Expression of two near absent dental traits, mesial cuspule and paraconid, on one Archaic period modern human from the Ohio Valley Rare molar traits in the Ohio Valley

Abstract

Presented here are the linugal cuspule and paraconid; two traits considered near absent (occurring <1%) in world populations. Both traits were found on lower third molars of one individual from late Archaic (2500-500BC) site of Shick in, Handcock County, Ohio. Rare dental anomalies in modern humans inform about biological variation and evolutionary changes. The Lingual Cuspule has only been reported in one other world population, thus very little is known about this anomaly. It was thought that paraconids have been otherwise lost in primate evolution starting in the Oligocene (34-23 MYA). The expression of a paraconid in modern humans could suggest secondary evolution of this trait. Further reporting of both traits is necessary to discuss the implications of human dental evolution which result from the presence of these variants.