Differences in masticatory loads impact facial bone surface remodeling in an archaeological sample of South American individuals

The reduction of masticatory strains is considered one of the main factors that led to a pronounced morphological variation of the facial skeleton among modern humans. Although the archaeological record has provided evidence of bone remodeling activity being linked to craniofacial variation, its link with subsistence strategies has been proposed but not yet tested. Here, we evaluate the relationship between the strains arising from masticatory...