Abstract
A novel morphologic feature on the human dental enamel of the permanent mandibular molars is described. The character, named MMPT (mandibular molar pit-tubercle), is situated mesial and occlusal to the position often occupied by the protostylid on the buccal aspect of cusp 1. Three grades of variation, a pit, a groove, and a tubercle were observed, described and categorized for study. The study groups consisted mainly of archaeological specimens from Ireland, representing approximately 5,000 years of prehistoric and early historic populations on the island, dating from the Neolithic (ca. 4,000-1,800 B.C.) through the Early Christian era (ca. A.D. 400-1170). All lower molars (representing 432 individuals) were studied, ranging from 129 to 179 scorable molars depending on tooth type.*Correspondence to: Jaimin D. Weets, Department of Anthropology, 129A MacVicar Hall, 44 Pierrepont Avenue, SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY 13676E-mail: weetsjd@potsdam.eduGrant sponsorship: This research was made possible by Grant AY2001/10 from The Heritage Council of Ireland, grants from Research and Graduate Studies Office of The Pennsylvania State University, Research and Sponsored Programs SUNY Potsdam, United University Professions SUNY Potsdam and two Hill Grants from The Pennsylvania State University.The third molar more commonly expressed all forms of MMPT than the first or second molars, with approximately 30% of all third molars exhibiting a form of MMPT (28% of lower left third molars and 33% of lower right third molars). The most commonly expressed form of MMPT was Grade 1, the pit form, most commonly on third molars. Individual Viking specimens from Ireland also exhibited MMPT, and the trait appears to be present in East Asian modern humans at a markedly lower rate of expression, and in Homo pekinensis. Further research will clarify any relationships between MMPT, paramolar tubercles, paramolar structures and the protostylid, as well as the utility of MMPT in dental anthropological biodistancing studies.
Highlights
A novel morphologic feature on the human dental enamel of the permanent mandibular molars is described
The third molar more commonly expressed all forms of MMPT than the first or second molars, with approximately 30% of all third molars exhibiting a form of MMPT (28% of lower left third molars and 33% of lower right third molars)
Individual Viking specimens from Ireland exhibited MMPT, and the trait appears to be present in East Asian modern humans at a markedly lower rate of expression, and in Homo pekinensis
Summary
A novel morphologic feature on the human dental enamel of the permanent mandibular molars is described. While the study of tooth morphology has a rather lengthy history as a sub-field of physical anthropology (Scott and Turner, 1988; Dahlberg, 1991; Scott and Turner, 1997), it is likely that discoveries of novel traits or under-reported variation will be made as new groups, especially in these less-studied regions of the world, are investigated. It appears that previously unreported variation in an enamel morphological character exists in ancient populations of Ireland. The author noted this variation during a dental anthropological research project that sought to
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