Comparing dental stress markers in Sima de los Huesos hominins and classic Neandertals

Abstract

Stressful events like early life illness and injury create horizontal grooves on the surface of developing teeth. Previous research suggests that more severe and longer lasting stressors increase defect depth and width, respectively. However, enamel growth variation also influences dimensions with faster growth rates creating shallower defects and normal growth increments called perikymata.