Pipe faceting in teeth of Burial #1

Teeth are an especially rich source of information in osteoarchaeology. While we have generally avoided photographs of complete skeletons here out of respect for the deceased, this close-up illustrates what is known as “pipe-faceting”, a gap worn at the junction of four teeth through tight clenching of a clay pipe stem. The condition is associated particularly with populations engaged in repetitive strenuous labor, with no time for breaks.