and culturally and as a result differences in patterns of tooth wear might be expected. In the Narrinyeri sample, attrition tended to be more rapid in females for all but the anterior teeth. The only sex difference in the Kaurna was for the maxillary central incisors, which wore more rapidly in females. Interpopulation differences in the pattern of tooth wear were also evident. The incisors, canines, and premolars of Kaurna subjects tended to wear more rapidly, while the rate of posterior tooth wear tended to be greater in the Narrinyeri. The application of the principal axis method to quantitative attrition data provided a sensitive, objective evaluation of tooth wear. The reasons for the observed differences between the two groups are still not completely clear but may relect both functional and morphological differences between groups.     

Root number determination in maxillary first premolars for modern human populations

It is suggested that multiple root number of the maxillary first premolar be defined on the basis of lingual and buccal-root bifurcation greater than one-fourth to one-third (25%–33%) the buccal-root length. This meets pragmatic considerations and would enhance comparability of between-observer findings for an apparently independent trait of potential importance for population characterization, forensic identification, and microevolutionary analysis.     

Expression of the entoconulid (sixth cusp) on mandibular molar teeth of an Australian aboriginal population

The expression and genetic basis of the entoconulid (sixth cusp) on mandibular molars were examined in a geographically isolated group of aboriginals from Yuendumu in the Northern Territory of Australia. Four grades of trait expression, ranging from trace to small, medium, and large cusps, were defined on dental casts of 399 subjects. Frequencies of occurrence were among the highest reported in human populations. Approximately 80% of dm2s showed the trait, whereas frequencies in the permanent dentition ranged from around 50% on M2 to 70% on M1 and 80% on M3. The degree of expression increased distally along the molar series, with only 3% of dm2s showing large cusps compared with 25% of M3s. Fluctuating asymmetry was highest for M2 and lowest for dm2. No strong evidence for sexual dimorphism in occurrence or degree of expression was found. Based on a quasi-continuous threshold model, a genetic contribution to entoconulid variability was observed that was strongest for M1. Significant associations were noted between entoconulid expression on mandibular molars and metaconule expression on maxillary molars, indicating that similar developmental mechanisms may influence these traits. The entoconulid and the metaconule both provide additional bulk on the distal occlusal surface of molar teeth, an area subjected to early wear during mastication in aboriginals.     

海岱地区史前居民的拔牙习俗

在海岱地区古代居民中,北辛文化居民最早出现拔牙现象,都是拔除双侧上颌侧门齿,单一形式且高出现率的拔牙现象可能与成年仪式相关。结合考古材料和民族学资料来看,凿、敲或打应该是海岱地区史前居民去除牙齿的主要方式,具体操作应该是用细小且坚硬的工具抵在需去除的牙齿上,然后用石块等工具进行敲打。海岱地区古代居民对去除后的牙齿进行了相对随意或特意的处理,且原牙位空间没有进行其他填充。这种拔牙现象的消逝可能始于大汶口文化晚期,进入龙山文化时期海岱地区的这种拔牙现象出现了整体性的衰落。     

Hypoxic blackwater event severely impacts Murray crayfish (Euastacus armatus) populations in the Murray River,Australia

Prolonged flooding in 2010/11 ended a decade of drought and produced a large‐scale hypoxic blackwater event across the southern Murray‐Darling Basin, Australia. The hypoxic conditions caused fish kills and Murray crayfish Euastacus armatus to emerge from the water onto the river banks to avoid the poor water quality. This study examined the medium‐term impact of this blackwater event on Murray crayfish populations in the Murray River, where approximately 1800 km of the main channel were affected by hypoxia. Murray crayfish populations were surveyed in July 2012, along a 1100‐km section of the Murray River at 10 sites affected by hypoxic blackwater and six sites that were not affected, and data were compared with surveys of the same sites undertaken in July 2010, four months before the hypoxic blackwater event (before‐after‐control‐impact experimental design). Murray crayfish abundance in 2012 (post‐blackwater) was significantly lower at blackwater affected sites (81% reduction from 2010), but not at non‐affected sites. The hypoxic blackwater impacted Murray crayfish of both sexes and all size‐classes in a similar manner. The results demonstrate that prolonged periods of hypoxia can markedly impact populations of the long‐lived and slow‐growing Murray crayfish despite the species ability to emerge from hypoxic water. The findings highlight important challenges for the management of both the recreational fishery for this species and riverine flows in relation to hypoxic blackwater events.     

Mosquito seasonality and arboviral disease incidence in Murray Valley, southeast Australia

Abstract. Adult female mosquito populations were monitored at weekly intervals during spring-autumn (November-March) for 4 years (1991-95) using dry-ice-baited light traps at forty sites in the Murray Valley of Victoria, Australia. Among twenty species of mosquitoes collected, Culex annulirostriswas the most abundant (66.6 ± 9.3%) followed by Cx australicus(15.3 ± 7.7%). From a total of 476, 682 mosquitoes collected, nearly all were females and only 1295 (0.27%) were males. Mosquito population densities were generally higher in 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons than in 1991-92 and 1994-95 seasons. Greatest densities of Cx annulirostrisand Cx australicusoccurred in 1992-93, coinciding with outbreaks of Ross River (RR) and Barman Forest (BF) arboviruses causing human polyarthritis. In the majority of shires, Cx australicuswas the predominant species from spring to early summer (November and December), then was replaced by Cx annulirostrisfrom mid-summer to autumn (January-April). In three shires, Aedes bancroftianusand Ae.sagaxpredominated during the early part of the season. Densities of both Cx annulirostrisand Cx australicuswere related to temperature. Cx australicusadults were found to be trapped when the mean ambient temperature exceeded 6d?C, with peak population recorded at 20d?C. Cx annulirostrisadult density increased when the mean temperature rose above 12d?C, reaching a peak during February and March when temperature exceeded 25d?C. Cx annulirostrisdeclined rapidly from April onwards, with no adult activity evident from May to November. Population densities of Aedesspp. were generally less than reported from earlier studies, possibly due to lower rainfall in spring and summer as well as reduced flood irrigation practices. In each year, a significant correlation was detected between Cx annulirostrisdensity and RR virus incidence in humans. As Cx annulirostrisis the predominant local mosquito species and feeds on a wide spectrum of hosts including man, it seems likely that Cx annulirostrisis the major vector of RR in the inland Murray Valley region.     

Exploring the relationship between dental wear and status in late medieval subadults from England

Dental wear patterns were recorded on 458 deciduous molar teeth, of 142 subadults from late medieval (AD 1086–1539) England, to explore the relationship between dental wear and burial status of children. A new ordinal method for scoring dental wear stages on the deciduous molar teeth was devised. It was postulated that if a discernible relationship between dental wear stage and burial location could be seen then this could reflect a difference in diet between those receiving higher or lower status burial. The dental wear stages recorded were statistically similar for the dentitions of subadults from different cemeteries, as well as from different burial locations, indicating a comparable diet for the children studied. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Microsatellites isolated from diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella (L.), for studies of dispersal in Australian populations

Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is a worldwide agricultural pest that has developed resistance to many insecticides used for its control. Population structure and gene flow are yet to be determined for P. xylostella in Australia, but are important factors for the design of effective control strategies. We have isolated six polymorphic microsatellite markers: three from a partial genomic library, two from an Expressed Sequence Tagged library and one from an aminopeptidase intron of P. xylostella. These microsatellites will be used to determine population structure and gene flow in Australian populations of P. xylostella to improve insecticide resistance management.     

Additional features of Ainu dentition. V. Peopling of the pacific

Crown morphology of 85 plaster dental casts from skeletal and living Ainus of less than 1/8 non-Ainu admixture is described and compared for microevolutionary and origins considerations. There is no significant sex dimorphism and few inter-sample differences through time. Inter-observer differences occur where observation standards are poorly established. Ainu teeth exhibit a simplified pattern and have trait frequencies more like those of Polynesians and Micronesians than like Chinese, Japanese or Europeans. There is no dental evidence in support of a Caucasoid origin or close relationship. Similarities outnumber differences between Ainu teeth and those of Micronesians and Polynesians suggestive of a past biological relationship.     

Brief communication: Variation in the frequency and form of the lower permanent molar middle trigonid crest

The frequency and form of the middle trigonid crest (MTC) in lower permanent molars is reported for 1,131 dental casts of Bushman (San), Bantu, Solomons, Hawaiians, Pima, Eskimo, Navajo, Chinese, and American whites. The MTC occurs most often on the first molar. We found very little intra-trait variation, so observations were scored on a present-absent basis. The MTC is most frequent in the African samples and rare in those of the other populations. Two reference plaques can be obtained to add to the existing series in the ASU dental anthropology system. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Measurements of tooth wear among Australian aborigines: II. Intrapopulational variation in patterns of dental attrition

The possible implications of variations in dental attrition patterns have necessitated a detailed assessment of the types, ranges, and causes of tooth wear. Hear we employ measurements of postcanine occlusal wear facets from a sample population of extant Australian aborigines. A principal components analysis was applied as a tool in determining common types of attritional patterns. It was concluded that the range of intrapopulational variation in dental wear patterns must be attributed to a multiplicity of sources in addition to such commonly cited causes as dietary variations, gender, age, and developmental eruption sequences.     

New geochronological, paleoclimatological, and archaeological data from the Narmada Valley hominin locality, central India

The oldest known fossil hominin in southern Asia was recovered from Hathnora in the Narmada Basin, central India in the early 1980's. Its age and taxonomic affinities, however, have remained uncertain. Current estimates place its maximum age at >236 ka, but not likely older than the early middle Pleistocene. The calvaria, however, could be considerably younger. We report recent fieldwork at Hathnora and associated Quaternary type-sections that has provided new geological and archaeological insights. The portion of the exposed ‘Boulder Conglomerate’ within the Surajkund Formation, which forms a relict terrace and has yielded the hominin fossils, contains reworked and stylistically mixed lithic artifacts and temporally mixed fauna. Three mammalian teeth stratigraphically associated with the hominin calvaria were dated by standard electron spin resonance (ESR). Assuming an early uranium uptake (EU) model for the teeth, two samples collected from the reworked surface deposit averaged 49 ± 1 ka (83 ± 2 ka, assuming linear uptake [LU]; 196 ± 7 ka assuming recent uptake [RU]). Another sample recovered from freshly exposed, crossbedded gravels averaged 93 ± 5 ka (EU), 162 ± 8 ka (LU) or 407 ± 21 ka (RU). While linear uptake models usually provide the most accurate ages for this environment and time range, the EU ages represent the minimum possible age for fossils in the deposit. Regardless, the fossils are clearly reworked and temporally mixed. Therefore, the current data constrains the minimum possible age for the calvaria to 49 ± 1 ka, although it could have been reworked and deposited into the Hathnora deposit any time after 160 ka (given the LU uptake ages) or earlier (given the RU ages). At Hathnora, carbonaceous clay, bivalve shells, and a bovid tooth recovered from layers belonging to the overlying Baneta Formation have yielded ¹⁴C ages of 35.66 ± 2.54 cal ky BP, 24.28 ± 0.39 cal ky BP, and 13.15 ± 0.34 ky BP, respectively. Additional surveys yielded numerous lithics and fossils on the surface and within the stratigraphic sequence. At the foot of the Vindhyan Hills 2 km from the river, we recovered a typologically Early Acheulean assemblage comprised of asymmetrical bifaces, large cleavers with minimal working, trihedral picks, and flake tools in fresh condition. These tools may be the oldest Acheulean in the Narmada Valley. Several lithics recovered from the Dhansi Formation may represent the first unequivocal evidence for an early Pleistocene hominin presence in India. In situ invertebrate and vertebrate fossils, pollen, and spores indicate a warm, humid climate during the late middle Pleistocene. High uranium concentrations in the mammalian teeth indicate exposure to saline water, suggesting highly evaporative conditions in the past. Late Pleistocene sediment dated between 24.28 ± 0.39 cal ky BP and 13.15 ± 340 ky BP has yielded pollen and spores indicating cool, dry climatic conditions corresponding to Oxygen Isotope Stage 2 (OIS 2). An early Holocene palynological assemblage from the type locality at Baneta shows evidence for relatively dry conditions and a deciduous forest within the region. The Dhansi Formation provisionally replaces the Pilikarar Formation as the oldest Quaternary formation within the central Narmada Basin. The Baneta Formation, previously dated at 70 ka to 128 ka, correlates with the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. Our results highlight the need for further Quaternary geological and paleoanthropological research within the Narmada Basin, especially because dam construction threatens these deposits.     

In search of clinal variation in the period and clock timing genes in Australian Drosophila melanogaster populations

Clinal variation for repeat number in the Thr-Gly region of the period circadian timing gene in Drosophila melanogaster was described in Europe and has subsequently been used as evidence of thermal selection on period alleles. To test for clinal variation in this gene along the east coast of Australia, the period polymorphism was scored on flies from multiple samples collected repeatedly over a 5-year interval, along with variation at another circadian rhythm locus, clock. For period, there was no consistent evidence of clinal variation in the 17 and/or 20 repeat alleles, although when average allele length was examined a weak consistent clinal pattern was detected. For clock there was no evidence of clinal variation in the two most common alleles or in average repeat size. These data are inconsistent with the reported patterns in Europe and suggest that clinal variation in timing genes needs to be re-examined in this region.