Characteristics of Maxillary Cheek Teeth in Horses Equus przewalskii f. caballus (LINNAEUS, 1758) from Early Medieval Excavations in Poland

Abstract

The investigations were carried out in the permanent 65 maxillary cheek teeth of 12 adult horses Equus przewalskii f. caballus (LINNAEUS, 1758), males and females, from archaeological excavations dated back to early medieval. 14 dimensions were measured and 22 morphological details of the occlusal surface were described. The objective of the study was estimation of odontometric differences between both sexes and statistical significance analysis of the influence of the investigated factors mostly gender and archaeological context on measured values. Majority of obtained results indicate the lack of statistical significance (P > 0.05) between the mean values of measurements from four investigated excavations. Moreover, other numerous analogies between the mean values of odontologic measurements taken in other medieval horse specimens were found, especially in primitive horse breed zooarchaeological material from Poland.

Full text

Global Veterinaria 12 (3): 336-344, 2014
ISSN 1992-6197
© IDOSI Publications, 2014
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gv.2014.12.03.82276
Corresponding Author: Edyta Pasicka, Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Ko uchowska 1/3, 51-631 Wroclaw, Poland.
336
Characteristics of Maxillary Cheek Teeth in Horses
Equus przewalskii F. Caballus (LINNAEUS, 1758)
from Early Medieval Excavations in Poland
Edyta Pasicka, Aleksander Chrószcz, Krzysztof Tarnawski and Maciej Janeczek
11 2 1
Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
1
Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
Environmental Engineering Institute, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy,
2
Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
Abstract: The investigations were carried out in the permanent 65 maxillary cheek teeth of 12 adult horses
Equus przewalskii f. caballus (LINNAEUS, 1758), males and females, from archaeological excavations dated
back to early medieval. 14 dimensions were measured and 22 morphological details of the occlusal surface were
described. The objective of the study was estimation of odontometric differences between both sexes and
statistical significance analysis of the influence of the investigated factors - mostly gender and archaeological
context - on measured values. Majority of obtained results indicate the lack of statistical significance (P > 0.05)
between the mean values of measurements from four investigated excavations. Moreover, other numerous
analogies between the mean values of odontologic measurements taken in other medieval horse specimens were
found, especially in primitive horse breed zooarchaeological material from Poland.
Key words: Adult Horses Lophodont Cheek Teeth Odontological Measurements Occlusal Surface
Early Middle Ages
INTRODUCTION publications on medieval horse odontometry. Most of
In the last decade horse cheek teeth research occlusal surface: length/width of tooth and length of
enabled i.a. phylogenetic description of the teeth of protocone. The aim of our study is to demonstrate the
horses [1], hypselodontic equines paleodiet differences between odontometric dimensions for both
reconstruction [2], mineralization pattern and estimation genders as well as to examine statistically how factors like
of its periods for modern horses’ dentition [3], gender and archaeological location influence the
supernumeraries of horse dentition description [4], time of measurements. Moreover, an odontometric parameters
animal death estimation based on the measurements of comparison was carried out for of zooarchaeological
cheek teeth crowns [5]. material dated back to European Middle Ages versus
Dental nomenclature of crown features in primitive horse breeds.
lophodontic dentition of horses has been argued over
for years. Some authors referred only to basic elements MATERIALS AND METHODS
of the occlusal surface morphology, that were easily
distinguishable. Others modified the existing terminology Majority of the cheek teeth came from horse skulls
or broadened it by introducing new terms [6-14]. Despite dated to Early Middle Ages, material came from settlement
the cheek teeth morphometry was analyzed in ancestors centers of urban character. The same skulls had been
of Pleistocene horses as well as in modern Equidae subject of craniometric research and the results have been
representatives [8,10,15-18], there is rather a scarcity of published in a separate paper by Pasicka et al. [19].
these papers address the three main dimensions of the

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337
The dental material was well preserved, not fragmented, Prat [12], Evander [14] and Hibbard [20]. The scheme of
located in the alveoli, allowing for the exact identification measuring the occlusal surface anatomical details was
of its location in the upper dental arches. The animal age implemented according to the method introduced by
was estimated as morphological adult (8-9 years old) on Musil [10].
the basis of the incisive teeth shape and size. Also For each tooth 22 elements of the upper cheek teeth
identified were cheek teeth belonging to two males aged crown were interpreted (Figure 1) and 14 measurements
up to 21 years. Two odontometric measurements were taken (Figure 2).
(tooth length and width) of those males aged up to All measurements were taken with the use of an
21 years were excluded from the statistical studies with electronic slide caliper (0.1 mm accuracy), in the left upper
young (8-9 years of age) specimen, because of the tooth dental arch. During the statistical elaboration of the mean
wear and the changes in shape of the occlusal surface. values (no less than 3 groups), the single factor analysis
The 65 cheek teeth were coming from 12 early medieval of variance (ANOVA) and NIR Fisher's test were
horses Equus przewalskii f. caballus (LINNAEUS, 1758) performed (Tables 1 and 2). During the mean values
and had been found during archaeological excavation in: estimation between two groups t-Student tests were used
Opole (Ostrówek X-XI c.), Wroclaw (Ostrów Tumski - (Tables 3 and 4). The mean values were established with
Cathedral Island XI-XIII c.), Kruszwica (X-XIII c.) and statistical significance P 0.05 and P 0.01. All statistical
Wroclaw (University (W/Unw.) X-XIII c.). Sex of the calculations in this work were computed using StatSoft
analyzed horses was determined based on the presence of Statistica 9.1 software.
canines which are typical for males.
The zooarchaeological material was a part of a RESULTS
museum collection in the Section of Animal Anatomy
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Single Factor Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) NIR
Environmental and Life Sciences. The cheek teeth were Fisher's Test: The statistical analysis proved a lack of
described with abbreviations used in veterinary practice significant differences in the upper cheek teeth
and it is: P – the 2 upper premolar, P – the 3 upper dimensions between the investigated groups from the
2nd 3rd
premolar, P – the 4 upper premolar and M – the 1 subsequent archaeological sites (Tables 1 and 2).
4th 1st
upper molar, M – the 2 upper molar and M – the 3 The statistically significant differences of P
2nd 3rd
dimensions were identified only during the analysis of
st
commonly described in horses [3]. three measurements (Table 1). Measurement no. 7 highly
During our investigations the maxillar cheek teeth significantly differentiated mean values obtained for
were divided according to subsequent criteria. The first horses from Opole (6.4 ± 0.66) and Wroclaw Cathedral
one was based on archaeological context (location of Island (7.7 ± 0.26) (Table 1). Moreover, in measurement 7a
findings). The premolar teeth measurements from three the mean value for horses from Wroclaw Cathedral
archaeological sites (Opole–3, Kruszwica–2, Wroclaw Island (2.1 ± 0.18) was statistically significantly higher
Cathedral Island–5) and the molar teeth measurements than the means for horses form Opole (1.3 ± 0.35) and
from four excavations (Opole–3, Wroclaw University–2, Kruszwica (1.4 ± 0.01) (Table 1). Also, observation no. 13
Kruszwica–2, Wroclaw Cathedral Island–5) were taken proved to statistically significantly differentiate the
into consideration (Tables 1 and 2). horses from Opole (2.0 ± 0.13) and Kruszwica (2.9± 0.01)
The second partition differentiated the material (Table 1).
according to gender, which was not possible in all The statistical analysis of P showed only one value
investigated examples, thus only the measurements significantly different among horses from investigated
carried in 6 males (Opole–2, Kruszwica–1, Wroclaw archaeological sites (Table 1). Dimension on 7a was
Cathedral Island –3) and 3 females (Wroclaw statistically significantly different between horses
Cathedral Island –2, Kruszwica–1) were included from Wroclaw Cathedral Island (2.1 ± 0.35) and Opole
(Tables 3 and 4). (1.4 ± 0.35) (Table 1).
The morphological evaluation of horses was based Analyses of P pointed to a statistical difference in
on the occlusal surface anatomical features interpretation only one dimension between the groups investigated
and odontometry. Terminology describing the crown of (Table 1). Dimension 8 turned out to be statistically
tooth occlusal surfaces in upper cheek teeth was significantly higher in horses from Wroclaw Cathedral
introduced according to Astre [6], Pirlot [7], Gromova [8], Island (4.6 ± 0.46) in comparison with the mean obtained
Azzaroli [9], Musil [10], Churcher and Richardson [11], for Opole (2.9 ± 1.48) (Table 1).
2
upper molar. The lack of the 1 upper premolar is
3
4

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338
Table 1: Measurements of upper premolars in early medieval horses, differentiated according to geographical sites
Measurements (mm)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tooth Archaeological Site 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13
P Opole (n = 2) m 35.9 24.1 6.2 2.0 8.2 2.1 6.4 1.3 4.4 3.4 2.2 15.6 13.1 2.0
2 Aa a
SD 3.24 1.52 2.09 0.06 1.25 0.32 0.66 0.35 0.23 0.00 2.15 3.34 0.98 0.13
Kruszwica (n = 2) m 35.5 22.7 5.0 3.4 8. 1 2.7 7.1 1.4 4.7 3 .6 2.2 14.1 13.1 2.9
ab
SD 2.88 2.96 0.37 0.71 0.53 0.39 0.36 0.01 0.18 0.90 0.14 1.44 0.82 0.01
Cath. Island(n = 5) m 36.7 24.2 6.2 4.9 10,1 2.9 7.7 2.1 5.6 3.2 2.4 12.3 13.8 2.3
Bb
SD 1.75 1.00 0.57 2.07 1.34 1.07 0.26 0.18 0.93 1.01 0.88 1.35 0.58 0.32
P Opole (n = 3) m 28.3 26.9 5.5 5.0 10.8 3.5 7.6 1.4 3.9 3.9 4.1 13.5 12.0 4.3
3a
SD 1.52 1.02 0.93 1.80 2.19 1.50 0.98 0.35 1.32 0.74 1.07 1.03 0.83 1.78
Kruszwica (n = 2) m 27.8 24.1 5.2 5.5 11.1 4.8 7.9 1.6 4.7 4.2 3.4 12.9 12.0 3.9
SD 1.55 3.77 0.28 0.08 1.87 0.81 0.66 0.31 0.87 0.09 0.19 1.87 0.57 0.32
Cath. Island (n = 5) m 28.2 26.9 5.2 5.9 10.7 4.4 7.7 2.1 4.9 4 .7 3.4 13.0 11.8 3.7
b
SD 1.39 0.80 0.14 0.89 0.92 0.53 0.52 0.35 0.73 0.89 1.06 2.41 0.81 1.39
P Opole (n = 3) m 27.2 25.9 4.7 5.4 11.3 4.2 7.6 1.9 2.9 3.1 3.5* 12.7 11.5 4.2
4a
SD 1.81 0.23 0.46 0.08 2.85 2.59 0.73 0.26 1.48 0.17 - 0.85 0.66 1.17
Kruszwica (n = 2) m 27.2 26.3 4.9 5.1 11.8 5.0 7.2 1.5 4.0 4.2 3.3 12.4 11.2 4.0
SD 1.75 1.37 0.54 0.29 2.79 1.20 1.00 0.17 0.19 0.08 0.61 1.29 1.00 0.05
Cath. Island (n = 5) m 27.4 26.6 5.0 5.0 10.9 4.1 8.4 2.5 4.6 4.0 3.6 13.5 11.1 3.6
b
SD 1.16 1.31 0.97 0.53 1.28 0.73 1.47 0.98 0.46 0.87 1.42 0.48 0.58 1.67
a, b-means in columns - marked with lowercase letters - differ statistically significantly for a given tooth, P 0.05,
A, B- means in columns - marked with uppercase letters - differ statistically highly significantly for a given tooth, P 0.01,
* - measurement outcome for one individual, m- mean, SD- standard deviation,
n- number of teeth, m- mean from measurements 1 and 2 included only young 8 and 9 year old specimens.
Table 2. Measurements of upper molars in early medieval horses, differentiated according to geographical sites
Measurements (mm)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tooth Archaeological Site 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13
M Opole (n = 3) m 24.8 25.6 4.2 4.0 11.7 3.9 7.6 1.9 3.3 2.0 2.1* 11.5 10.1 3.0
1a
SD 0.88 0.68 0.52 0.69 2.10 0.63 1.42 0.47 1.26 0.69 - 0.63 0.50 0.13
W/Unw. (n = 2) m 24.4 24.3 3.8 4.2 10.5 3.9 7.7 2.1 4.2 1.4 - 14.1* 11.4 1.8
SD 4.29 0.11 0.58 0.72 0.30 0.88 1.82 0.42 0.31 0.72 - - 0.03 0.16
Kruszwica (n = 2) m 24.0 25.5 3.4 3.7 11.3 4.2 6.7 1.8 3.9 2.3 2.4 10.9 10.2 3.6
SD 0.65 0.29 0.81 0.14 1.78 0.73 0.33 0.06 0.13 0.43 0.74 0.56 0.32 0.52
Cath. Island (n = 5) m 24.6 25.4 3.9 3.9 10.8 4.0 7.6 1.9 4.9 2.7 2.3* 12.7 10.3 3.3
b
SD 1.56 1.76 0.88 0.45 1.34 0.54 0.58 0.27 0.65 1.14 - 0.95 0.59 1.49
M Opole (n = 3) m 25.1 24.7 4.3 3.9 12.8 4.6 8.0 1.3 3.2 2.7 1.6 11.3 10.5 3.1
2 aa
SD 1.10 0.35 0.34 0.71 3.13 0.62 1.23 0.35 0.35 1.38 0.88 0.58 0.62 0.21
W/Unw. (n = 2) m 26.5 25.2 3.4 3.6 12.5 4.4 7.7 2.1 4.4 2.5 3.7* 15.9* 11.0 4.1
b
SD 5.66 1.43 0.35 0.13 0.43 0.70 1.20 0.42 0.97 0.83 - - 1.87 2.22
Kruszwica (n = 2) m 23.7 23.7 3.6 3.3 11 .7 4.9 6.9 1.8 3.9 3. 3 2.2 10.7 10.0 3 .6
SD 0.18 0.19 0.94 0.01 1.79 0.24 0.06 0.07 0.55 0.96 0.44 0.75 0.38 0.01
Cath. Island (n = 5) m 24.8 24.8 4.4 3.8 12.1 3.9 8.0 1.9 4.7 2.6 1.7 12.4 10.6 3.1
bb
SD 1.25 0.91 0.98 0.65 0.98 0.58 1.70 0.31 0.81 1.04 0.30 0.40 0.54 1.70
M Opole (n = 3) m 26.0 22.4 4.2 3.5 12.3 4.0 7.6 1.1 2.3 1.8 2.0* 11.7 12.0 2.7
3a
SD 2.45 0.85 0.31 0.43 1.51 0.58 1.28 0.56 0.43 0.90 - 0.90 2.10 0.74
W/Unw. (n = 2) m 29.5 24.3 3.6 3.1 13.8 4.8 9.0 1.8 3.8 2.2 - 15.7* 12.6 3.6
ab
SD 3.44 3.62 0.78 0.65 1.13 0.18 1.15 0.04 0.11 1.17 - - 2.78 1.53
Kruszwica (n = 2) m 27.0 21.5 3.6 3.6 13.3 5.2 8.0 1.5 3.5 1.7 2.3 11.4 9.7 3.6
SD 3.43 0.14 0.94 0.36 1.92 0.22 0.54 0.10 0.59 0.21 0.17 1.00 1.41 0.01
Cath. Island (n = 5) m 24.9 21.7 4.0 3.3 12.0 4.0 7.5 1.9 3.8 2.4 1.3 12.0 9.3 3.2
bb
SD 0.90 1.17 1.10 0.71 1.41 0.85 1.09 1.25 0.85 1.00 0.42 0.81 0.18 0.37
a, b-means in columns - marked with lowercase letters - differ statistically significantly for a given tooth, P 0.05,
* - measurement outcome for one individual, m- mean, SD- standard deviation,
n- number of teeth, m- mean from measurements 1 and 2 included only young 8 and 9 year old specimens

Global Veterinaria, 12 (3): 336-344, 2014
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Statistical studies conducted for the measurements of (4.7 ± 1.16), females (4.3 ± 0.39); 10: males (5.1 ± 2.87),
upper molar teeth also proved sparse statistically females (3.6 ± 0.97)) (Table 3). Two measurements of P
significant differences in the mean values of specific turned out to be on average higher in females (9: males
groups (Table 2). However, it was noticed that the (3.7 ± 0.82), females (4.8 ± 1.12); 13: males (3.4 ± 1.28),
dimension no. 8 turned out to be significantly females (4.6 ± 0.48)) (Table 3).
differentiating for each molar tooth of the groups The occlusal surface of P showed nine attributes
presented (Table 2). (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7a, 10, 11, 12) not differentiating the
Analysis of the M showed a statistically significant investigated groups (Table 3). Mean values of three
1
difference of dimension 8 mean value between horses P dimensions in females exceeded their values in
from Opole (3.3 ± 1.26) and animals from Wroclaw males (8: males (3.9 ± 1.36), females (4.4 ± 0.36); 9: males
Cathedral Island (4.9 ± 0.65) (Table 2). (3.6 ± 0.84), females (4.3 ± 0.16); 13: males (3.4 ± 1.11),
The results obtained for M tooth in case of two females (4.8 ± 0.64)) (Table 3). Only two dimensions of
2
measurements show a significant difference between the P were higher in males than in females (3: males
groups investigated (7a: between Opole (1.3 ± 0.35) and (5.1 ± 0.80), females (4.5 ± 0.15); 7: males (8.2 ± 1.33),
Wroclaw University (2.1 ± 0.42) and Wroclaw Cathedral females (7.4 ± 0.80)) (Table 3).
Island (1.9 ± 0.31); 8: between Opole (3.2 ± 0.35) and The molar teeth were also characterized by low
Wroclaw Cathedral Island (4.7 ± 0.81)) (Table 2). number of statistically significant features differentiating
Two dimensions of M tooth were statistically the studied groups (Table 4).
3
significant: 1 (between Wroclaw University (29.5 ± 3.44) The occlusal surface of M showed eight attributes
and Wroclaw Cathedral Island (24.9 ± 0.90)) (Table 2) and (1, 5, 7, 7a, 8, 9, 11, 12) with comparable mean values
8 (between Opole (2.3 ± 0.43) and Wroclaw University (Table 4). Sexual dimorphism was stronger marked in six
(3.8 ± 0.11) and Wroclaw Cathedral Island (3.8 ± 0.85)) dimensions, in five cases with female predomination (2:
(Table 2). male (25.3± 1.14), female (25.9 ± 1.14); 6: male (3.8 ± 0.49),
Student’s T-Test: In the investigated groups numerous 13: male (3.1 ± 1.07), female (4.0 ± 1.08)) and in only two in
anatomical features of the upper cheek teeth were proved
with the use of Student’s t-test to be statistically
nonsignificantly different (Tables 3 and 4).
Mean values of the analyzed premolar teeth attributes
were statistically non-significantly different (Table 3). The
mean values in six dimensions (3, 4, 6, 7, 10 and 12) of P2
were comparable in both sexes (Table 3). Moreover, the
analyzed tooth dimensions dominated in males over
females according to six mean values (1: males (36.7 ±
2.09), females (35.4 ± 2.32); 2: males (24.1 ± 1.06), females
(23.3 ± 2.46); 5: males (9.5 ± 1.58), females (8.9 ±
1.01); 8: males (5.3 ± 0.99), females (4.9 ± 0.33), 11: males
(14.1 ± 2.55), females (12.9 ± 1.07); 13: males (2.7 ±
0.77), females (2.4 ± 0.43)) (Table 3). Two dental
dimensions mean values were greater in females than in
males (7a: males (1.6 ± 0.46), females (1.8 ± 0.39); 9: males
(3.3 ± 0.96), females (3.8 ± 0.37)) (Table 3).
The analysis of P had also proved close to a
3
half parameters (5, 6, 7, 7a, 11 and 12) comparable in the
mean values (Table 3). Also a dominance was noted of
males over females according to six attributes (1: males
(28.0 ± 0.84), females (27.7 ± 1.65); 2: males (26.8 ± 0.90),
females (25.3 ± 3.38); 3: males (6.0 ± 1.41), females (5.2 ±
0.20); 4: males (5.9 ± 1.52), females (5.4 ± 0.28); 8: males
3
4
4
4
1
female (4.1 ± 0.56); 10: male (2.0 ± 0.16), female (2.6 ± 0.42);
males (3: males (4.3 ± 0.54), females (3.2 ± 0.81); 4: males
(4.0 ± 0.44), females (3.5 ± 0.28)) (Table 4).
The M morphology presented seven attributes
2
(1, 5, 6, 7a, 10, 11 and 12) with comparable mean values in
the groups investigated (Table 4).
Mean values of four dimensions of M , similar to M ,
21
in females exceeded the values obtained in males, two
of these dimensions were analogous for M and M
12
(2: males (24.3 ± 0.75), females (24.8 ± 0.86); 7: males
(7.5 ± 0.89), females (8.2 ± 2.25); 9: males (2.4 ± 1.02),
females (3.0 ± 0.91); 13: males (3.1 ± 1.34), females
(3.8 ± 0.94)) (Table 4). Again in males found was a lower
number of parameters exceeding the values in females,
this time for M , (3: males (4.4 ± 0.67), females (3.8 ± 1.09);
2
4: males (3.9 ± 0.52), females (3.3 ± 0.62); 8: males
(4.6 ± 0.94), females (3.8 ± 0.44)) (Table 4).
The analysis of M proved a statistically significant
3
difference in the mean values of dimension no. 3 between
males (4.3 ± 0.65) and females (3.2 ± 0.30) (Table 4). The
lack of significant differences in the mean values between
genders was found for seven dimensions (2, 4, 5, 7a, 8, 9,
13) (Table 4). It was also established that in four
dimensions of M males surpassed females (1: males
3
(25.7 ± 2.60), females (25.1 ± 0.47); 10: males (2.1 ± 0.46),

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Table 3: Measurements of upper premolars in early medieval horses, differentiated according to gender
Measurements (mm)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tooth Sex 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13
P (n = 6) m 36.7 24.1 5.8 3.7 9.5 2.7 7.4 1.6 5.3 3.3 2.5 14.1 13.7 2.7
2
SD 2.09 1.06 1.27 1.99 1.58 0.96 0.77 0.46 0.99 0.96 1.29 2.55 0.79 0.77
(n = 3) m 35.4 23.3 5.8 3.6 8.9 2.7 7.3 1.8 4.9 3.8 2.5 12.9 13.4 2.4
SD 2.32 2.46 0.75 1.33 1.01 0.28 0.40 0.39 0.33 0.37 0.83 1.07 0.95 0.43
P (n = 6) m 28.0 26.8 6.0 5.9 10.9 4.1 7.9 1.8 4.7 3.7 5.1 13.7 12.0 3.4
3
SD 0.84 0.90 1.41 1.52 1.63 1.19 0.82 0.47 1.16 0.82 2.87 0.77 0.66 1.28
(n = 3) m 27.7 25.3 5.2 5.4 10.9 4.4 7.7 1.9 4.3 4.8 3.6 13.5 12.1 4.6
SD 1.65 3.38 0.20 0.28 1.13 0.18 0.26 0.49 0.39 1.12 0.97 1.71 0.75 0.48
P (n = 6) m 27.0 26.1 5.1 5.1 11.4 4.4 8.2 2.2 3.9 3.6 3.8 12.8 11.5 3.4
4
SD 1.42 0.86 0.80 0.39 2.15 1.68 1.33 0.93 1.36 0.84 1.11 0.63 0.80 1.11
(n = 3) m 27.1 26.6 4.5 5.1 11.0 4.5 7.4 2.0 4.4 4.3 3.7 13.0 11.0 4.8
SD 1.47 1.28 0.15 0.64 1.18 0.34 0.80 0.34 0.36 0.16 1.34 1.32 0.57 0.64
- males, - females, m- mean, SD- standard deviation, n- number of teeth, mean from measurements 1 and 2 includes only young 8 and 9 year old specimens
Table 4: Masurements of upper molars in early medieval horses, differentiated according to gender
Measurements (mm)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tooth Sex 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7a 8 9 10 11 12 13
M (n = 6) m 24.6 25.3 4.3 4.0 11.3 3.8 7.5 1.9 4.3 2.6 2.0 11.9 10.3 3.1
1
SD 0.81 1.14 0.54 0.44 1.66 0.49 0.92 0.44 1.32 1.13 0.16 0.66 0.48 1.07
(n = 3) m 24.4 25.9 3.2 3.5 11.3 4.1 7.2 2.0 4.2 2.3 2.6 12.0 10.2 4.0
SD 1.69 1.14 0.81 0.28 1.46 0.56 0.88 0.15 0.45 0.30 0.42 1.59 0.62 1.08
M (n = 6) m 24.5 24.3 4.4 3.9 12.5 4.6 7.5 1.7 4.6 2.4 2.0 11.7 10.4 3.1
2
SD 1.17 0.75 0.67 0.52 1.43 0.90 0.89 0.45 0.94 1.02 0.44 0.61 0.46 1.34
(n = 3) m 24.8 24.8 3.8 3.3 12.2 4.2 8.2 1.9 3.8 3.0 1.9 11.7 10.6 3.8
SD 1.35 0.86 1.09 0.62 1.62 0.80 2.25 0.16 0.44 0.91 0.05 1.42 0.79 0.94
M (n = 6) m 25.7 21.6 4.3 3.4 12.6 4.3 7.5 1.5 3.5 1.9 2.1 12.3 10.9 3.0
3a
SD 2.60 1.09 0.65 0.67 1.77 1.17 0.98 1.11 1.17 0.94 0.46 0.88 1.64 0.74
(n = 3) m 25.1 22.0 3.2 3.2 12.6 4.8 8.1 1.4 3.4 2.2 1.6 11.5 9.2 3.4
b
SD 0.47 0.56 0.30 0.46 0.61 0.50 0.65 0.47 0.37 0.51 0.86 1.04 0.40 0.38
a, b-means in columns - marked with lowercase letters - differ statistically significantly for a given tooth, P = 0.05,
- males, - females, m- mean, SD- standard deviation, n- number of teeth, mean from measurements 1 and 2 includes only young 8 and 9 year old specimens
females (1.6 ± 0.86); 11: males (12.3 ± 0.88), females domestication level [22]. The tooth row length is the basic
(11.5 ± 1.04); 12: males (10.9 ± 1.64), females (9.2 ± 0.40)) indicator of domestication in dogs because the shortening
(Table 4). In females only two dimensions of M were process of dental rows is caused by dental abrasion.
3
higher than in males (6: males (4.3 ± 1.17), females In dogs ancestors and modern wild-living Canidae the
(4.8 ± 0.50); 7: males (7.5 ± 0.98), females (8.1 ± 0.65)). cheek teeth are settled much more loosely with larger
DISCUSSION Moskalewska [21] also in the case of wild boar it is
During archaeological excavations dental findings are their domestication and the attribute speaking of wild boar
usually well preserved, thus the detailed analysis of domestication is a shortened facial part of skull. It leads to
animal dentition is one of the most valuable sources of smaller dimensions of teeth in domesticated form of boar-
knowledge in archaeozoology [21]. swine. Unfortunately, in case of horse there is a lack of
An opinion exists the teeth of domestic animals are morphological features enabling unambiguous
characterized with greater dimensions than in non- differentiation between wild and domestic forms, as this
domesticated mammals ancestors and the length of cheek species in its evolution did not show unidirectional
teeth row is used as an important indicator of changes in skeleton dimensions [12, 15, 21-23].
interalveolar spaces [21,22]. According to Lasota-
possible to infer i.a. on the basis of cheek dentition about

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341
Fig. 1: Anatomical features of horse upper M1 cheek teeth crown description, occlusal surface
a: anterior interstylar face; b: front sinus (preprotoconal groove); c: hypoconal groove (posterior sinus); d: hypocone
(hypocon); e: hypostyle; f: inner valley (postprotoconal valley); g: mesostyle (mesostyl); h: metacone (metacon); i:
metaloph (metaconulus); j: metastyle (metastyl); k: paracone (paracon); l: parastyle (parastyl); m: pli caballin (plicaballin,
plis caballine, pli-caballin, spora); n: pli hypostyle (pli-hypostyle); o: pli postfossette (pli-postfossette, plis postfossette);
p: pli protoconule (pli-protoconule, plis protoconule); q: pli protoloph (pli-protoloph); r: posterior interstylar face; s:
postfossette (posterior fossette, fossa lunata posterior); t: prefossette (anterior fossette, fossa lunata anterior); u:
protocone (protocon); w: protoloph (protoconulus, protoconule, paraconulus).
Franck [24] introduced the basic division of horses tooth length and both parameters are probably dependent
into: eastern warm-blood (light) and western cold-blood on the total size of an animal, indirectly i.a. on its
(heavy) horses on the basis of cheek teeth studies, individual energetic requirements. In our investigations
especially according to the upper dental arch. The no unidirectional and more so no linear relationship
investigated material proved higher tooth lengths than between the protocone length and the tooth length was
tooth widths among the premolars P and P (Tables 1 and found. Possibly the reason for that was young age of the
34
3). Simultaneously our results showed higher tooth width analyzed horses’ dental artifacts, as well as non-uniform
than tooth length in the 1 molar M and comparable tooth wear level.
st 1
dimensions in the 2 molar M (Tables 2 and 4). Variable Sexual dimorphism in the analyzed horse teeth was
nd 2
dimension relations, indicating the similarity to warm- poorly pronounced. Influence of the factor 'gender' on the
blooded/cold-blooded horse breed type, can be caused surveyed groups turned out to be significantly
by young animal age and non-uniform dental abrasion of differentiating only in case of the measurement 3,
the cheek teeth or lack of high-directional breeding. performed on M teeth. Though demonstrated was not
Another important aspect of horse dentition studies statistically significant prevalence of males over females,
is the morphology of cheek teeth enamel folds. In 1888 with regard to mean values of the conducted
Wilckens stated that the enamel folds composition in measurements of both premolars and molars, as detailed
cold-blooded horses is more complex than in warm-bloods in the Results section.
[22]. The investigated material analysis proved non- Moreover, the odontological parameters of cheek
complex enamel folds pattern (Figure 1), therefore it can be teeth morphology of the analyzed horses (E.przew.f.cab.)
said that the cheek teeth remains originated from horses correspond with the measurements in other early medieval
characterized as warm-bloods. Protocone of upper cheek horses, particularly coming from Polish archaeological
teeth elongated during the phylogenetic development of sites Wolin and Kolobrzeg [22,27]. In comparison with
horses [25]. The protocone in Equus caballus modern primitive horse breeds such as Tarpan (E. gmelini,
LINNAEUS, 1758 specimens, was better developed and E.cab. gmelini) [8,15] or Polish Konik horses [28] and small
longer in comparison with the mentioned anatomical detail Lithuanian horses [29], mean values of teeth of the
observed in other representatives of typical Equidae studied horses are comparable, however lower than the
species dated back to Pleistocene Europe, e.g.: Equus values obtained for Przewalski’s horse (E.przewalskii)
stenonis COCCHI, 1867 and Equus hydruntinus [8,15] and early medieval horses (E.cab. from Hornhausen
REGALIA, 1904 [12]. According to Forstén’s [26] findings and E.cab. from Nesserdeich) [30] originating from other
for Equidae the protocone length was correlated with the than Polish research centers (Figs. 3-5).
3

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342
Fig. 2: Morphometric scheme of horse upper M1 cheek teeth dental crown, occlusal surface
1: tooth length (without cement); 2: tooth width (without cement); 3: mesostyle length (with enamel); 4: parastyle length
(with enamel); 5: protocone length; 6: front protocone length; 7: posterior protocone; 7a: isthmus width (with enamel);
8: greatest width of posterior protocone; 9: width at the mouth of the inner valley; 10: spur length (with enamel); 11:
prefossette length; 12: postfossette length; 13: greatest width at the mouth of the front sinus
Fig. 3: Comparison of mean values of P tooth’s length in different horses
2
E. przew.f.cab. (males analyzed), E.gmelini Kuzmina [15], E.cab. from Kolobrzeg (early medieval male) Kubasiewicz and
Gawlikowski [27], E.cab.gmelini Gromova [8], E.przewalskii Gromova [8], E.cab. from Hornhausen (early medieval) Nobis
[30]
The results were corresponded with the results of Przewalski horses, others to small Lithuanian horses, but
other authors [22, 23, 27, 31] dealing with early medieval majority of the investigated animals belonged to the range
horses, as the outcomes acquired in this manuscript also of dental features of other horses from early medieval
prove the existence of horses with ununiform morphotype sites in Poland.
in the analyzed period. The investigated artifacts were Low level of complexicity of tooth infundibulum and
coming from non-equal bred animals with different body enamel folds patterns in the analyzed cheek teeth artifacts
size. Some of them were close to Tarpan and Polish Konik prove its typical warm-blooded character and allow to
type, others according to odontological parameters to qualify the investigated horses to the eastern group.

Global Veterinaria, 12 (3): 336-344, 2014
343
Fig. 4: Comparison of mean values of M tooth’s width in different horses
2
E.przew.f.cab.(males analyzed), E.cab.gmelini Gromova [8], Polish Konik Vetulani [28], Lithuanian horses Kwaschnin-
Ssamarin [29], Arabic Kwaschnin-Ssamarin [29], E.cab. from Kolobrzeg (early medieval male) Kubasiewicz and
Gawlikowski [22], E.cab. from Wolin (early medieval) Kubasiewicz [22], E.przewalskii Kuzmina [15], E.cab. from
Nesserdeich Nobis [30], E.cab. from Hornhausen (early medieval) Nobis [30]
Fig. 5: Comparison of mean values of M tooth’s protocone length in different horses
3
E.przew.f.cab.(males, females analyzed), E.gmelini Kuzmina [15], E.przewalskii Gromova [8]
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