Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence, distribution and intensity of tooth wear in a sample of an ancient Italian population in order to explain the pattern in terms of dietary habits and/or non-dietary tooth-use behaviors during the Early Bronze Age, with a focus on possible age-group and sex differences.
METHODS: Well-preserved permanent teeth of individuals from the Bronze Age site of Ballabio (Lecco) in northern Italy were examined for tooth wear by different methods. Eight 3D models of teeth at increasing severity of wear were created.
RESULTS: In total, 357 permanent teeth belonging to male and female individuals were included in the study. Dental wear was present in 96.6% of the total sample. Males showed significantly greater levels of wear than females in the mandibular teeth. Both sexes exhibited a significantly different wear direction between the anterior (oblique and flat) and posterior (oblique and concave) teeth. Significant age differences were observed in the direction and level of wear in the incisors, canines and premolars, with higher wear in the older group. Complete and rotatable virtual 3D images of different wear patterns are proposed.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study confirm the data from archaeological studies on this site and on northern Italian habits during the Early Bronze Age suggesting a diet rich in vegetables. The observed wear patterns can be related both to the diet of this Bronze age population, based on hard and abrasive food requiring vigorous mastication, and to sex differences in cultural practices.
METHODS: Well-preserved permanent teeth of individuals from the Bronze Age site of Ballabio (Lecco) in northern Italy were examined for tooth wear by different methods. Eight 3D models of teeth at increasing severity of wear were created.
RESULTS: In total, 357 permanent teeth belonging to male and female individuals were included in the study. Dental wear was present in 96.6% of the total sample. Males showed significantly greater levels of wear than females in the mandibular teeth. Both sexes exhibited a significantly different wear direction between the anterior (oblique and flat) and posterior (oblique and concave) teeth. Significant age differences were observed in the direction and level of wear in the incisors, canines and premolars, with higher wear in the older group. Complete and rotatable virtual 3D images of different wear patterns are proposed.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study confirm the data from archaeological studies on this site and on northern Italian habits during the Early Bronze Age suggesting a diet rich in vegetables. The observed wear patterns can be related both to the diet of this Bronze age population, based on hard and abrasive food requiring vigorous mastication, and to sex differences in cultural practices.
摘要：
目的：本研究的目的是评估患病率，在古代意大利人口样本中，牙齿磨损的分布和强度，以解释青铜时代早期饮食习惯和/或非饮食牙齿使用行为的模式，关注可能的年龄组和性别差异。
方法：通过不同方法检查了来自意大利北部Ballabio（Lecco）青铜时代遗址的保存完好的恒牙的牙齿磨损情况。创建了八个磨损严重程度增加的牙齿3D模型。
结果：总计，该研究包括属于男性和女性个体的357颗恒牙。牙齿磨损存在于总样品的96.6%中。在下颌牙齿中，男性的磨损程度明显高于女性。两性在前（斜和平）和后（斜和凹）牙齿之间表现出明显不同的磨损方向。在门牙的磨损方向和水平上观察到显着的年龄差异，犬齿和前磨牙，老年组的磨损较高。提出了不同磨损模式的完整且可旋转的虚拟3D图像。
结论：本研究的发现证实了该遗址和青铜时代早期意大利北部习惯的考古研究数据，表明饮食富含蔬菜。观察到的磨损模式可能与这个青铜时代人群的饮食有关，基于需要剧烈咀嚼的坚硬和研磨性食物，以及文化习俗中的性别差异。
方法：通过不同方法检查了来自意大利北部Ballabio（Lecco）青铜时代遗址的保存完好的恒牙的牙齿磨损情况。创建了八个磨损严重程度增加的牙齿3D模型。
结果：总计，该研究包括属于男性和女性个体的357颗恒牙。牙齿磨损存在于总样品的96.6%中。在下颌牙齿中，男性的磨损程度明显高于女性。两性在前（斜和平）和后（斜和凹）牙齿之间表现出明显不同的磨损方向。在门牙的磨损方向和水平上观察到显着的年龄差异，犬齿和前磨牙，老年组的磨损较高。提出了不同磨损模式的完整且可旋转的虚拟3D图像。
结论：本研究的发现证实了该遗址和青铜时代早期意大利北部习惯的考古研究数据，表明饮食富含蔬菜。观察到的磨损模式可能与这个青铜时代人群的饮食有关，基于需要剧烈咀嚼的坚硬和研磨性食物，以及文化习俗中的性别差异。
