Frayer et al. ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPER Evidence for Labret Use in Prehistory * • David W. Frayer (1,3), Alessia Nava (2,3,4), Gianna Tartaglia (5), Massimo Vidale (6), Alfredo Coppa (7), Luca Bondioli (3,6) • 1 – Department of Anthropology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA 2 – DANTE - Diet and ANcient TEchnology Laboratory, Department of Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy 3 – Bioarchaeology Service, Museum of Civilization, Rome, Italy 4 – Skeletal Biology Research Centre, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK 5 – Independent researcher, Rome, Italy 6 – Dipartimento dei beni Culturali, Università di Padova, Padua, Italy 7 – Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Università “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy Address for correspondence: David W. Frayer Department of Anthropology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA E- mail:
[email protected] Bull Int Assoc Paleodont. 2020;14(1):1-23. Abstract Aims. Compared to occlusal dental wear, labial/buccal abrasion is seldom documented in prehistoric groups. This type of wear occurs in some ethnographic-present and living populations and leaves telltale facets on non-occlusal vestibular surfaces associated with labrets. Methods and materials. For detailed macroscopic, microscopic (binocular and SEM) and thin- sectioned analysis we focused on the early Neolithic site of Mehrgarh in Pakistan where labial/buccal wear is found in mostly older adult males. We studied 215 teeth from ten individuals from the site. From the literature and some personal observations, we review evidence from the Czech early Upper Paleolithic and many later sites in the Old and New Worlds. Results. For Mehrgarh macroscopic observations revealed numerous teeth with labial and buccal facets affecting nearly every Bull Int Assoc Paleodont.