6,500-Year-Old Human Tooth Jewelry Found in Serbian Museum

In the Mladenovac Museum, archaeologists in Serbia uncovered a 6,500-year-old human canine tooth that was utilized as an ornament. Initially classified as an animal tooth bead, it underwent further analysis by Nemanja Marković and Ana Maričić. The tooth, measuring 23 millimeters, was found at the Jablanica archaeological site, located south of Belgrade, although its original context was compromised due to agricultural activities. It is believed to have belonged to a middle-aged adult, likely sourced from skeletal remains. Dating was established by comparing its perforation marks with those of a shell bracelet from around 4700 BC. This finding, published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, marks the first instance of a human tooth ornament in the Neolithic central Balkans, underscoring the importance of re-evaluating museum artifacts.