Tooth macrowear analysis of Indigenous Australian people from Yuendumu

The transition from foraging to farming occurred throughout the Neolithic was characterized by an increase in oral pathologies, such as caries and antemortem tooth loss, due to the consumption of softened foods rich in starch and sugars. The introduction of agricultural foods led to a disequilibrium in the masticatory apparatus, which is ultimately reflected in their dental wear.

Here we analyze the molar macrowear patterns of the Warlpiri people (N = 33) from Yuendumu (Central Australia), a contemporary population that was at an early stage of transition from a nomadic and hunter-gatherer existence to a more westernized lifestyle. We employ the occlusal fingerprint analysis with the aim of tracking dental functional aspects associated with diet and cultural changes.

The results show that the Warlpiri macrowear pattern was more similar to hunter-gatherers with a mixed diet, reflecting thus the consumption of hard (forager) and soft (westernized) foods. Moreover, we found a more oblique wear in the Warlpiri people if compared to those of recent hunter-gatherers. We also observed a high prevalence of tooth chipping, which is likely related to mastication of gritty and hard foods, and to a wide variety of non-masticatory uses.

The analysis of the molar macrowear patterns indicate little changes in the masticatory system of the Warlpiri people, typical of a forager population. However, we do observe variations in tooth wear, which are probably caused by the introduction of softer foods in their daily diet, which is especially evident in younger individuals.