![The use of toothpicks is recognised in a number of cultures in the world today representing a combination of cultural, hygienic and medicinal concerns. Marina Lozano […]](/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/NEWSICON2-620x300.png "Neanderthal Toothpick Use at Cova Foradà – Medicinal?")
The use of toothpicks is recognised in a number of cultures in the world today representing a combination of cultural, hygienic and medicinal concerns. Marina Lozano and colleagues argue that evidence from Cova Foradà demonstrates the use of toothpicks by the Neanderthal hominin species primarily to alleviate the pain and inflammation of periodontal disease.
Cova Foradà, a cave site on the Mediterranean coast of modern-day Spain, provides evidence for human occupation back to the Mousterian through to the Mesolithic periods. An excavated Neanderthal maxilla (CF-1), largely complete with three teeth remaining in-situ, came from an individual adult aged 35-45 years old. The individual’s teeth and maxilla showed no evidence of cysts, abscesses, dental calculus or caries. The teeth were, however, heavily worn and, significantly, showed signs of ‘mild to serious periodontal disease’ which would have caused inflammation of the gums. Grooves were found on two of the teeth, caused by drawing a rigid yet narrow object between the teeth at their base, indicative of the use of some sort of toothpick.
Toothpicks are inserted between the teeth, typically to remove trapped food and the like, necessitating slender dimensions and a stiff material such as wood or bone. That they were used throughout our evolution is clear, with earliest evidence from a 1.84 million year old Homo habilis specimen, and numerous Neanderthal examples. Aboriginal populations today also show such grooves related to the practice. Grooves can be caused by use of a pick on healthy teeth for oral hygiene, as well as by using the teeth as tools. However, combined with the evidence of periodontal disease and the increasing understanding of complexity in Neanderthal behaviour, Lozano et al. argue that the CF-1 Neanderthal attempted instead to relieve pain and inflammation of the gums.
