Image Credit: Tom Björklund

Tooth Crafting in Prehistoric Europe

A new experimental archaeology study reveals how prehistoric communities in north-eastern Europe extracted animal teeth for ornaments, focusing on the Zvejnieki cemetery in Latvia (7500–2500 BC), where over 2,000 teeth were found. Researchers tested various methods and found that wet cooking and pit steaming were most effective, allowing teeth to be removed without damage and integrating the process into daily food preparation.
Dr. Aija Macāne explains that tooth extraction was a deliberate, cultural practice tied to cooking, crafting, and burial rituals—challenging the view that such teeth were scavenged casually. The study highlights the connection between survival, identity, and symbolic expression in Stone Age life.
The research is part of the AMI project, funded by the European Research Council, and involves experts from multiple European institutions.

Published on: 27-06-2025

Source: University of Helsinki