nscArchaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of EurasiaАрхеология, этнография и антропология Евразии1563-0110IAET SB RAS10.17746/1563-0110.2025.53.1.145-154nsc-2109Research ArticleANTHROPOLOGY AND PALEOGENETICSDigital Forensic Analysis of Tooth Wear in Prehistoric and Modern Humanshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7848-1671YuadiI.

Yuadi I., Associate Professor 

Jalan Airlangga 4-6, Surabaya, 60286 

imam.yuadi@fisip.unair.ac.idhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7446-261XKoesbardiatiT.

Koesbardiati T., Professor 

Jalan Airlangga 4-6, Surabaya, 60286 

toetik.koesbardiati@fisip.unair.ac.idhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7348-200XWicaksonoR.P.R.W.

Wicaksono R.P.R.W., Research Assistant 

Jalan Airlangga 4-6, Surabaya, 60286 

ragilprakoso0609@gmail.comhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1173-2859GurushankarK.

Gurushankar K., Assistant Professor;  Senior Researcher 

Tamil Nadu – 626 126, Krishnankoil, Virudhunagar, 626126 

pr. Lenina 76, Chelyabinsk, 454080, Russia 

gurushankar01051987@gmail.comhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-5693-2041Nisa’K.

Nisa’ K., Research Assistant 

Jalan Airlangga 4-6, Surabaya, 60286 

khoirun.nisa-2017@fisip.unair.ac.idAirlangga UniversityIndonesiaKalasalingam Academy of Research and Education ; Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State UniversityIndia202503042025531145154Copyright © Yuadi I., Koesbardiati T., Wicaksono R., Gurushankar K., Nisa’ K., 20252025Yuadi I., Koesbardiati T., Wicaksono R., Gurushankar K., Nisa’ K.Yuadi I., Koesbardiati T., Wicaksono R., Gurushankar K., Nisa’ K.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://journal.archaeology.nsc.ru/jour/article/view/2109

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.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.