Show WORK OF ANCIENT DENTISTS remarkable teeth decoration sha wo that they possessed considerable a ble skill dy by far tho the most moat transcendent example of teeth decoration which has at present come to light in america is in a skull discovered in 1909 at a place called la cledra near the point on the right bank of the esmerald Esmeral daa as river where it empties into san mateo bay it was accidentally found by mr and mr george D bedlan the latter an american consular agent at esmeraldas Esmer Eamer aldas and was kindly presented by mr hedlun museum luring during my visit to ecuador last summer tho the skull was seen projecting from the bank but no other parts of the skeleton were uncovered probably having been washed away after the tha bank was undermined tho the upper part of the skull la is in fragments but Is restorable the skull slightly deformed Is that of an adult female the decoration of the tha teeth Is unique and presents a new type of facial ornamentation instead of small disks being set into artificial cavities wo we find in this case that certain teeth of the upper jaw were almost entirely covered on the outer face by an overlay of gold the entire enamel of the teeth decorated has been removed with the exception of narrow bands at the bases and the upper parts where they were close to the flesh and embedded in the jaw the removal of the enamel Is through to the dentine and was skillfully accomplished it appears that in some instances sawing was done slightly under the enamel at the upper part so that the gold overlay or covering might be fitted under it ft in order to make it more secure tho the teeth thus practically faco face crowned are tho tour four incisors and tho the two canines the overlays are missing in all but ono one of the teeth the left lateral incisor this gold covering is slightly folded or bent over each side of tho tooth for greater security |