When the cultural practices of ancient humans, traditional archaeologists rely on clues from inventions such as bone and pottery tools. However, the experimental archaeologists stepped to the next level – creating a new past behavior to experience the methods that people live.
That is what the researchers have done recently to check how the Northeast European Stone Age communities extracted the animal teeth to produce accessories. Leaders led by Aija Macāne, who came to visit the cultural sector at the University of Health, archeology, tested the method of extraction methods to check that it was most effective and effective. Their research results are published on June 20 in the journal. Archaeological science and anthropologyPresenting new in -depth information about the life of prehistoric hunters
“Our experiment shows that teeth extraction is a process that takes care of the time in daily life, especially cooking” Macāne. Say In the university statement “This challenges the assumption that the teeth used for jewelry are easily eliminated or used.”
According to animal teeth researchers, it is one of the most used materials used to make jewelry, accessories and other personal jewelry in the stone age, especially in the northern hemisphere. Experts know that this must thank the website such as Zvejnieki, which is a burial area in the north of Latvia, which the hunter-collectors make people rest for about five thousand years from 7,500 to 2,600 BC. More than 2,000 animal teeth were dug up from the grave at Zvejnieki, making it an important place to study how ancient humans interact with these materials.
Archaeologists have studied the animal's teeth widely from this site by checking the spices they came from the method they used, which they were placed in the grave and how to make. However, Far Feer has considered the process of extracting teeth and physical traces that have been left behind the researchers.
To fill the gap, that knowledge, Macāne and her colleagues made their hands dirty – in truth, the team made many sets to test different prehistoric methods for seven ways for teeth extraction: cutting, percutching. (Or outstanding), drying, soaked directly and two cooking techniques They chose these techniques according to archaeological research and ethnicity earlier. “While other methods were able to test, we confirmed that all seven trends are the most popular that they have received at this time.” The researchers stated in their reports.
Throughout the year, they touched what they were like a stone age man who needed a tooth. Researchers conducted an experiment at the East Latvia Latvia, which allowed them to find the necessary raw materials from the local hunters who were licensed. Overall, they use two seven skulls or jaws from each Asia from the wild boar and two ROE deer.
From all the methods they tested, both cooking techniques have been proven to be the most effective. Boil the lower jaw in a ceramic pot, not only stewed, but the soft tissues come out of the bones, making it easier to extract the teeth. Place the entire skull in the soil-digit oven that are used to trap heat and in this case, the steam has the same effect.
Both methods allow high extraction rates without destroying teeth with additional bonuses for cooking and displaying the rest of the bones suitable for making tools. This discovery points out that the extraction of teeth may be included with a wider cultural practice, including food preparation, personal jewelry and funeral rituals.
For other techniques, the soaking is proven to be successful. But did not give additional benefits Cutting or attacking to delete it can be used. But often causing damage The last two methods – Drying and direct heat use – not successful results.
“While this study focuses on the gathering of teeth from the zivejnieki cemetery, our results have a wider meaning for understanding the tooth extraction and the production of pendant in the prehistoric era,” the researchers said. “By checking the techniques used for teeth extraction, we have received in -depth information about human behavior and cultural practices in the stone age.”
Still the question remains Researchers hope that their education will inspire other archaeologists to look for the physical traces of the extraction process on the invention of animals. They also emphasize the importance of dental inspection from other species, including humans and dogs. They argued that they would make “The light is important to the complexity and importance of these practices.”