Dental Abnormalities and Oral Pathology of the Pataud 1 Upper Paleolithic Human

Abstract

We have re-evaluated the dental abnormalities and oral pathology evident on the Mid-Upper Paleolithic Pataud 1 skeleton, including additional remains recently excavated for this individual, in an effort to expand current knowledge of Pleistocene human paleopathology, in light of current clinical and paleopathological assessments of oral variation and diseases. The young adult female Pataud 1 presents an impacted right M3, widespread periodontitis, large retromolar voids, double right maxillary supernumerary (paramolar) teeth, and new bone deposition on the medial mandibular rami and posterior maxillae. The Pataud 1 remains thus join a substantial sample of Pleistocene humans with congenital/developmental abnormalities, some of which (as in Pataud 1) consequently resulted in secondary abnormalities. M3impaction and supernumerary teeth are known in a couple of other Mid-Upper Paleolithic individuals, and mild to moderate periodontal disease appears to have been widespread. However, such marked resorption of the alveolar margin in a young adult is unusual, and the secondary inflammation (possibly septicemia) leading to new bone deposition is otherwise unknown in the sample and may have led to her death.