Elliptical Fourier Analysis Of Crown Shape In Permanent Mandibular Molars From The Late Neolithic Cave Burials Of Belgium

Prehistoric remains from caves and rockshelters are known from more than 250 sites situated along the Meuse River Basin of Belgium. Most of these osteological remnants date to the Late Neolithic period beginning after 4,500 years before present (BP), and five of these cave burials have been subject to intensive study, including Hastiere Caverne M and Hastiere Trou Garcon C from an earlier period of the Late Neolithic (4,345 +/- 60 to 4,220 +/- 45 years BP), Sclaigneaux and Bois Madame from the final/late Neolithic (4,155 +/- 35 to 3,910 +/- 40 years BP) and Maurenne Caverne de la Cave which dates to the final/late Neolithic period, 4,160 +/- 45 to 3,830 +/- 90 years BP and Middle Neolithic, 4,635 +/- 45 years BP. Since the majority of the remains comprise gnathic fragments with in situ dental elements, comparisons between the caves are largely restricted to the teeth. Elliptical Fourier analysis of 40 permanent mandibular molar crown outlines from 27 individuals is utilized to address the degree to which chronology and ecogeography can explain the variation in crown shape across the caves. Although the sample sizes are limited, the cave burial of Hastiere Caverne M appears to be distinctive. The variation within the cave burials of Sclaigneaux and Maurenne Caverne de la Cave is extensive, and a pronounced overlapping characterizes some of the sites. The results may provide evidence for increasingly broader contact between Late Neolithic farming communities of the Belgian Meuse basin prior to the Bronze Age.