Pre-historic tooth filling found with new X-ray machine

            Scientists have discovered a pre-historic tooth believed to have the first known filling.

            The tooth is from a fossilized 6500-year old human jawbone found 101 years ago in the European country of Slovenia. It appears to come from a 24 to 30-year old, and have a filling made from beeswax, say Italian scientists.

            Even though the fossil was found a century ago, the filling has only been spotted now because of X-ray equipment. Scientist Claudio Tuniz said: "The jawbone remained in the museum for 101 years without anybody noticing anything strange."

Dental detective work

            But when they wanted to try out new X-ray imaging equipment, they used this fossil - and discovered unusual material attached to a tooth.

            The scientists' detective work led them to discover the material was beeswax - natural wax which comes from bees. It was filling a large crack and a cavity in the tooth. Radiocarbon dating of the wax and the tooth showed both to be around 6500 years old.

            The researchers aren't sure if the filling was put in while the person was still alive, or after their death. But they say this discovery will help them learn how pre-historic humans looked after their teeth.

            The findings have been published on an online science website called PLOS One.

Match the words below to their definitions

filling / findings / fossil / museum / pre-historic / published

from a time before there were written records

ancient animal or plant that has been preserved in rock

substance used to repair a hole in a tooth

building where things of historical, scientific or artistic interest are kept

information that is discovered during a study or investigation

made information available to people, especially in a book, magazine or newspaper

True or false?

1.  The filling was not found for over a century.

2.  The tooth with the filling was not damaged.

3.  The tooth and the filling were both the same age.

4.  Scientists say the filling was put in while the person was alive.

5.  Scientists do not plan to publish their findings.

6.  The filling was not detected for 101 years.

7.  The jawbone was x-rayed as soon as it was found.

8.  The beeswax filling appears to be 24 to 30 years old.

What is the missing word?

1.  The filling has only been_____________now.

2.  The findings have been published on an______________science website.

3.  The jawbone________________in the museum for 101 years.

4.  The scientists'_______________work led them to discover the material was beeswax.

KEY

pre-historic           from a time before there were written records

fossil                      ancient animal or plant that has been preserved in rock

filling                      substance used to repair a hole in a tooth

museum               building where things of historical, scientific or artistic interest are kept

findings                                 information that is discovered during a study or investigation

published             made information available to people, especially in a book, magazine or newspaper

True or false?

1. True

2. False

3. True

4. False

5. False

6. True

7. False

8. False

What is the missing word?

1. spotted

2. online

3. remained

4. detective