Dental variation among four prehispanic Mexican populations

Abstract

In this paper, the dental morphology of prehispanic Meso-american populations is described, compared, and examined within the context of New World dental variation. Twenty-eight morphological dental traits were studied and compared in four samples of prehispanic Mexican populations. After eliminating intra- and interobserver error, the dental morphological characteristics observed show evidence of heterogeneity among the populations. In particular, the oldest population, Tlatilco (1300-800 BC), was significantly different from the other three groups, Cuicuilco (800-100 BC), Monte Albán (500 BC-700 AD) and Cholula (550-750 AD). When the four samples were compared to other Mongoloid populations, either univariately or multivariately, it was observed that the Mexican groups did not follow a strict Sinodont (characteristic of Northeast Asia)/Sundadont (characteristic of Southeast Asia) classification (Turner [1979] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 51:619-636). From the traits examined, 27% presented frequencies consistent with Sinodont variation, while 73% of the traits showed similar incidence to Southeast Asian groups. Multivariately, the Mexican populations were found to fit an overall Sundadont classification. These results indicate that there is more dental morphological variation among American Indian populations than previously shown.

Los patrones dentales sinodonte y sundadonte y su aporte en la comprensión del poblamiento prehispánico del Sur de Estados Unidos, Centroamérica y las islas del Caribe

“…Al comparar los datos agrupados con otras muestras asiáticas, las mexicanas no se clasifican como sinodontes (sólo 23 % se podría denominar así), en especial la más antigua de Tlatilco (1300 aC). Así, el mayor porcentaje de los rasgos (77 %) es similar a grupos denominados sundadontes (Haydenblit 1996). Los trabajos de Powell y Haydenblit son los primeros en poner a prueba el mtss de Turner en Mesoamérica.…”

Variación métrica y morfológica de la población prehispánica de Colombia. Implicaciones para la problemática del poblamiento temprano de América

“…Estas variables se pueden ver alteradas por el desgaste dental, especialmente de los incisivos centrales superiores, lo que afecta la observación de la forma en pala, que quizá generó el subregistro observado en muestras mexicanas (Haydenblit 1996) …”

Biological affinities and regional microevolution among pre-Hispanic communities of Colombia's Northern Andes

“…The Sinodont / Sundadont dichotomy is defined on the basis of eight key morphological traits: shoveling and double shoveling of maxillary incisors, enamel extension of maxillary first molars, root number of maxillary second premolars, pegged / reduced / congenitally absent maxillary third molars, deflecting wrinkle and root number of mandibular first molars, and groove pattern of mandibular second molars. The Sinodont pattern exhibits these traits more commonly and more intensively, whereas the Sundadont pattern exhibits fewer of these features and when present they are less fully developed (Haydenblit 1996, Scott & Turner 1997. Turner maintained that the initial settlement of the Americas was by people with the Sinodontic pattern, and consequently all Native Americans are Sinodonts as well (Turner 1984, Turner 1986, Turner 1989, Turner 1990, Turner 1992, Turner 2002, Scott & Turner 1997, Scott & Turner 2006, Scott & Turner 2007, Stojanowsky et al 2013.…”