The tooth size in the end of the Estonian Iron Age

Abstract

Mesiodistal (MD) and buccolingual (BL) crown diameters of all observable permanent teeth were measured in four skeleton series from the Iron End Estonia, total of 254 individuals. Teeth sizes in the End of the Estonian Iron Age were typical of Northern Caucasoids who are mesodontic. All the teeth in the observed group were larger than in the historical skulls from Southern Lithuania and smaller than in historical skulls from Northern Finland. As for adult individuals, the sex was determined and teeth measures were registered separately in men and women. Differences between men and women were calculated. All the men had teeth bigger than women and although these differences were moderate, most of them were statistically significant. Most dimorphic teeth were upper canines (difference between male and female BL – 8.3%, VL – 6.4%) and the discriminant analysis based on upper canine tooth measures enabled correctly classify 88.2% of women and 73.6% of men. Least dimorphic were upper and lower incisors, which did not differ between men and women.