Abstract
Estimating age at death in archaeological populations is often limited by poor skeletal preservation, particularly in cremated remains. Tooth cementum annulation counts (TCAc), based on incremental lines of Salter (ILS), offer a promising alternative. In this study, TCAc is evaluated in terms of feasibility, microstructural preservation and internal consistency in cremated archaeological teeth, focusing on methodological applicability rather than chronological accuracy. We analysed 62 roots from eight Lusatian Urnfield culture cemeteries in southwestern Poland, dating to the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age. Undecalcified transverse sections were prepared, and ILS were examined alongside two complementary indicators: ILS width (ILSw) and the ratio of acellular extrinsic fibre cementum thickness to ILSw (AEFCt/ILSw). Results showed good intra- and inter-observer repeatability of ILSc, and both AEFCt and ILSc displayed significant age-related increases (p < 0.01). Combined estimates based on TCAc and AEFCt/ILSw yielded narrower age ranges than morphology alone. ILSw did not differ by sex, age group or tooth type, but varied significantly between cemeteries (p < 0.001), potentially reflecting environmental or life-history factors. These findings indicate that TCAc shows practical potential for use on cremated archaeological material, while also highlighting the need for future comparisons with known-age collections to refine interpretative standards.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the researchers and curators of the osteological collection for their help in obtaining access to the materials, especially Justyna Baron, Monika Michnik, Justyna Szwed, Andrzej Dwojak, Grzegorz Gmyrek, Radosław Jarysz, Paweł Madera, Tomasz Stolarczyk and Robert Szwed. We would like to thank also Maksym Mackiewicz for his valuable assistance in counting the incremental lines of Salter.
Funding
This research was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland, under grant no. 2023/48/C/HS3/00020.
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All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations concerning the study of archaeological human remains. The analysis was conducted on cremated human remains recovered from Late Bronze and Early Iron Age archaeological contexts (ca. 3300 − 2500 years old). Research permissions were granted by the Archaeological Museum of the City Museum of Wrocław (site: Cieszków), the Museum in Gliwice (site: Świbie), the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Wrocław (site: Wrocław-Żerniki), and the Museum of Copper in Legnica (site: Czernikowice). Additional permissions for anthropological examination and documentation were obtained through formal collaboration with licensed archaeological firms: Usługi Archeologiczne “Dwojak”, Andrzej Dwojak, Wrocław (site: Rolantowice); Pracownia Archeologiczna “Delfa”, Justyna Szwed and Robert Szwed, Wrocław (site: Krzyżowice); „Akme” Zdzisław Wiśniewski, Wrocław (site: Łazy, in collaboration with excavation director Dr. Paweł Madera); and Usługi Archeologiczne Grzegorz Gmyrek, Kalisz (site: Wtórek). In all cases, A.H. acted as a certified physical anthropologist responsible for examination and documentation of human remains. Due to the archaeological and ancient nature of the remains, informed consent from individuals or legal guardians was not applicable.
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Hałuszko, A., Tangl, S., Dobsak, T. et al. Methodological validation and inter-site analysis in Late Bronze and Early Iron Age cremations using tooth cementum annulation counts. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-51841-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-51841-z
