A team of researchers has shed new light on the cultural practices of the ancient Pavlovian peoples of the Upper Paleolithic, a society that flourished in Central Europe approximately 29,500 to 31,500 years ago. According to a recently published study in the Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, evidence suggests the use of facial ornaments, known as labrets, in this ancient community. The research, led by anthropologist John Charles Willman, proposes that an unusual pattern of dental wear found in the remains of Pavlovian individuals could be related to this practice.

For decades, archaeologists have documented a peculiar type of tooth wear in human remains from the Pavlovian culture, particularly affecting molars, premolars, and canines. Until now, it had been speculated that this phenomenon could be due to the habit of keeping small pebbles in the mouth to stimulate salivation and relieve thirst, a custom observed in more recent societies. However, the new study suggests a different explanation: the use of labrets or facial ornaments worn through oral piercings.

Researchers analyzed dental remains from individuals found at various Pavlovian sites, including Dolní Věstonice and Pavlov in present-day Czechia. By combining direct observations of original fossils with the study of photographic archives of remains destroyed during World War II, they identified a pattern of wear concentrated particularly in the upper molars, extending to a lesser degree to the premolars and canines.

Labrets Stone Age Europe
Types of prehistoric labrets. Credit: Murdoch (1892) / J.C. Willman

The study also revealed that this wear was more frequent in adults and adolescents but also present in some children. Additionally, the wear exhibited a bilateral pattern in older individuals, whereas in younger ones, it was often unilateral, suggesting that the use of these ornaments may have been a progressive practice throughout life.

The use of labrets is well documented in more recent cultures, such as those of the Pacific Northwest of North America and certain Arctic societies. However, their presence in Paleolithic Europe is a novel hypothesis that had not been widely explored until now. Some researchers have expressed skepticism about this theory, arguing that the size of the piercings required to wear these ornaments would be considerable and not entirely consistent with the physical evidence from the studied remains. However, the uniformity of the tooth wear found suggests that this was a widespread practice in Pavlovian society, rather than an isolated phenomenon.

If the theory regarding the use of labrets is confirmed, it could redefine our understanding of the cultural and symbolic practices of Upper Paleolithic peoples in Central Europe. Body modification, including facial adornments, serves as an expression of social identity, status, and group belonging. This finding suggests that Pavlovians may have developed complex forms of personal and group expression through body ornamentation much earlier than previously thought.

Labrets Stone Age Europe
Strong buccal wear facets on the right side of the Předmostí 4 dentition. Credit: Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Science / Charles University, Prague

The study also raises new questions about the technology and materials used by these ancient peoples to manufacture and wear labrets. Although no labrets have been found in Pavlovian burial contexts, some objects previously classified as ivory pendants may have had a different use. This possibility could prompt a reassessment of archaeological artifacts associated with this culture.

Despite the strength of the evidence presented, the study also faces significant challenges. The absence of labrets in direct archaeological records remains an obstacle to definitively confirming the hypothesis. Additionally, the degradation of many skeletal and dental remains makes it difficult to obtain conclusive data on the exact cause of the dental wear.

Future research could benefit from the analysis of human remains at other Paleolithic sites to determine whether this pattern of dental wear is exclusive to the Pavlovians or, conversely, is present in other Upper Paleolithic populations. Furthermore, the application of advanced technologies, such as dental microwear analysis and digital simulations of the pressures exerted by potential labrets, could provide further insights into the nature of this phenomenon.

SOURCES

Willman, J.C. Probable Use of Labrets Among the Mid Upper Paleolithic Pavlovian Peoples of Central Europe. J Paleo Arch 8, 6 (2025). doi.org/10.1007/s41982-024-00204-z

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