Palaeodontological analysis of an Iron age dental sample from a cave burial site near Gornji Vakuf, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

This article presents the results of a palaeocultural and palaeodontological research of Cave No. 5 near the villages of Bistrica and Krupa in the municipality of Gornji vakuf, southwest Bosnia. This cave is located on the west slope of Mt vranica. inside the cave, several artefacts and skeletal remains of about 20 persons have been found. radiocarbon 14C analysis of one bone sample showed that people whose remains were found in the cave lived 2765±75 years ago. Palaeodontological examinations on a total sample of 36 human teeth included tooth status, occlusal tooth wear, presence of developmental enamel defects, and odontometric analysis.