Skeletons in the permafrost: Exploring climate-driven heritage loss and occupational health at the early modern whaling burial site of Likneset, Svalbard (IMAGE)

PLOS

Skeletons in the permafrost: Exploring climate-driven heritage loss and occupational health at the early modern whaling burial site of Likneset, Svalbard

Caption

Dental wear and pathology in the Likneset assemblage. Examples of dental wear, pathology, and non-masticatory tooth use observed in individuals from Likneset. Panels A–H illustrate anterior tooth wear and characteristic bilateral notches between incisors, canines, and premolars consistent with habitual clay pipe smoking, recorded in 79% of individuals. Several individuals also exhibit pronounced anterior wear exceeding posterior wear, suggesting non-masticatory use of the teeth in work-related activities. Additional features include dental caries, periapical lesions, and alveolar bone changes indicative of inflammatory processes (e.g., panels C, F). Enamel hypoplasia, reflecting episodes of childhood physiological stress, is visible on multiple teeth in 63% of the individuals (e.g., panels B, E). Figure by Lise Loktu, NIKU. Photos by Lise Loktu, Elin T. Brødholt, and Carina V.S. Knudsen, the Governor of Svalbard and NIKU.

Credit

Loktu, Brødholt, 2026, PLOS One, CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Credit must be given to the creator.

License

CC BY

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