The path of human evolution has always been a topic of contentious discussion for researchers worldwide. Many theories were proposed to explain the phenomenon based on meagre physical evidences available. Interpretations about subsistence strategies of hominins and their descendents had to be derived from scanty biological remains which mostly consisted of random presence of teeth and fragments of cranial and post-cranial skeleton. Due to better preservation and good resistance to diagenesis, owing to tough enamel covering, teeth have been exploited the most in archaeological studies. Tooth wear analysis is a powerful tool to understand the diet and life processes of ancient people. This paper reviews technical and interpretative development in the use of tooth wear analysis as powerful means to assess changes in masticatory and non-masticatory use of teeth in the process of human evolution. Apart from determination of type and form of diet consumed, tooth wear analysis has been used to estimate masticatory load and its relation to cranio-facial development, age of weaning, use of teeth as a ‘third hand’. Though this method is widely adopted by researchers all over the globe, in the Indian archaeological context, such studies are few and far between. The potential of tooth wear analysis in Indian archaeological arena needs to be tapped for better understanding of ancient humans.

中文翻译：

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人类牙齿磨损分析在考古学中的作用

人类进化的路径一直是全世界研究人员争论的话题。提出了许多理论来解释基于可得的少量物理证据的现象。关于人乳素及其后代的生存策略的解释必须来自生物残骸，这些残骸主要包括牙齿的随机存在以及颅骨和颅后骨骼的碎片。由于更好的保存性和良好的抗成岩性，由于坚硬的珐琅质覆盖，在考古学研究中牙齿得到了最多的利用。牙齿磨损分析是了解古代人饮食和生活过程的有力工具。本文回顾了在牙齿磨损分析中使用的技术和解释性发展，作为评估人类进化过程中咀嚼和非咀嚼性牙齿使用变化的有力手段。除了确定所食用饮食的类型和形式外，还通过牙齿磨损分析来估计咀嚼负荷及其与颅面发育，断奶年龄，以牙齿作为“第三只手”的关系。尽管这种方法被全世界的研究人员广泛采用，但是在印度考古学背景下，这种研究很少而且相差甚远。为了更好地了解古代人类，需要挖掘印度考古界中牙齿磨损分析的潜力。牙齿磨损分析已用于估计咀嚼负荷及其与颅面发育，断奶年龄，以牙齿作为“第三只手”的关系。尽管这种方法被全世界的研究人员广泛采用，但是在印度考古学背景下，这种研究很少而且相差甚远。为了更好地了解古代人类，需要挖掘印度考古界中牙齿磨损分析的潜力。牙齿磨损分析已用于估计咀嚼负荷及其与颅面发育，断奶年龄，以牙齿作为“第三只手”的关系。尽管此方法已为全球研究人员所广泛采用，但在印度考古学背景下，此类研究很少而且相差甚远。为了更好地了解古代人类，需要挖掘印度考古界中牙齿磨损分析的潜力。