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Course Sheet Academic Year of enrolment:
Disciplinary Sector:
Population Studies, Ethnography and Anthropology
Professor and Collaborators:
Hours of classroom activity:
Objectives
Contents The course describes the morphometric variability of the dentition of both
the species that preceded modern humans and of current human
populations. It also describes the main archaeological and forensic survey
techniques that have teeth as data source.
Extended Syllabus Introduction to Dental Anthropology with presentation of the program.
Definition and history of the discipline. Overview of anatomy and dental
histology. Importance of the study of human remains, in particular of the
teeth, as a contribution to the history of medicine (in particular of the
dental practice) and of the evolution of the masticatory apparatus. The
study of teeth in paleoanthropology and palethnology: morpho-functional
changes from early hominids to modern humans. Comparative
odontology: comparison of the teeth of different living and fossil species.
The study of teeth in archeology: reconstruction of eating habits, stress
indicators (case study – Herculaneum population’s hypoplasia) and the
state of health of a population (paleopathology). Variability of dental
wear. Methods of studying dental wear caused by feeding, cultural
practices, intentional modifications. Importance of the study of teeth in
application to forensic odontology. The variability of metric characters.
Variability concept. Tools and methods. Case studies. Variability of nonmetric characters, or "anomalies". Causes and manifestations. Case
studies. Sexual dimorphism and age estimation. Utilities in physical and
forensic anthropology. The diachronic and synchronic ethnic variability.
Case studies on ancient and modern populations. New investigation
techniques: μCT in the light of Sincrotrone; study of trace elements (eg
laser ablation). Exercise in the osteology laboratory of the Operative Unit
of Anthropology: osteometry, Identification of maxillary and mandibular
fragments; identification of dental elements. Wear analysis; age
estimate.
Recommended Bibliography At the moment there are no reference books, so that, during the course
and during the exercise, a dispensation will be provided consisting of
articles and chapters from monographs of interest to the dental
anthropology.
Teaching Methods Lectures and laboratory activities
Evaluation methods Verification of learning:
The verification of learning will take place through a closed-response test.
The test consists of fifteen questions useful for assessing both the
knowledge of the variability of dental characters and odontometric
methods, and the technical-scientific skills in the choice of the most
suitable methods to be applied taking into account the objectives and the
athletes/sportsmen sample. The vote is expressed in thirtieths.
Contacts/More Information Student reception on Monday at 12.00 am at the Operative Unit of
Anthropology. Contacts: tel. 0871.3553502; e-mail: r.danastasio@unich.it