Previous studies of upper first molar (M 1 ) crown shape have shown significant differences between Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis that were already present in the European Middle Pleistocene populations, including the large dental sample from Atapuerca-Sima de los Huesos (SH). Analysis of other M 1 features such as the total crown base area, cusp proportions, cusp angles and occlusal polygon have confirmed the differences between both lineages, becoming a useful tool for the taxonomic assignment of isolated teeth from Late Pleistocene sites. However, until now the pattern of expression of these variables has not been known for the SH sample. This fossil sample, the largest collection from the European Middle Pleistocene, is generally interpreted as being from the direct ancestors of Neanderthals, and thus is a reference sample for assessing the origin of the Neanderthal morphologies. Surprisingly, our study reveals that SH M 1 s present a unique mosaic of H. neanderthalensis and H. sapiens features. Regarding the cusp angles and the relative occlusal polygon area, SH matches the H. neanderthalensis pattern. However, regarding the total crown base area and relative cusps size, SH M 1 s are similar to H. sapiens, with a small crown area, a strong hypocone reduction and a protocone enlargement, although the protocone expansion in SH is significantly larger than in any other group studied. The SH dental sample calls into question the uniqueness of some so-called modern traits. Our study also sounds a note of caution on the use of M 1 occlusal morphology for the alpha taxonomy of isolated M 1 s.

Medieval monasteries often went beyond their religious mission and developed into economic, social, and educational centres. These were not spared from violent attack on the part of the gentry. The defence of such monasteries is, however, a poorly investigated area in bioarchaeological studies. A recently excavated skeletal sample found in front of the western gate of the Abbey Church at the Teplá monastery (Czech Republic) dated between the 13th and 15th century AD provides us a unique opportunity to fill this gap. The analysis of skeletal trauma reveals that 13 out of 30 individuals exhibited trauma, of which 69% were confidently related to violence. All individuals with injuries were males, and half of them were younger than 30 years of age. The presence of ante‐mortem injuries indicates that males likely had previous combat experience, were successfully treated, and their bodies were buried with respect and care. The most probable explanation of our findings is that the individuals were a group of clients who were tasked with the defence of the Teplá monastery. Other, less likely explanations assume that individuals were laity, monastery benefactors, and/or canons killed during several different violent attacks directed at the monastery.

Examining recently excavated burnt burials, we explore the potential of spatial analysis to contribute to the understanding of changes that human body goes through during burning and relocation to the place of secondary deposition. Artificial heat decomposition of a body is a complex process that consists of several stages of intentional manipulation with the body. Each stage can be biased by several accidental factors which then significantly change the final archaeological record. We focussed on the post-burning stage, especially the pathways of bone fragments to secondary deposition. We investigated spatial distribution and weight of bones in urns and pits and asked whether it is possible to observe their intentional arrangement. The trend of bone arrangement could be distinguished in most cases. Bones of peripheral parts of body were typically situated at the bottom; skull bones were usually concentrated in the upper part. However, the weight underrepresentation of all investigated burials was apparent. Deposition of selected burnt bones suggests their careful collection from the pyre and complex post-mortem manipulation. Our detailed analysis aims to reconstruct particular steps executed during funeral rites of past populations.

Úvod a cíl: Lidská dentice je předmětem odborného zájmu stomatologie i dentální antropologie a je zdrojem informací o evoluci člověka, rozmanitosti lidských populací i individuálním vývoji nebo patologiích. Oba obory se často zaměřují na klinicky viditelný výsledek fylogeneze a ontogeneze: korunku zubu. Korunka zubu zejména posteriorní dentice, tedy premolárů nebo molárů, se vyznačuje komplexní morfologií, která je výsledkem iterativních procesů genetické, epigenetické a environmentální povahy. Po vytvoření korunky se její morfologie již nemění. Výjimkou je destrukce tvrdých tkání, která může být způsobena zubním kazem, atricí nebo abrazí, případně traumatem. Velikost a tvar zubu jsou tradičně zkoumány pomocí lineárních rozměrů nebo observací a hodnocením stupně projevu morfologických znaků. S rozvojem moderních zobrazovacích technologií a jejich dostupností se rozvíjí také využití alternativních metodologických přístupů pro popis morfologie korunky zubu. Tyto metody nabízí nové možnosti studia variability velikosti a tvaru dentice a mohou být pro popis morfologie zubů a biologický základ její variability vhodnější. Cílem sdělení je popsat a shrnout současné trendy kvantifikace variability dentice v dentální antropologii. Metodika: Studie byla založena na rešerši odborné literatury zaměřené na morfologii lidské dentice a přístupy dentální antropologie k jejímu studiu. Využito bylo zejména databází Web of Science a PubMed. Závěr: Přehledový článek se zabývá metodami kvantifikace morfologie lidské dentice a jejich využitím s ohledem na vývoj morfologie zubu.