Two right maxillary lateral incisors from females with striations, from the Bronze Age cemetery of Gricignano d'Aversa.Sperduti et al. 2018 / American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Posted on 09/04/2018 4:51:29 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
In a new analysis of thousands of teeth from ancient skeletons buried at a site near Naples, Italy, archaeologists have discovered that people were using their mouths to help with their work -- occupations that likely involved processing hemp into string and fabric.
We all use our teeth as tools -- to open bottles, hold pieces of paper, or even smoke a pipe. When we do this, we open ourselves up to the possibility of cracking our teeth but also create microscopic grooves and injuries to the enamel surface. Since teeth don't remodel like bones do, these tiny insults remain over our entire lives.
To archaeologists, the pattern of tooth use that occurs from actions other than chewing is called AIDM -- activity-induced dental modification -- and can reveal cultural information about a person's life, diet, and occupation. For decades, archaeologists have investigated AIDM and found interesting patterns in Neandertals and other prehistoric human populations that are suggestive of ancient artifact production.
In a paper published yesterday in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, a group of Italian and American researchers led by Alessandra Sperduti of the Museo delle Civiltà in Rome detail their analysis of more than 3,000 teeth from over 200 people who were buried in a cemetery at the Early Bronze Age (2500-1800 BC) site of Gricignano d'Aversa just north of Naples.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Two right maxillary lateral incisors from females with striations, from the Bronze Age cemetery of Gricignano d'Aversa.Sperduti et al. 2018 / American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Interesting
That they had hemp in their teeth does not make them stoners.
Italians invented dental floss and the helicopter thousands of years ago.
One of the best things that science gave us was modern dentistry. I have a couple of implants that feel 100% like regular teeth.
If they weren’t chewing that loco weed, they would have invented the wagon and not had to drag everything across the prairie on sticks!
Unsurprising, I have them from biting sewing thread off.
Processing hemp with your teeth though would be miserable, raw hemp fiber is prickly and rough.
Proof of the ancient roots of the mafia ?
“That they had hemp in their teeth does not make them stoners.”
Of course. This wasn’t from the ‘stoned age’. It was from the Bronze Age.
Hemp fibers were used to make rope for thousands of years
Is that why called it the STONE ages ???????
I’ll vote early -—— POST OF THE YEAR!
Moving to Montagano soon, gonna be a dental floss magnate!
They flossed with hemp.
Probably what killed them
I don't know, I was just chew'n on this weed
Here, let me give it a try"
Wildwood Flower
Grown in the US for its many uses, one of which was fuel oil. A very useful plant.
from about 1800 BC:
‘Bronze Age Pompeii’ Found In Italy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/584970/posts
Move Over, Pompeii
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1188762/posts
Pompeii’s Burial Not Its First Disaster
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1293135/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2103309/posts?page=3#3
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