Dental morphology of deciduous molars from late Neolithic Caves of the Meuse River Basin of Belgium

Nearly 200 karstic caves of the Meuse River Basin of Belgium preserve collective burials dated to the Late Neolithic. The gnathic remains from five well preserved sites provide an opportunity to explore potential relationship among these cave burials. The cave burials of Hastière Caverne M, Hastière Trou Garçon C, Maurenne Caverne de la Cave, Sclaigneaux and Bois Madame are dated to circa 4,635 to 3,830 years BP. Dental casts from mandibular and maxillary deciduous molars are scored using the ASUDAS. Carabelli’s trait varies from a small, Y-shaped depression to a full cusp, and the largest ones are found at Hastière Caverne M. The mandibular first molars have three to five cusps and the second molars have five, with one instance of six cusps at Bois Madame, which exceeds the range of variation for other dental traits. The hypoconulid ranges from small to very large. A metaconulid is absent or small. Although the results are contingent on idiosyncratic preservation, differences in the frequencies of traits exist between the earlier cave burial from Hastière Caverne M and the late/final Neolithic burials of Sclaigneaux and Bois Madame, the latter of which is the most variable in the expression of dental traits.

Expression of Nonmetric Dental Traits in Western European Neanderthals

Neanderthals of Western Europe lived across distinct ecogeographic zones from Marine Iso-tope Stage 7 to 3. Differences in dental morphology from seven Western European sites are compared in terms of ecogeography and chronology.Neanderthals (n = 12) along a north-south gradient were examined. These included the Meuse River Basin of Belgium (Engis 2 and Scladina 1-4A ), Southwest France (Pech de l'Azé 1 and Roc de Marsal), the Pyrenees (Malarnaud and Montmaurin), and the Mediterranean (Hortus). Montmaurin is the oldest, followed by Scladina 1-4A and Malarnaud, whereas the others are younger.Dental casts were prepared from Neanderthal permanent and deciduous dentition. These were de-scribed and scored, according to the ASUDAS. Comparisons of dental traits with respect to ecogeo-graphic regions and chronological categories were constructed.Unusual dental features observed include the anterior fovea, entoconulid, metaconulid, and Cara-belli’s cusp. Dental traits that distinguish ecogeographic regions are the expression of the M1 hypocone and metaconule, whereas the hypoconulid and Carabelli’s cusp separate chronological categories. Dif-ferences are present for the entoconulid and metaconulid in both comparisons.Neither chronology nor ecogeography fully explains the results. Similarities in dental traits exist between Roc de Marsal, Pech de l’Azé 1 and Engis 2, and secondarily within the Hortus assemblage.

On the morphological evolution of restored banks: Case study of the Meuse river

In recent years, many riverbanks in Europe had their protections removed to reactivate natural erosion processes and improve riparian habitats. Yet, other river functions may be affected, such as navigation and flood conveyance. The quantification and prediction of erosion rates and volumes is then relevant to manage and control the integrity of all river functions. This work studies the morphological evolution of riverbanks along two restored reaches of the Meuse River in the Netherlands, which are taken as case studies. This river is an important navigation route and for this its water level is strongly regulated with weirs. Through aerial photographs and two airborne LIDAR surveys, we analysed the evolution over nine years of restoration and reconstructed the topography along 2.2 km. of banks. An extraordinary low-water level after a ship accident provided the opportunity to observe and measure the bank toe. The banks show a terrace of erosion close to the normally regulated water level, highly irregular erosion rates up to 7 m/year, embayments evolving with upstream and downstream shifts, and sub-reaches with uniform erosion. Probable causes of erosion include ship-waves, high water flows and water level fluctuations. Distinct patterns might be explained by the presence of riparian trees and soil strata of different compositions. These intriguing case studies will continue to be studied to disentangle the role of different erosion drivers, predict erosion magnitudes and establish whether bank erosion will stop or continue in the future.