Physical Anthropology in Thailand

The collecting of physical anthropological data of people in the past, by physical anthropologists, physicians, archaeologists, including academics in related fields, from studying skeletal remains at archaeological sites in Thailand and to publish knowledge in any form.

PATTERN OF TOOTHWEAR AND DIETARY BEHAVIOR AT NONG RACHAWAT, SUPHAN BURI

Title
PATTERN OF TOOTHWEAR AND DIETARY BEHAVIOR AT NONG RACHAWAT, SUPHAN BURI
Author
TANOMPOLKRANG, WATINEE
Paper type
Dissertation
Language
Thai
Location
Year
2017
Date report
Published
Graduate School, Silpakorn University
Subjects
Abstract

This report presents the study results of the pattern of tooth wear and dietary behavior by using the dental microwear textures of Neolithic individuals at Nong Rachawat archaeological site, Suphan Buri Province, approximately dates to 3,800-4,000 BP.

The sample of this study divided into two groups: 1) the prehistoric sample consisted of either the first or the second lower molar from thirteen specimens, discovered from 2014-2015 and compared with 2) the modern sample collected from the first lower molar of ten modern Thais, by utilized a stereo microscope with magnification of 50X, 100X and 200X.

The findings suggested that the tooth abrasion of the Neolithic population of Nong Rachawat archaeological site was the combination between the scratch and pit, and also found a microwear traces like a broader pit with rough textures that possibly caused by consuming some kind of high-acidic foods. When comparative with the microwear textures on the modern sample, the qualities of microwear textures were similar to those of who prefer meat rather than vegetable consumption. So it revealed that the Neolithic population of Nong Rachawat liked to consume the foods which contained quite rough and hard fiber, and had a mixed subsistence between hunting-gathering and agriculture.

Full paper