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Oral pathologies of the N eolithic I ceman, c .3,300 bc
Author(s) -
Seiler Roger,
Spielman Andrew I,
Zink Albert,
Rühli Frank
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/eos.12037
Subject(s) - dentition , diastema , dentistry , periodontitis , medicine , dental alveolus , oral cavity , computed tomography , orthodontics , surgery
The famous Iceman ‘Ötzi’ ( S outh T yrol M useum of A rchaeology, B olzano, I taly), a Neolithic human ice mummy, offers a unique opportunity to study evolutionary aspects of oral disease. The aim of this study was to assess, for the very first time, his oral cavity, which surprisingly had never been examined systematically. Based on several computed tomography ( CT ) scans from 1991 onwards and on macroscopic investigation, only a few findings, such as a central maxillary diastema, heavy abrasions, and missing wisdom teeth, were known. We re‐evaluated the latest CT scans from 2005 and found various oral pathologies. In line with the increase of tooth decay in the N eolithic – because of diet change in this historic transition phase – several carious lesions were found, one of which penetrated into the dental pulp. In accordance with the Iceman's troubled life, as several injuries on his body and his violent death attest, mechanical trauma of one of his upper front teeth is evident. Finally, the poor periodontal condition of the I ceman's dentition (e.g. loss of alveolar bone), indicative of periodontitis, was assessed. These oral pathological findings in the I ceman's dentition provide a unique glimpse into the evolutionary history of oral conditions.