Morfología de la dentición en especies animales como modelo de la mutilación dentaria prehispánica. Observaciones en la región de la Huaxteca, México

Abstract

In this work a morphological comparison is made between the types of pre-Hispanic dental mutilation from La Huaxteca, Mexico, and the dentition of animal species from the same region. The aim is to examine the possible implication of similarities observed in order to study the origin of this cultural practice, as proposed by authors like Romero (1958; 1984). The materials under study are presented graphically using a comparative approach to demonstrate some of the registered similarities. It is concluded that the imitation of the dental morphology of some animal species of cultural importance to prehispanic Mesoamerican people must be considered in explaining the origin of the practices of dental mutilation. Also noted is the convenience of applying this type of analysis to cover the ancient Mesoamerican cultures.