Analysis of an Early Neolithic Modified Human Tooth from Isorella, Cascina Bocche (Brescia, Northern Italy)

This study examines early Neolithic human teeth discovered at Isorella, Cascina Bocche (Brescia Province, Lombardy), one of which was likely used as a body adornment. The presence of human remains from the early Neolithic in the Po Valley (northern Italy) is exceptionally rare, and it is challenging to find burials. As a result, understanding of the physical characteristics of early Neolithic farmers and their burial practices is limited, making each discovery of human remains particularly important. This study reports findings from two teeth analyzed using optical and scanning electron microscopy alongside micro–computed tomography imaging, aiming to investigate intentional modifications, in the form of drilling, observed on one of the teeth. The modification of human teeth to create personal ornaments likely signifies a series of gestures associated with behavioral aspects related to symbolic systems. Archaeologists see in pendants, beads, and other body ornaments unambiguous markers of symbolically mediated behavior and syntactical language. We provide a review of the evidence for the use of human remains as body adornments among prehistoric farmers of northern Italy and extend beyond that, looking at aspects of identity within the symbolic systems of the early Neolithic cultural groups of Vhò and Fiorano.