Three decades after the publication of the Lamendin method for adult age-at-death estimation: Methodological evolution of the procedure and interpretations.

More than three decades have passed since the publication of Lamendin et al.'s proposal in 1992. Over this time, numerous investigations have been conducted to assess the applicability of the technique in different populations with acceptable results in terms of estimation errors. The proposal by Lamendin and colleagues remains relevant today, and has made a significant contribution to adult age-at-death estimation due to its simplicity, repeatability, replicability, and high performance. Indeed, significant progress towards systematizing and strengthening the procedure has been reported in the published literature. One noteworthy advancement is the development of an international database that supports the use of Bayesian statistics for age-at-death estimation. This resource plays a crucial role in standardizing the methodology and improving the reliability for obtaining more reliable results on a global scale. The aim of this study is to investigate the historical evolution of the technique, to assess the accuracy of the results obtained by different analytic procedures, and to explore its impact in forensic applications through a systematic analysis of the specialized literature on this field. The current state of research indicates that this type of methodological research is an ongoing process, far from being completed. Many questions and challenges that require further attention to address effectively these issues remain unanswered, such as the development of non-linear regressions and probabilistic approaches, the deepening of procedures that improve global approximations, and the intensification of research focused on achieving more accurate estimations among individuals over 70 years-old. However, studies generally agree that the Lamendin technique works well for individuals between the ages of 30-60 years. It is still in force today, although the method has been significantly perfected. Despite the degree of research development in this area, further efforts are needed to improve the understanding and performance of these kinds of procedures. This will ultimately lead to an improvement in the accuracy and reliability of forensic investigation results worldwide.

Dental anthropological report: Exploring plant-based treatments through the analysis of dental calculus and sediment of dental caries in a woman from the Late Preceramic period, Peru.

Reconstructing plant-based healing treatments of past societies from a dental anthropological perspective is still challenging due to a wide range of plant species, many with both medicinal and nutritional properties, and limitations on plant-taxa identification. Starch grains and phytoliths retrieved in samples from dental calculus and sediment contained in the cavity of dental caries were examined to investigate the supply of a plant-based treatment in an individual buried in the Late Preceramic site of Huaca El Paraíso (2100-1500 BCE), whose osteological analysis reported the absence of any pathological condition at a bone tissue level. A variety of starch grains such as pumpkins, manioc, maize, and beans had an important role in the diet of the individual. The starch grains were embedded in their dental calculus, all of which, except for manioc, showed signs of cooking damage. Considering the context and characteristics of the crops, the nutritional properties of maize, pumpkins and beans are evident. However, parallel medicinal properties of manioc and maize could not be entirely denied. Phytoliths morphologically ascribed to the Asteraceae plant family, which suggest the consumption of medicinal plants of Andean vernacular use, were retrieved in the sediment of dental caries. Our results prove that the analysis of sediment obtained from dental caries is as valuable in tracing medicinal plant-based treatments as dental calculus in archaeological populations. There are still several limitations to approach this topic in dental anthropology, which are discussed in this report. The performance of both analyses -dental calculus and sediment of dental caries, is highly recommended.

Occlusal polygon area of the molars in six Colombian ethnic groups / Área del polígono oclusal de molares en seis grupos étnicos de Colombia

SUMMARY: Descriptive observational cross-sectional study to determine the AOP of the second molars (55, 65, 75, 85) and the first permanent molars (16, 26, 36 and 46) in 459 study models corresponding to six ethnic groups in Colombia, Embera indigenous of Alto Baudó (Chocó), Caucasoid mestizos of Cali (Valle del Cauca), African descent of Cali (Valle del Cauca), Misak indigenous of Silvia (Cauca), Nasa indigenous of Morales (Cauca), and indigenous of Leticia (Amazonas). There were no significant differences of AOP among the six ethnic groups except when compared to the Amazon Indians with African descent of Cali, Embera indigenous and Nasa indigenous. There was no sexual dimorphism except tooth 65 for all ethnic groups. There was bilateral symmetry except between teeth 16 and 26. The distance matrix showed that Caucasoid mestizos of Cali were grouped with microdont populations, Amazon indigenous, Embera indigenous, Misak indigenous and Nasa indigenous, and African descendants of Cali were grouped with mesodont populations. The Embera and Amazon indigenous had the highest values of OAP associated with the relative isolation and less mestizaje. Overall, there was no sexual dimorphism or bilateral asymmetry. This study coincides with the different theories about reducing the size of the teeth as evolutionary characteristic of hominids.

RESUMEN: Estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal en el que se determinó el APO de los segundos molars deciduos (55, 65, 75, 85) y de los primeros molares permanentes (16, 26, 36, 46) en 459 modelos de estudio correspondientes a seis grupos étnicos de Colombia: Indígenas embera del Alto Baudó (Chocó), mestizos caucasoides de Cali (Valle del Cauca), afrodescendientes de Cali (Valle del Cauca), indígenas misak de Silvia (Cauca), indígenas nasa de Morales (Cauca) e indígenas de Leticia (Amazonas). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en el APO de los seis grupos étnicos, excepto entre indígenas del Amazonas y de afrodescendientes de Cali, e indígenas embera e indígenas nasa. No se evidenció dimorfismo exual en ninguno de los seis grupos. Hubo simetría bilateral, excepto entre los dientes 16 y 26. La matriz de distancias demostró que los mestizos caucasoides de Cali se agrupan con poblaciones microdontes, indígenas del amazonas, indígenas embera, indígenas misak e indígenas nasa; mientras que los afrodescendientes de Cali se agrupan con poblaciones mesodentes. Los indígenas embera y del Amazonas presentaron altos valores del APO, asociado a su aislamiento relativo y bajo mestizaje. En términos generales, no hubo dimorfismo sexual ni asimetría bilateral. Los resultados de este estudio concuerdan con diferentes teorías sobre la reducción del tamaño dental como una característica evolutiva de los himínidos.

Implicación clínica del protostílido: una mirada desde la antropología dental y la odontología no invasiva / Clinical implication of protostlylid: a point of view from dental anthropology and non-invasive dentistry

RESUMEN De acuerdo al modelo patológico multifactorial, la morfología dental ha sido asociada como uno de los factores etiológicos de la caries al favorecer el acumulo de restos alimenticios y la retención de biopelícula. Uno de los rasgos morfológicos dentales más frecuentes de la población colombiana es el punto P del protostílido, el cual se constituye en una fosa que se expresa en el surco de desarrollo vestibulomesial de los molares inferiores, región que le sigue a la superficie oclusal como uno de los sitios en donde se desarrollan con más frecuencia lesiones cariosas. Sin embargo, el desconocimiento de este rasgo morfológico por la mayoría de los odontólogos hace que el sistema morfológico del protostílido sea mal diagnosticado, lo que conlleva en muchos casos al sobretratamiento de dicha fosa con terapéuticas invasivas, las cuales, podrían ser evitadas con un conocimiento adecuado de la morfología dental y con un manejo preventivo o con técnicas no invasivas. Por tanto, el objetivo de esta revisión de tema es reconocer la expresión del punto P del protostílido y realizar una aproximación a las implicaciones clínicas del mismo y las posibilidades diagnósticas y terapéuticas conservadores que ofrece la odontología para controlar el acumulo de restos alimenticios y la retención de biopelícula.

ABSTRACT According to the multifactorial pathological model, dental morphology has been associated as one of the etiological factors of caries by favoring the accumulation of food remains and biofilm retention. One of the most frequent of non-metric dental traits of the Colombian population is the P point of the protostylid, which is constituted in a fossa that is expressed in the bucomesial development groove of the lower molars, a region that follows the occlusal surface as one of sites where carious lesions develop more frequently. However, the lack of knowledge of this morphological feature by most dentists makes the morphological system of the protostylid misdiagnosed, which in many cases leads to the overtreatment of this pit with invasive therapies, which could be avoided with a knowledge adequate dental morphology and with a preventive management or non-invasive techniques. Therefore, the aim of this review of the subject is to reconcile the expression of the P point of the protostylid and to make an approximation to the clinical implications of the same and the conservative diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities offered by dentistry to control the accumulation of food rests and retention of dental biofilm.

Oral health and diet of a young Late Pleistocene woman from Quintana Roo, Mexico.

OBJECTIVES: To increase understanding of the subsistence practices of the first Americans through analysis of the near-complete dentition of a young woman dating to the terminal Pleistocene of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The skeleton is that of "Naia" a 15 to 17-year-old female from the submerged natural trap of Hoyo Negro found in association with remains of numerous extinct species of megafauna. Superbly preserved remains included the skull with 28 teeth, which are analyzed for evidence of caries, periodontal disease, wear patterns, and malocclusion. RESULTS: Naia exhibits a high frequency of dental caries, along with aggressive periodontal disease that threatened all her teeth, particularly her incisors. Dental attrition was extremely light for a hunter-gatherer, reaching to four on the Molnar scale on only one tooth. Lack of wear is associated with severe mandibular retrognathia, and low masticatory forces. DISCUSSION: Naia's dental condition is compared with that of other northern Paleoamericans, mostly females, dating before 11,000 cal BP. These exhibit a high degree of variability in both caries and tooth wear. All, however, exhibit rapid anterior wear owing to technological use of the front teeth. Naia exhibits the highest rate of caries, similar to that of the earliest South Americans, and one of the lowest rates of attrition. This demonstrates that she had a nonabrasive diet that was at least seasonally rich in carbohydrates. This does not mean her diet was low in meat, however, because similarly light dental attrition is seen in the Arch Lake female, a Paleoamerican from a big-game hunting society.

Caracterización morfológica de la dentición permanente de un grupo de afrodescendientes de Istmina (Chocó, Colombia) / Morphological characterization of permanent dentition of a group of Afrodescendants at Istmina (Chocó, Colombia)

Objetivo: Caracterizar la morfología de la dentición permanente de un grupo de afrodescendientes de Istmina (Chocó, Colombia) Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal cuantitativo que determinó la frecuencia y variabilidad de 35 rasgos morfológicos dentales coronales (RMDC) de incisivos, caninos, premolares y molares mediante la metodología de la Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System en 100 individuos autoreconocidos como afrodescendientes (50 femeninos y 50 masculinos), con edades comprendidas entre los 5 y los 18 años. Resultados: Se identificaron frecuencias significativas de winging (99%), forma de doble pala de los incisivos centrales (86%), convexidad labial (41%), cresta msial (35%), cresta distal (entre 39% y 45%) surco vestibular (entre 95% y 98%), la cresta central (82% y 80%), surco mesolingual (79%), surco distolingual (81%), reducción del hipocono (86%), cúspide de Carabelli (33%) y cúspide 7 (64%). No se encontró dimorfismo sexual y asimetría bilateral en los RMDC estudiados. Conclusiones: La frecuencia y variabilidad de los RMDC incluidos en el dendograma, demostraron que el grupo de Istmina presentó una morfología dental típica de las poblaciones afrodescendientes que se distribuyen en el litoral pacífico colombiano, las cuales derivaron de grupos de la costa occidental africana incluidos en el complejo dental de África Sahariana. De igual forma, fue posible detectar la influencia de poblaciones mestizas e indígenas que ocupan el mismo espacio geopolítico.

Aim: Characterize the permanent dentition morphology of a group of Afrodescendants of Istmina (Chocó, Colombia) Materials y methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study determined the frequency and variability of 35 incisor, canine, premolar and molar morphological features of the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System in 100 self-described individuals as Afrodescendants (50 Female and 50 male), aged between 5 and 18 years. Results: Significant frequencies of winging (99%), double blade of the central incisors (86%), convexity of the lips (41%), crest of the shoulder (35%), and distal crest (39% to 45%) were identified (95% to 98%), central ridge (82% and 80%), mesolingual groove (79%), distolingual groove (81%), hippocampus reduction (86%), Carabelli cusp ) And cusp 7 (64%). No sexual dimorphism and bilateral asymmetry were found in the MCDS studied. Conclusions: The frequency and variability of the MCDD included in the dendrogram showed that the Isthmian group had a typical dental morphology of the Afrodescendant populations distributed on the Colombian Pacific coast, which were derived from groups of the West African coast included in The dental complex of Saharan Africa. Likewise, it was possible to detect the influence of mestizo and indigenous populations occupying the same geopolitical space.

Frecuencia y variabilidad de la morfología dental de molares temporales y permanentes en un grupo de mestizos caucasoides de Popayán (Cauca, Colombia) / Frequency and variability of dental morphology of temporal and permanent molars in a group of Caucasoid mestizos from Popayán (Cauca, Colombia)

Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia y variabilidad de la morfología dental en molares temporales y permanentes de un grupo de mestizos caucasoides de Popayán (Cauca, Colombia), con el fin de generar nuevos marcadores grupales que permitan comparar las diferentes poblaciones colombianas y mundiales a partir de nueve rasgos morfológicos dentales coronales (RMDC). Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal cuantitativo que determinó la frecuencia y variabilidad de nueve RMDC (cúspide de Carabelli, reducción del hipocono, metaconulo, patrón cuspídeo, número de cúspides, pliegue acodado, protostílido, cúspide 6 y cúspide 7) mediante la metodología ASUDAS en 101 individuos autoreconocidos como mestizos caucasoides (59 femeninos y 42 masculinos), con edades comprendidas entre los 10 y los 17 años. Resultados: Se identificaron frecuencias significativas de reducción del hipocono (89,9%), Patrón cuspídeo en Y (81,6%) y número de cúspides (92,7%); y bajas frecuencias de metacónulo (0,2%), protostílido (0,6%) y cúspide 6 (0,2%). No se encontró dimorfismo sexual y asimetría bilateral en los RMDC estudiados. Conclusiones: La muestra estudiada se caracteriza por presentar una morfología dental propia de poblaciones mestizas colombianas que se incluyen en el complejo dental caucasoide (cúspide Carabelli, reducción del hipocono y número de cúspides); sin embargo, debido a los procesos etnohistóricos de la región geográfica donde se ubican, presentan influencia de grupos indígenas (patrón cuspídeo) incluidos en el complejo dental mongoloide. Palabras clave: Antropología dental, morfología dental, dientes molares, rasgos morfológicos dentales coronales, mestizos caucasoides

Objective: To determine the frequency and variability of dental morphology in temporary and permanent molars of a group of Caucasoid mestizos from Popayán (Cauca, Colombia), in order to generate new group markers that allow comparing the different Colombian and world populations from nine coronal dental morphological features (NMDT). Materials and methods: quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study that determined the frequency and variability of nine NMDT (Carabelli trait, hypocone reduction, metaconule, cusp pattern, cusp number, defleckting wrinkle, protostilyd, cusp 6 and cusp 7) using the ASUDAS methodology In 101 self-described individuals as Caucasoid mestizos (59 females and 42 males), aged between 10 and 17 years. Results: Significant reduction frequencies of the hypoconus (89.9%), cusp pattern in Y (81.6%) and number of cusps (92.7%) were identified; And low frequencies of metacele (0.2%), protostilyd (0.6%) and cusp 6 (0.2%). No sexual dimorphism and bilateral asymmetry were found in the NMDT studied. Conclusions: The sample studied is characterized by a dental morphology characteristic of Colombian mestizo populations that are included in the Caucasoid dental complex (Carabelli cusp, reduction of the hipocono and number of cusps). However, due to the ethnohistorical processes of the geographic region where they are located, they are influenced by indigenous groups (cuspid expression) included in the mongoloid dental complex

Investigación de rasgos dentales no métricos en poblaciones sudamericanas actuales: estado de situación y contextualización forense / Research on non-metric dental traits in present South-American populations: state of art and forensic contextualization

En las poblaciones humanas recientes existe una patrón de variación geográfico asociado a la morfología del diente. En las últimas décadas se ha generado una notable producción científica en torno al estudio de los rasgos dentales no métricos con el fin de definir los patrones geográficos de los grupos, su historia, origen o estructura, entre otros. Entre las aplicaciones propuestas está la posibilidad del uso de la frecuencia de los diferentes rasgos de expresión en un contexto forense. Se presenta una revisión de la literatura en las bases MEDLINE, SciELO, REDALYC y LILACS. Se incluyeron artículos completos, en español, portugués e inglés, que realicen análisis de rasgos morfológicos dentales en poblaciones sudamericanas actuales (siglos XX y XXI). Los artículos seleccionados fueron evaluados por dos investigadores de manera independiente. Las estrategias de búsqueda permitieron pesquisar 36 estudios con una importante participación de Colombia (tanto en autores como en muestreos), seguida por Chile y Brasil. Si bien estos resultados demuestran una robusta actividad en el ámbito de la antropología dentaria Sudamericana estudiando poblaciones actuales, se sugiere una reevaluación de las metodologías empleadas si se pretende asignar un valor forense a los rasgos dentales morfológicos.

In recent human populations there is a pattern of geographic variation associated to the tooth morphology. In the last decades there has been a remarkable scientific production around the study of non-metric dental traits in order to define the geographic patterns of groups, their history, origin or structure, among others. Between the proposed scopes is the possibility of using the frequency of different traits of expression in a forensic context. We present a review of the literature in MEDLINE, SciELO, and LILACS and REDALYC databases. Full articles in Spanish, Portuguese and English conducting analyzes of dental morphological traits in present South American populations (XX and XXI centuries) were included. Two researchers evaluated the selected articles independently. The search strategies allowed identified 36 studies with a significant participation of Colombia (both authors and samples), followed by Chile and Brazil. While these results demonstrate a robust activity in the field of dental anthropology studying South-American present populations, a reevaluation of the methodologies is suggested if it is to assign a forensic value to dental morphological traits.

Desarrollo de la investigación sobre variación morfológica de poblaciones históricas sudamericanas utilizando rasgos dentales no métricos / Development of research on morphological variation of historical South American populations based on non-metric dental traits

El análisis de rasgos no métricos dentales ha logrado establecer relaciones biológicas de grupos humanos pasados y actuales con un alto valor taxonómico. Aunque Sudamérica ha sido objeto de un número considerable de investigaciones sobre poblamiento, migraciones y mestizaje, son relativamente pocos los estudios que han utilizado información de rasgos dentales para este fin, con las consiguiente ausencia de datos en amplias zonas geográficas. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura en MEDLINE, SciELO, REDALYC y LILACS, sin restricción de fecha de publicación. Se incluyeron artículos completos y disponibles primarios y secundarios en español, inglés y portugués donde se realice el análisis de rasgos morfológicos dentales en poblaciones sudamericanas con un contexto histórico anterior al siglo XX. Los artículos seleccionados fueron evaluados por dos investigadores de manera independiente. La búsqueda arrojó 2210 artículos de los cuales 19 cumplieron los criterios de inclusión, a los que se agregaron 9 luego de una búsqueda manual complementaria. Existe un desarrollo no equilibrado de la investigación sudamericana, tanto en el foco geográfico donde esta se realiza, como de los países y filiaciones de sus autores. Aunque se han logrado estandarizar los instrumentos de valoración de esos rasgos, se sugiere promover una profesionalización interdisciplinaria, el apoyo internacional de sus proyectos y el abordaje holístico de sus contenidos para potenciar la aplicabilidad de su valor taxonómico a poblaciones actuales.

Studies of non-metric dental traits have managed to estimate biological relationships among ancient and contemporary human groups with a high taxonomic value. While South America has been subject of considerable research on settlement, migration and miscegenation, only a few studies have used information from dental traits for this purpose, with the consequent absence of data over wide geographical areas. A systematic review was conducted of the literature in MEDLINE, SciELO, REDALYC y LILACS, without limiting publication date. Full primary and secondary articles available in Spanish, English and Portuguese were included, where dental morphological traits were used to analyze South American populations with a historical context prior to the twentieth century. The selected articles were evaluated by two researchers independently. The search revealed 2210 articles, of which 19 met the inclusion criteria, which added 9 after a complementary manual search. There is an unbalanced development of the South American research, both in geographical focus where this is done, as countries and affiliations of the authors. While there has been standardized instruments valuation of these traits, it is suggested to promote an interdisciplinary professionalization, the international support of its projects and the holistic approach of its content to enhance the applicability of their taxonomic value to contemporary populations.

Cusp expression of protostylid in deciduous and permanent molars.

The present article is a case report on the cusp expression of protostylid in the deciduous inferior molars and in the first permanent inferior molar, in which the correspondence and bilateral symmetry of the mentioned expression can be evidenced, as well as the their relation with the foramen cecum of the mesiobuccal furrows of the deciduous and of the permanent inferior molars.

Dental anthropology of a Brazilian sample: Frequency of nonmetric traits.

Dental elements are valuable tools in a study of ancient populations and species, and key-features for human identification; among the dental anthropology field, nonmetric traits, standardized by ASUDAS, are closely related to ancestry. This study aimed to analyze the frequency of six nonmetric traits in a sample from Southeast Brazil, composed by 130 dental casts from individuals aged between 18 and 30, without foreign parents or grandparents. A single examiner observed the presence or absence of shoveling, Carabelli's cusp, fifth cusp, 3-cusped UM2, sixth cusp, and 4-cusped LM2. The frequencies obtained were different from the ones shown by other researches to Amerindian and South American samples, and related to European and sub-Saharan frequencies, showing the influence of this groups in the current Brazilian population. Sexual dimorphism was found in the frequencies of Carabelli's cusp, 3-cusped UM2, and sixth cusp.

Origin, frequency, and variability of protostylid in human populations from southwestern colombia: a systematic literature review / Origen, frecuencia y variabilidad del protostílido en poblaciones humanas del suroccidente colombiano: revisión sistemática de la literatura

ABSTRACT. Introduction: protostylid is a non-metric dental trait observable on the vestibular surface of first and second deciduous and permanent molars in populations of Mongoloid origin. The objective of this literature review was to identify the expression of protostylid in human populations from Southwestern Colombia to help clarify the macro-evolutionary processes in this geographic region. Methods: a systematic literature review in PubMed, Google Scholar, and SciELO using the following medical descriptors: "dental morphology", "non-metric dental traits", and "protostylid", combined with the Boolean operators "+" and "&" by the PRISMA methodology, in order to find publications describing the prevalence and variability of protostylid in human populations from Southwestern Colombia by means of the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System. Results: 11 publications were found allowing us to obtain biological matrix distances based on cluster hierarchical classification and their respective dendrograms using the Ward method, which allowed us to observe most of the populations in Southwestern Colombia considered in this study and their relationships with other world populations. Conclusions: miscegenation processes have influenced the prevalence of protostylid, decreasing the expression of groove, blunt vertex cusp, and free vertex cusp in indigenous populations, and increasing the expression of fossa or P point in mixed coastal populations and populations of African descent. It also became clear that the expression of fossa or P point can occur in the absence or presence of protostylid.

RESUMEN. Introducción: el protostílido es un rasgo morfológico dental coronal que se puede observar en poblaciones de origen mongoloide, en la superficie vestibular de los primeros y segundos molares inferiores temporales y permanentes. El objetivo fue determinar el comportamiento del protostílido en poblaciones humanas del suroccidente colombiano para contribuir con el esclarecimiento de los procesos macro-evolutivos de la región. Métodos: revisión sistemática de la literatura en PubMed, Google Académico y SciELO, a partir de los descriptores en salud "dental morphology", "non-metric dental traits" y "protostylid", combinados con los operadores boleanos "+" y "&", para obtener publicaciones, mediante la metodología PRISMA, que describieran la prevalencia y variabilidad del protostílido en poblaciones del suroccidente colombiano a través del sistema Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System. Resultados: se obtuvieron 11 publicaciones con las que se pudo obtener la matriz de distancia, a partir de la clasificación de conglomerados jerárquicos y el respectivo dendograma a través del método de Ward, lo cual permitió observar la mayoría de las poblaciones del suroccidente colombiano tenidas en cuenta en este estudio y su relación con otras poblaciones mundiales. Conclusiones: se observó que los procesos de mestizaje han influenciado la prevalencia del protostílido disminuyendo la expresión surco, cúspide de vértice romo y cúspide vértice libre en los grupos indígenas, y aumentando la expresión fosa o punto P en las poblaciones de mestizos costeños y afrodescendientes. Asimismo, se evidenció que la expresión fosa o punto P se puede expresar cuando el protostílido se encuentra ausente o presente

Frequency and variability of dental morphology in deciduous and permanent dentition of a Nasa indigenous group in the municipality of Morales, Cauca, Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency, variability, sexual dimorphism and bilateral symmetry of fourteen dental crown traits in the deciduous and permanent dentition of 60 dental models (35 women and 25 men) obtained from a native, indigenous group of Nasa school children of the Musse Ukue group in the municipality of Morales, Department of Cauca, Colombia. METHODS: This is a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study that characterizes dental morphology by means of the systems for temporary dentition from Dahlberg (winging), and ASUDAS (crowding, reduction of hypocone, metaconule and cusp 6), Hanihara (central and lateral incisors in shovel-shape and cusp 7), Sciulli (double bit, layered fold protostylid, cusp pattern and cusp number) and Grine (Carabelli trait); and in permanent dentition from ASUDAS (Winging, crowding, central and lateral incisors in shovel-shape and double shovel-shape, Carabelli trait, hypocone reduction, metaconule, cusp pattern, cusp number, layered fold protostylid, cusp 6 and cusp 7). RESULTS: The most frequent dental crown features were the shovel-shaped form, grooved and fossa forms of the Carabelli trait, metaconule, cusp pattern Y6, layered fold, protostylid (point P) and cusp 6. Sexual dimorphism was not observed and there was bilateral symmetry in the expression of these features. CONCLUSIONS: The sample studied presented a great affinity with ethnic groups belonging to the Mongoloid Dental Complex due to the frequency (expression) and variability (gradation) of the tooth crown traits, upper incisors, the Carabelli trait, the protostylid, cusp 6 and cusp 7. The influence of the Caucasoide Dental Complex associated with ethno-historical processes cannot be ruled out.

OBJETIVOS: Determinar la frecuencia, la variabilidad, el dimorfismo sexual y la simetría bilateral de 14 Rasgos Morfológicos Dentales Coronales (RMDC) en dentición temporal y permanente de 60 modelos (35 mujeres y 25 hombres) obtenidos de un grupo de indígenas escolares Nasa del cabildo Musse Ukue del municipio de Morales, departamento del Cauca. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo transversal cuantitativo que caracteriza la morfología dental mediante los sistemas en dentición temporal Dahlberg (winging), Asudas (crowding, reducción de hipocono, metacónulo y cúspide 6), Hanihara (incisivos centrales y laterales en pala y cúspide 7), Sciulli (doble pala, protostílido, pliegue acodado, patrón cuspídeo y número de cúspides) y Grine (cúspide de Carabelli); y en dentición permanente Asudas (Winging, crowding, incisivos centrales y laterales en pala, doble pala, cúspide de Carabelli, reducción del hipocono, metacónulo, patrón cuspídeo, número de cúspides, pliegue acodado, protostílido, cúspide 6 y cúspide 7). RESULTADOS: Los RMDC más frecuentes fueron la forma de pala, formas surco y fosa de la cúspide de Carabelli, metacónulo, patrón cuspídeo Y6, pliegue acodado, protostílido (punto P) y cúspide 6. No se observó dimorfismo sexual y hubo simetría bilateral en la expresión de los rasgos. CONCLUSIONES: La muestra estudiada presenta una alta afinidad con grupos étnicos pertenecientes al Complejo Dental Mongoloide debido a la frecuencia (expresión) y variabilidad (gradación) de los RMDC, incisivos en pala, la cúspide Carabelli, el Protostílido, la cúspide 6 y la cúspide 7; sin embargo, no se puede descartar influencia del Complejo Dental Caucasoide asociado con procesos etno-históricos.

Frequency and variability of dental morphology in deciduous and permanent dentition of a Nasa indigenous group in the municipality of Morales, Cauca, Colombia / Frecuencia y variabilidad de la morfología dental en dentición temporal y permanente de un grupo de indígenas Nasa del municipio de Morales (Cauca, Colombia)

Abstract Objectives: To determine the frequency, variability, sexual dimorphism and bilateral symmetry of fourteen dental crown traits in the deciduous and permanent dentition of 60 dental models (35 women and 25 men) obtained from a native, indigenous group of Nasa school children of the Musse Ukue group in the municipality of Morales, Department of Cauca, Colombia. Methods: This is a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study that characterizes dental morphology by means of the systems for temporary dentition from Dahlberg (winging), and ASUDAS (crowding, reduction of hypocone, metaconule and cusp 6), Hanihara (central and lateral incisors in shovel-shape and cusp 7), Sciulli (double bit, layered fold protostylid, cusp pattern and cusp number) and Grine (Carabelli trait); and in permanent dentition from ASUDAS (Winging, crowding, central and lateral incisors in shovel-shape and double shovel-shape, Carabelli trait, hypocone reduction, metaconule, cusp pattern, cusp number, layered fold protostylid, cusp 6 and cusp 7). Results: The most frequent dental crown features were the shovel-shaped form, grooved and fossa forms of the Carabelli trait, metaconule, cusp pattern Y6, layered fold, protostylid (point P) and cusp 6. Sexual dimorphism was not observed and there was bilateral symmetry in the expression of these features. Conclusions: The sample studied presented a great affinity with ethnic groups belonging to the Mongoloid Dental Complex due to the frequency (expression) and variability (gradation) of the tooth crown traits, upper incisors, the Carabelli trait, the protostylid, cusp 6 and cusp 7. The influence of the Caucasoide Dental Complex associated with ethno-historical processes cannot be ruled out.

Resumen Objetivos: Determinar la frecuencia, la variabilidad, el dimorfismo sexual y la simetría bilateral de 14 Rasgos Morfológicos Dentales Coronales (RMDC) en dentición temporal y permanente de 60 modelos (35 mujeres y 25 hombres) obtenidos de un grupo de indígenas escolares Nasa del cabildo Musse Ukue del municipio de Morales, departamento del Cauca. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal cuantitativo que caracteriza la morfología dental mediante los sistemas en dentición temporal Dahlberg (winging), Asudas (crowding, reducción de hipocono, metacónulo y cúspide 6), Hanihara (incisivos centrales y laterales en pala y cúspide 7), Sciulli (doble pala, protostílido, pliegue acodado, patrón cuspídeo y número de cúspides) y Grine (cúspide de Carabelli); y en dentición permanente Asudas (Winging, crowding, incisivos centrales y laterales en pala, doble pala, cúspide de Carabelli, reducción del hipocono, metacónulo, patrón cuspídeo, número de cúspides, pliegue acodado, protostílido, cúspide 6 y cúspide 7). Resultados: Los RMDC más frecuentes fueron la forma de pala, formas surco y fosa de la cúspide de Carabelli, metacónulo, patrón cuspídeo Y6, pliegue acodado, protostílido (punto P) y cúspide 6. No se observó dimorfismo sexual y hubo simetría bilateral en la expresión de los rasgos. Conclusiones: La muestra estudiada presenta una alta afinidad con grupos étnicos pertenecientes al Complejo Dental Mongoloide debido a la frecuencia (expresión) y variabilidad (gradación) de los RMDC, incisivos en pala, la cúspide Carabelli, el Protostílido, la cúspide 6 y la cúspide 7; sin embargo, no se puede descartar influencia del Complejo Dental Caucasoide asociado con procesos etno-históricos.

Biological and spatial structure of an early classic period cemetery at Charco Redondo, Oaxaca.

This article presents an analysis of biological and spatial patterning of an Early Classic (A.D. 250-500) Chatino cemetery at the archaeological site of Charco Redondo, located in the lower Río Verde Valley, Oaxaca, Mexico. The Early Classic was a time of political instability positioned between two phases of state-level centralization within the coastal valley. The communal cemetery at Charco Redondo adds significantly to the inventory of excavated graves from this time period and provides novel data on mortuary practices during a critical phase in the development of state level polities in the region. Cluster analysis of mortuary data is combined with intracemetery biodistance approaches to reconstruct how the Charco Redondo cemetery was organized with respect to biological relationships. Cluster analysis of mortuary data identified three groupings of burials. Multidimensional scaling of Euclidean distances and Gower coefficients based on 45 odontometric and 13 dental morphological variables suggests a strong relationship between grave characteristics and locations and phenotypic variation. In other words, the cemetery at Charco Redondo appears biologically kin-structured. The communal nature of the cemetery conflicts with the assumed "household" burial model for this time period. We propose the observed combination of features represents a transitional practice in which aspects of community, kin, and individual identity were signaled simultaneously within the funerary environment during a time of political transition in the Valley. This article highlights the utility of intracemetery biodistance analyses for examining dimensions of kinship, "house," and community throughout Mesoamerica where overarching models often mask regional variability.

A new quantitative method for predicting forensic racial identity based on dental morphological trait analysis / Un nuevo método cuantitativo para predecir la identidad racial forense basada en el análisis rasgo morfológico dental

Few previous studies have demonstrated the likelihood of using the worldwide patterns of dental morphological variation in prediction of ancestry in the context of forensic dental anthropology. This paper introduces a new quantitative method for predicting forensic racial identity of individual specimens based on dental morphological trait analysis. In this study, the inter-population variation in the expression frequency of 16 non-metric tooth crown traits, manifested on the permanent dentition, was used for analysis. The method was developed from the notion that dental morphological characteristics, when viewed as sets of traits rather than isolated variables, can be utilized to calculate the relative probability that an individual belongs to a particular ancestry. This paper aimed at demonstrating that Mean Measure of Divergence analysis can be used to predict group membership of individual specimens into one of five ancestral categories: Western Eurasian, Sub-Saharan African, Sino-American, Sunda-Pacific, or Australo-Melanesian. Individuals were treated as artificially created groups defined by substituting the highest or lowest global frequencies for individual dichotomous values. Mean Measure of Divergence values were computed for every individual and the lowest score was the basis of the classification of individual specimens into one of five ancestral categories. This method was tested on individuals from a sample of living Jordanian Arabs (n 102), who were known to belong to the Western Eurasian ancestral category. Using this method, correct assignment of ancestry was made in 84.31 percent of cases. It is concluded that racial identification on the basis of dental morphology would be helpful in both forensic anthropology and historical archaeology.

Pocos estudios previos han demostrado la posibilidad de utilizar los patrones mundiales de variación morfológica dental en la predicción de la ascendencia en el contexto de la antropología dental forense. Se presenta un nuevo método cuantitativo para predecir la identidad racial forense de muestras individuales basadas en el análisis del rasgo morfológico dental. En este estudio, se utilizó para el análisis la variación inter-población en la frecuencia de expresión de 16 rasgos morfológicos dentales no métricos, que se manifiesta en la dentición permanente. El método fue desarrollado a partir de la idea de que las características morfológicas dentales, cuando se ven como conjuntos de rasgos en lugar de variables aisladas, se puede utilizar para calcular la probabilidad relativa de que una persona pertenece a un linaje particular. Este documento está destinado a demostrar que la medida promedio del análisis de divergencia se puede utilizar para predecir la pertenencia a grupos de muestras individuales en una de cinco categorías ancestrales: Eurasia Occidental, África al sur del Sahara, sino-estadounidense, Sunda-Pacífico, o australo-melanesia. Los individuos fueron tratados como grupos creados artificialmente definidos mediante la sustitución de las frecuencias globales más altos o más bajos para los valores dicotómicos individuales. La media de los valores de medida de divergencia se calculó para cada individuo y la puntuación más baja fue la base de la clasificación de muestras individuales en una de cinco categorías ancestrales. Este método fue probado en individuos vivos de una muestra de árabes jordanos (n 102), que se sabe pertenecen a la categoría de ancestral Eurasia occidental. El uso de este método, y la asignación correcta de ascendencia se hizo en 84,31 por ciento de los casos. Se concluye que la identificación racial sobre la base de la morfología dental sería de gran ayuda, tanto en la antropología forense como en la arqueología histórica.

Análisis de la morfología dental en escolares afrocolombianos de Villa Rica, Cauca, Colombia / Dental morphology analysis of Afro-Colombian schoolchildren from Villa Rica, Cauca, Colombia

Introducción: el estudio de la morfología dental permite esclarecer el estado evolutivo (distancia biológica y grado demestizaje) de una población, aportando información sobre los procesos etnohistóricos de las comunidades colombianas, dentro de los contextos antropológico, odontológico y forense. Métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal cuantitativo que caracterizó la morfología dental mediante el sistema Asudas (Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System) de trece rasgos morfológicos dentales coronales(winging, crowding, incisivos centrales y laterales en pala, doble pala, rasgo de Carabelli, reducción del hipocono, pliegue acodado, protostílido, patrón cuspídeo, número de cúspides, cúspides 6 y 7) observados en 116 modelos de yeso (59 mujeres y 57 hombres) deun grupo de escolares afrocolombianos del municipio de Villa Rica, departamento del Cauca. Resultados: se observaron frecuencias significativas del rasgo de Carabelli, configuración de los patrones cuspídeos X5 y X6 (LM1) y +4 y +5 (LM2), ausencia de reduccióndel hipocono, frecuencia relativa de la cúspide 7 y bajas frecuencias de incisivos en pala y doble pala. También, se puede afirmar que los Rasgos Morfológicos Dentales Coronales (RMDC) estudiados no presentan dimorfismo sexual y asimetría bilateral. Conclusiones: la muestra observada cuenta con una morfología dental propia de poblaciones que conforman el complejo dental caucasoide, sinembargo, es evidente la influencia de grupos regionales de origen mongoloide y la afinidad biológica con grupos regionales de mestizos caucasoides y de afrocolombianos.

Introduction: the study of dental morphology allows establishing the evolutionary state (biological distance and crossbreeding status) of a community, offering information on its ethno-historical processes (in this case a Colombian population) within the anthropological, dental, and forensic contexts. Methods: this was a quantitative, transversal, descriptive study with the intention of establishing dental morphology by means of the Asudas system (Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System) based on thirteen crown morphologic dental traits (winging, crowding, shovel-shaped central incisors, shovel-shaped lateral incisors, double shoveling,Carabelli’s cusp, hypocone reduction, deflecting wrinkle, protostylid, cusp pattern, cusp number, cusp 6, and cusp 7) Results: significant frequencies of these traits were observed: Carabelli’s cusp, configuration of cuspid patterns X5 and X6 (LM1) and +4 and +5 (LM2),absence of hypocone reduction, relative frequency of cusp 7, and low frequencies of shovel-shaped incisors and double shoveling. It may also be stated that the studied crown morphologic dental traits (CMDT) do not show sexual dimorphism or bilateral asymmetry. Conclusions: the analyzed sample shows a dental morphology typical of populations of the Caucasoid dental complex; however, the influence of Mongoloid groups and biological affinities with Caucasoid mestizo groups and Afro-Colombian populations is also evident.

Asimetría dental e identificación de mestizaje en una muestra poscolonialdesenterrada en la Catedral de Pereira, Colombia / Dental asymmetry and identification of racial mixture in a post-conquest sample

Introducción: Colombia, ha sufrido un proceso continuo de mezcla biológica a través de la historia. Los estudios dentales han permitido observar la variación de rasgos discontinuos en población indígena, y contemporáneos de Bogotá y el Valle del Cauca,principalmente. En conjunto, estos estudios demuestran la tendencia morfológica diferente e incompatible con la clasificación de castas, conservada desde la colonia. El objeto de este artículo es la identificación de la variación dental en una muestra poscolonial desenterrada en la ciudad de Pereira y se asocia directamente al registro de la variación biológica en poblaciones mestizas tempranasen nuestro país. Métodos: las muestras utilizadas en el presente estudio pertenecen a las piezas dentales excavadas entre las columnasF2-F4 y F3-G3 de la Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Pobreza de Pereira, que al parecer pertenecen a entierros colectivos hechos en fosas comunes en la época colonial, pertenecientes a 28 individuos. Las características no métricas fueron examinadas usando elestándar de la ASUDAS y otros autores. En total se examinaron 165 rasgos no métricos. Se calculó la distribución χ2 para identificar diferencias significativas. Resultados: 31 rasgos expresaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en ambos lados de la arcada. Conclusiones: se trató de niños jóvenes mestizos descendientes de parejas con ancestralidad caucásica y amerindia. El porcentaje logrado en este estudio solo corresponde a la expresión de mestizaje parcial, puesto que todas las características hereditarias medidasfueron estrictamente dentales.

Introduction: Colombia has suffered a continuous process of biological mixture throughout history. Dental analyseshave allowed to observe the variation of discontinuous features in the native Indian population and in the contemporary population in Bogotá and Valle del Cauca. These studies show a different and incompatible morphological tendency with the classification of castes preserved since colonial times. The aim of this article is to identify dental variation in a post colonial sample unearthed inthe city of Pereira, Colombia and it is directly associated with the biological variation records in early mixed populations of our country. Materials: the sample used in this study corresponds to teeth extracted between columns F2-F4 and F3-G3 of CathedralNuestra Señora de la Pobreza, Pereira, Colombia, which apparently belong to collective burials performed in common burial sites during colonial times, belonging to 28 individuals. Methods: non-metric dental traits were observed using the Standard ASUDASand other authors, in total 165 non metric traits were examined. An χ2 distribution test was used to identify significant differences. Results: 31 traits showed statistical significant differences on both sides of the arches. Conclusions: they were young mixed childrendescendents from couples with Caucasoid- Amerindian racial profiles. The percentage obtained in this study corresponds only to the expression of partial mixing since all the hereditary characteristics were strictly dental.

Morfología dental en una muestra de cráneos humanos de Pampa Grande, Argentina / Dental morphology in a sample of human skulls from Pampa Grande, Argentina

Se ha estudiado la prevalencia de 25 rasgos dentales en un grupo de cráneos adultos de aborígenes argentinos provenientes de la provincia de Salta, particularmente de la localidad llamada Pampa Grande. Se han analizando las arcadas superiores e inferiores de los mismos y la totalidad de las piezas dentales, excepto los terceros molares. El estudio se realizó sobre la dentición permanente de 66 cráneos adultos - maduros. Se establecieron las frecuencias absolutas y relativas de los rasgos estudiados.

Prevalence of 25 dental non-metric traits has been observed in a sample of 66 adult human skulls from Pampa Grande, Provincia de Salta, Argentina. All teeth from upper and lower arcades were analyzed, except the third molars. Frequency of traits observed was established.

Correlación de diez rasgos morfológicos dentales coronales entre molares deciduos y permanentes en tres grupos étnicos colombianos / Correlation of ten non-metric dental traits between deciduous and permanent molars of three ethnic colombian groups

Objetivos: Determinar la correlación de diez Rasgos Morfológicos Dentales Coronales RMDC (Carabelli, hipocono, puente de esmalte, metacónulo, protostílido, pliegue acodado, patrón cuspídeo, numero de cúspides y cúspide 6 y 7) entre los segundos molares deciduos superiores (um2) e inferiores (lm2), los primeros molares permanentes superiores (UM1) e inferiores (LM1) y los segundos molares permanentes superiores (UM2) e inferiores (LM2). Materiales y métodos: Este es un estudio descriptivo transversal para determinar la correlación de diez RMDC mediante su frecuencia y variabilidad, observados en 201 modelos de yeso de mestizos caucasoides de Cali, 84 modelos de yeso de afrocolombianos de Puerto Tejada y 60 modelos de yeso de indígenas del Amazonas. Resultados: Los indígenas del Amazonas entre um2/UM1 presentan correlación alta en Carabelli y número de cúspides; y muy alta en metacónulo y patrón cuspídeo. Los mestizos caucasoides entre um2/UM1 moderada en Carabelli, pliegue acodado y patrón cuspídeo; y alta en cúspide 6; y entre UM1/UM2/LM1/LM2 moderada en pliegue acodado, y alta en protostílido, patrón cuspídeo y cúspide 6. Los afrocolombianos entre UM1/UM2/LM1/LM2 moderada en pliegue acodado; y alta en protostílido, patrón cuspídeo y cúspide 6. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos soportan lo propuesto por la teoría de los campos morfogenéticos, la cual manifiesta que el diente gradiente de los molares deciduos y permanentes es um2/lm2, dado que retiene la configuración básica del patrón de contacto y el número de cúspides, Por tanto UM1/UM2/LM1/LM2 variarán de acuerdo al origen étnico y a la influencia ambiental de cada una de los tres grupos estudiados.

Aim: To determine correlations of ten non-metric dental crown traits NMDCT (Carabelli, hipocon2, enamel bridge, metaconule, protostylid, deflecting wrinkle, pattern cusp, cusp number and 6 and 7 cusp) between deciduous second upper (um2) and low (lm2) molars, permanent first upper (UM1) and lower (LM1) molars and permanent second upper (UM2) and lower (LM2) molars were studied. Materials y methods: This descriptive study determines the correlation of ten NMDCT through of the frequency and variability, observed on 201 dental casts of Cali racially mixed population, 84 dental casts of Puerto Tejada African-Colombian population and 60 dental casts of Colombian Amazons natives. Results: The Colombian Amazon natives showed high correlation in Carabelli and cusp number between um2/UM1; and very high in metaconule and pattern cusp. Cali racially mixed population showed moderated correlation in Carabelli, deflecting wrinkle and pattern cusp between um2/UM1; and high in 6 cusp. And between UM1/UM2/LM1/LM2 moderate in deflecting wrinkle; and high in protostylid, pattern cusp and 6 cusp. Puerto Tejada African-Colombian population showed moderated correlation between UM1/UM2/LM1/LM2 in deflecting wrinkle; and high in protostylid, pattern cusp and 6 cusp. Conclusions: Findings support the proposal of morphogenetic field theory, which exposes that the key tooth in deciduous and permanent molars is um2/lm2 because it retains the basic configuration of contact and number of cusps pattern, so UM1/UM2/LM1/LM2 will vary according to ethnic origin and to the environmental influence of each of three studied ethnic groups.