Digital Forensic Analysis of Tooth Wear in Prehistoric and Modern Humans
Digital Forensic Analysis of Tooth Wear in Prehistoric and Modern Humans
doi:10.17746/1563-0110.2025.53.1.145-154
I. Yuadi1, T. Koesbardiati1, R.P.R.W. Wicaksono1, D.B. Murti1, K. Gurushankar2, 3, and K. Nisa’1 1Airlangga University, Jalan Airlangga 4-6, Surabaya, 60286, Indonesia 2Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Tamil Nadu – 626 126, Krishnankoil, Virudhunagar, 626126, India 3Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State University, Pr. Lenina 76, Chelyabinsk, 454080, Russia
In this study, we aimed to identify prehistoric and modern humans on the basis of the shape and texture of occlusal surfaces of their molars. Twelve specimens were tested (6 in each group). We used surface plot and plot profile analysis in the first experiment, and also three-dimensional (3D) surface plots, facet orientation, and roughness calculations in the second experiment, to test the deviation of the top gray or surface peak with fossa or surface valley and also bottom gray. Calculations from the three regions of interest indicate that the deviation results from prehistoric human teeth are smaller than those from modern human teeth. The calculated indices of molar surface roughness of prehistoric humans are generally lower than those of modern humans. The findings demonstrate that prehistoric human teeth were a bit more worn than modern human teeth.
Keywords: Tooth wear, digital forensic, surface roughness, food ingredients, prehistoric human, modern human
