Evolutionary changes in the deciduous dentition of near eastern Eastern populations

Deciduous teeth from Middle and Upper Pleistocene sites in Europe and Israel were examined. In addition, data on a fairly complete series of teeth from the Epipaleolithic down to recent times was used to obtain better evaluation of temporal trends in tooth size and morphology. Some reduction in tooth size was found between Riss and Würm I-II specimens, but the rate of reduction remained slow throughout the Würm, then accelerated in the early post-Pleistocene period. Little change in tooth size has taken place over the past 6000 years. Morphological differences as opposed to metric differences were most pronounced between the Neanderthals and later groups.