The original modification of Holly Smith (1984:Fig. 3, p. 46) was derived from seriation of Mesolithic Portuguese

mandibles, from the site of Moita do Sebastião. Eleven wear stages for fully adult mandibles were identified. Later sites with slower attrition rates required different formulations.

The definitions of variations of lower molar attrition led to a diagram which differs in detail from that of Smith, 1984. Here

we see lower molars of wear 1 to wear 8 (left to right).

Lower molars - less and more detailed codes (*.*)included here, derived from Mesolithic and adjusted forslower Neolithic attrition

0 no wear - no occlusive contact1 polishing (.5), facetting

and/orblunting (1.5) of one or more cusps

2 blunting but not full removal of more than 1 cusp- possibly 1 or 2 pinpoints of dentin (2.5)

3 fissures still patent but fissure pattern not clear - dentin exposure on 3-4 cusps (3.5)

4 no fissures evident on central crown;large discrete exposures of 2 or more areas of dentin; there may be mesial or distal coalescence, ignorehairline coalescence

5 two areas of dentin coalescing buccally or lingually (stage not defined by mesial or distal coalescence)

6 3 to 4 areas of dentin coalescent (with enamel island or peninsula)

7 no enamel island (there may be a small peninsula); rim remains on at least 3 sides

8 rim on less than three sides

Upper molars were not used in seriation, and wear assessment was less well defined. The preliminary

detailed work was done on Casa da Moura, a Portuguese Neolithic site.

Upper molars

The schema for these teeth is not completely establishedThe molar illustrated in the accompanying sketch here is a right M1.

0 no wear, no occlusive contact1 polishing and\or facetting2 blunting of cusps and pinpoints of dentin exposed2.5 expansion of lingual dentin exposure3 obliteration of hypocone fissure begins; dentin exposure on all cusps3.5 expansion of dentin exposure on the mesio-buccal cusp4 mesial coalescence4.5 distal (but not lingual) coalescence5 lingual coalescence5.5 all cusps except for hypocone have colaesced6 complete coalescence with peninsulas left7 complete rim8 rim on less than three sides

Preliminary sketch of right upper molar attrition developed on basis of Casa da Moura,

Portuguese Neolithic site.

PremolarsSatisfactory schema never fully worked out. Attempt to follow Smith, 1984 never entirely successful, and Molnar 1971 used

for Casa da Moura loose teeth.Below is rough idea of the general principle.

0 not in occlusion1 polishing or facetting2 pinpoint of dentin3 fissure patent4 two full exposures on bicuspid teeth, broad exposure on unicuspid5 island or peninsula6 lake7 incomplete rim8 no rim

Canine wear was studied in most detail for the Portuguese Neolithic site of Casa da Moura. While the diagram gives some idea of the variations, it views attrition as simply creating a plane occlusal surface. In fact, canine wear is extremely variable and

very often angled. Wear type was recorded separately. The following diagram is assumes direct occlusal wear. Level 6 was

recorded as 6 and 6.5, the latter when the cingulum was reached.

Incisors

0 no wear

1 polishing or small facet

2 thin line of enamel

3 line is wider and often curves off the margin

4 broad exposure, definitely no longer a line

5 the occlusal surface has become a rectangle

6 the occlusal surface a square with a complete thin rim

7 incomplete enamel rim (just 2 or 3 sides)

8 no enamel, the occlusal surface is now on the root

Rough sketch of incisor wear, from 0 (mammelons

unpolished), to 1 with mammelons slightly blunted

or polished, to 8 in which the root forms the occlusal

surface of the tooth, because the enamel is all

removed.