I am not the first to mention this but as far as I can see, there has been either very limited discussion or none at all on the subject of the Somerton Man's teeth shown in this image from Daniel Voshart.
Before I start, I want to make it very clear that none of what I am about to say is in any way a criticism of Daniel Voshart. To the contrary, I think Daniel has done a superlative job on creating the render you see above and have written to him saying just that.
The problem is that this image, created by Daniel using information supplied by Professor Abbott, shows the two canine teeth, according to the Inquest documents and the diagram produced at the time, the two canine teeth were missing.
Here's the relevant testimony from Doctor Dwyer at the inquest:
Here's the relevant testimony from Doctor Dwyer at the inquest:
As you can read, the teeth were missing, not just growing in the wrong place.
Here's a download link to the Inquest document, click here . The page number within the PDF is P.35, the number at the top of the relevant page is 11.
And here is the diagram made by Dr. Dwyer, the numbered teeth are the missing teeth:
WAX CAST OF TEETH
My understanding is that this is a cast translation of Doctor Dwyer's testimony and his diagram, so it was not taken from the man himself. When Mr. Lawson inspected the body prior to making the bust, he mentioned that the man's mouth was either glued or wired shut. That was apparently normal practice during the embalming process.
You can clearly see the spaces on either side of the upper two central teeth.
As you can see he had a total of 18 teeth missing that's out of a total of 32 adult teeth.
THE BURNING QUESTION
The burning question of course is why was Daniel given the wrong information and who gave it to him/ Was it, Professor Abbott? This information together with the fact that the ears that were asserted to be of a rare configuration by Professor Abbott turned out to be a family trait in that Jestyn's daughter, who came along after the Somerton Man's time, had a son whose ears are of that same type.
This means that statements made that he was the son of a relationship between Jess and the Somerton Man based on the evidence of the teeth and the ears are completely wrong.
All information that seems to be published about the Somerton Man's teeth is that he was missing the two smaller/outer incisor teeth from his top jaw so his canine teeth were intact and immediately next to the two larger/inner front incisor teeth. The new image constructed and published seems to accurately reflect this.
ReplyDeleteThat's true but the evidence from the inquest contradicts that view. Would Doctor Dwyer misinform the coroners court? All things are possible of course but I haven't seen any other evidence from the time that substantiates the published information you refer to. If you can point me at some of the new material I would appreciate that. Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteIsn't the teeth chart that Dr Dwyer referred to in the coroners inquest the one that is pictured in the post? Top jaw teeth listed as:
ReplyDelete8 7 6 . . . 2 . | . 2 . . 5678 (numbered teeth = missing). The '2' teeth are indicative of the outer / lateral incisors, not canine teeth - these would be in position '3' going by the way it was notated by Dr Dwyer. The lower teeth are not featured in the reconstruction so no comment on those... But as recorded in the inquest there were more of the central teeth remaining. If he was to laugh, you'd notice the missing teeth but speak (or slightly smile say in the way depicted in the reconstruction) and you wouldn't notice. But also notice canine teeth adj. central incisors.
Yes, you are right. That means that the 2 front upper and lower central teeth are there and the ones alongside are missing in the upper jaw which you would notice if he were to laugh you would notice that they were missing. So not a mention of wrongly placed teeth as depicted in the image.
ReplyDeleteThe missing upper lateral incisor teeth link to JESTYN's son Robin is pinned around anodontia - the congenital condition that could account for the teeth chart recorded by Dr Dwyer (very basic chart of teeth present). If Somerton Man's adult canine teeth erupted where the lateral incisors would have been there may not be so much as a marked gap as the teeth settled in the young man's jaw. In this situation, if he was speaking normally, you wouldn't necessarily notice missing teeth (large gaps). I don't think orthodontic intervention would be required to get adult incisors to end up quite close to the central incisors for those with anodontia.
ReplyDeleteThis may or may not help, according to one source, Robin was taken to the UK in the early 1950s for extensive dental work. I don't have anything more than that statement thus it cannot be substantiated.
ReplyDeleteIf you would please clarify your comment. Are you saying that regardless of the appearance of the Somerton Mans teeth, according to Doctor Dwyer, that the man could have had anodontia condition? I have just uploaded the wax cast of the teeth, not sure whether you saw that?
I did see the jaw wax cast image: if that person was speaking I reckon you you would notice those gaps in the upper jaw where the lateral incisors are missing (scary set of choppers!). There are many other images on the www for cases of hypodontia (one or more teeth permanently missing) presenting with missing upper lateral incisors and they don't look any where near as 'gappy' (or obvious) as the wax cast image. Dr Dwyer dutifully recorded the teeth that were present (the hard science) and as expert witness made subjective comments about the appearance likening it to teeth that would be seen when speaking or laughing based on his observations. We have to remember he never saw him speak or laugh. Now an exhumation would help sort this, and some other aspects, out once and for all... Keep up the good work.
ReplyDelete