The reasons behind the anomaly have been unveiled: a new study has transformed our understanding of prehistoric societies.

For centuries, archaeologists have been fascinated by the unusual wear patterns on the teeth of ancient Europeans. A new study suggests that Ice Age individuals, particularly 10-year-old children, may have worn cheek piercings that caused such changes, reports Live Science.

John Willman, a biological anthropologist from the University of Coimbra in Portugal, analyzed skeletal remains of individuals from the Pavlovian culture, who lived in Central Europe between 25,000 and 29,000 years ago. He proposes that labrets—piercings in the lower lip or cheek—led to the distinctive wear observed on their teeth.

"There has been a long history of discussing the strange wear on the canines and molars of these people," explains Willman, "but no one knew what caused this wear."

Typically, tooth enamel wears down during chewing and grinding, resulting in a flattening or distortion of the tooth surface. However, Willman noted that the wear on these ancient remains appeared on the buccal side of the teeth, which aligns with the presence of labrets.

Although no physical artifacts resembling labrets have been found in the burials, Willman suggests that these ornaments were likely made from perishable materials, such as wood or leather, which have not survived over time.

Further investigation revealed that the use of labrets likely began in childhood, as some milk teeth showed signs of similar wear. Adults exhibited more significant enamel changes, indicating increased use of piercings with age.

Willman believes this practice was linked to social identity within the Pavlovian community, where labrets marked milestones such as puberty or marriage. However, prolonged contact between the piercings and the teeth may have led to dental crowding, similar to the effects of orthodontic pressure.

April Nowell, an archaeologist from the University of Victoria in Canada, who was not involved in the study, praised the findings. She noted that many items used by Ice Age hunter-gatherers have not survived, making it challenging to reconstruct their daily lives.

"This research opens a window into long-lost behaviors," Nowell stated, highlighting its importance for understanding personal and social identity in ancient societies.

In the future, researchers may revisit past archaeological collections in search of overlooked evidence of labrets, potentially shedding more light on the cultural practices of Ice Age Europeans.

We also reported on the unknown Etruscan tombs that researchers excavated in Italy.