Australian scientists have played a key role in dating what is believed to be the world’s oldest dental filling-a beeswax filling found in a 6,500-year-old human jawbone discovered in northern Slovenia, a region rich in archaeological sites. The lower jaw fragment contains two premolars, two first molars, and a cracked canine tooth filled with beeswax. Radiocarbon dating conducted by an international team, including experts from the University of Wollongong and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, confirmed that both the tooth and the beeswax date back to the Neolithic period, approximately 6,440 to 6,650 years ago.
Advanced imaging techniques such as high-resolution CT scans revealed that the canine had a deep vertical crack exposing the dentine, the sensitive calcified tissue beneath the enamel. This crack likely caused significant pain and sensitivity, impairing the man’s ability to chew. The beeswax filling was probably applied to seal the exposed dentine tubules and alleviate discomfort, representing the earliest direct evidence of therapeutic dental treatment. However, researchers acknowledge the possibility that the beeswax could have been applied postmortem, potentially as part of secondary burial rituals.
The jawbone belonged to a male estimated to be in his late 20s, based on tooth wear and jawbone size. The severe wear on the teeth suggests the individual may have used his teeth for non-dietary activities such as softening leather or weaving, common in Neolithic societies.
This finding, published in the journal PLoS ONE, builds on historical knowledge of early dental care, such as the Ebers Papyrus from ancient Egypt (~16th century BC), which documents the use of honey and mineral mixtures for dental pain relief. The discovery of the beeswax filling pushes back the timeline for dental interventions, illustrating that prehistoric humans practiced rudimentary dentistry far earlier than previously confirmed.
The specimen has been preserved at the Natural History Museum of Trieste in Italy since its excavation over a century ago, but the beeswax filling went unnoticed until recent advanced analyses revealed its presence. This discovery not only sheds light on the ingenuity of Neolithic peoples but also provides valuable insight into the origins of dental care.
References:
– Bernardini et al., 2012, PLoS ONE
– University of Wollongong, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
– Smithsonian Magazine, 2025
– New Scientist, 2025
– Live Science, 2012
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[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/25/science/a-beeswax-dental-filling-that-lasted-6500-years.html
[2] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/6500-year-old-beeswax-may-be-oldest-known-dental-filling-46829370/
[3] https://www.livescience.com/23321-ancient-dentistry-beeswax-filling.html
[4] https://www.sci.news/archaeology/article00603.html
[5] https://dentistry.co.uk/2012/09/20/beeswax-prehistoric-dental-fillings/
[6] https://us.dental-tribune.com/news/stone-age-dental-filling-identified/
[7] https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/09/the-worlds-oldest-dental-filling-was-made-of-beeswax/262635/
[8] https://lynnfielddental.com/the-impressive-roots-of-dentistry-centuries-old-evidence-of-natural-fillings/