6 Nov, 2020 @ 17:00
1 min read

Dental discovery in Granada shows textile work was done exclusively by women 4000 years ago

Spain Tooth Wear
Credit: Ángel Rubio Salvador

A NEW discovery from Bronze Age Spain reveals that women have never been afraid to sink their teeth into hard work.  

Evavations of a 4,000-year-old burial site in southern Spain show that female workers used their front teeth – incisors and canines – to perform tasks that involved biting into threads and cords. Archaeologists unearthed the fossilised teeth of 106 individuals buried in Granada and discovered that textile tasks were only carried out by women during the Bronze Age. 

Studies of the teeth found specific dental wear, including notches, flakes and grooves on the enamel, which researchers say resulted from the manipulation of plant and animal fibres used to produce textiles and baskets.   

Spain Tooth Wear
Credit: Ángel Rubio Salvador

After analysing the teeth of both men and women, Dr Marina Lozano of the Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana,  said there was a clear link between gender and  the creators of these textiles 

“One of the most important conclusions of this new study is that double labour specialisation existed already by the end of the Bronze Age,” she said. 

“It indicates that a single, small group of people was dedicating themselves to handcrafts related to the production of threads and textile manufacture and that, furthermore, these activities were carried out exclusively by women.”

Kirsty Mckenzie

Kirsty is a journalist who has reported on news, entertainment, food and drink, travel and features since 2015. She lives in the south of Spain.
Got a story? Email kirsty@theolivepress.es

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Anda Figures Firday
Previous Story

Andalucia matches deadliest day of second wave detecting 60 COVID-19 deaths Friday and 4,627 cases

dominic chappell e
Next Story

Former owner of Marbella’s Oasis Club jailed over BHS tax evasion charges

Latest from Featured

Go toTop

More From The Olive Press

Watch: Women are barred from cathedral in Spain’s Andalucia ‘for wearing short skirts’

A DEBATE has broken out in Andalucia after two women

Choosing vaping as an alternative to smoking is not a good option

ELECTRONIC cigarettes are becoming one of the most popular gifts