Nonmetric (morphological) and metric analyses of dental traits and dentition are an established and effective, but still much underutilized, means of determining biological relationships among the individuals comprising a population over several generations. Combining such dental analyses, a social organizational typology adapted from social psychology, and small sample statistics, this study hazards a trial examination of the evidence for biological affinity within and between three archaeologically perceived social groups represented in the Classic-period Belize Valley community of Buenavista del Cayo. The groups comprise traditional high elite and commoner categories, and a putative middle level of intermediate elites. Findings suggest a dichotomous kinship structure of elites and non-elites, but one within which there had emerged an emically and archaeologically distinct “middle” status group of intermediate elites or subelites that remained affined by blood to the subordinate non-elite commoners and peasantry. The study differs from previous examinations of ancient Maya social organization in employing a truly integrated bioarchaeological approach to the topic rather than what have generally been intrinsically insular archaeological or osteometric approaches.

Presented here are the linugal cuspule and paraconid; two traits considered near absent (occurring <1%) in world populations. Both traits were found on lower third molars of one individual from late Archaic (2500-500BC) site of Shick in, Handcock County, Ohio. Rare dental anomalies in modern humans inform about biological variation and evolutionary changes. The Lingual Cuspule has only been reported in one other world population, thus very little is known about this anomaly. It was thought that paraconids have been otherwise lost in primate evolution starting in the Oligocene (34-23 MYA). The expression of a paraconid in modern humans could suggest secondary evolution of this trait. Further reporting of both traits is necessary to discuss the implications of human dental evolution which result from the presence of these variants.