A Method for the Determination of the Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) in Commingled Contexts from Isolated Teeth

Teeth are the most resilient hard tissue recovered in archaeological contexts. Often teeth may be the most well-preserved, or even the only, remains found. This is especially true of commingled contexts, where many of the skeletal elements may be fragmented beyond identification. This fragmentation makes the recording of an accurate minimum number of individuals (MNI) challenging. Excavations at the site of Patakfalva-Papdomb, Transylvania, Romania encountered an ossuary containing fragmented commingled skeletal remains. Fragmentation and taphonomic damage has made calculations of MNI challenging in this context. However, teeth were consistently found and identified in relatively good condition. As a result of their preservation, an MNI count was attempted through tooth identification and analysis. This process was conducted in a four-step process of sorting in which teeth were classified by adult or deciduous, type of tooth, maxillary or mandibular as well as side. Next, the teeth were evaluated for age estimation by root apex closure when present and finally MNI was assessed taking into consideration the potential overlap of deciduous and permanent teeth. From this method, a likely MNI of 62 individuals over the age 13 (±2 yrs) and 20 individuals under the age of 10 were recorded, which correlates with the MNI calculated from postcranial elements. We therefore present this method as an alternative to determining MNI in highly fragmented and/or poorly preserved assemblages.