Posted on 11/05/2003 2:48:16 PM PST by yonif
Edited on 04/29/2004 2:03:23 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- A U.S. scientist may have settled a conundrum that could have widespread implications about the customs, diet and oral health of early humans -- did they use toothpicks?
Curved grooves on the roots of teeth from ancient hominids suggest they were indeed concerned about dental hygiene and used implements to pick their teeth.
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
What at first seems to be a stupid question turns out after prolonged contemplation...to be a stupid question.
Even the so-called "dumb animals" (apes, monkeys, racoons use tooth picks when something is lodged painfully between their teeth. Alleviating such irritation is virtually reflexive and for tool users calls for a toothpick fashioned out of whatever's handy: one's own claw (the favorite of dogs and cats), a twig (primates) fashioned and scented (Homo sapiens) or a whole foot (hens).
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