Age Estimation of Pawon Man from Pulp Volume using Cone Beam Computed Tomography 3D Method and Dental DNA Methylation on ELOVL2 Gene

Abstract

Estimating the age at death of human remains is fundamental for the analysis and interpretation of skeletal evidence in various disciplines, including forensic science, archaeology, and paleoanthropology. This study aims to explore age estimation in prehistoric humans, specifically Pawon Man, through two primary methods: pulp volume analysis using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) 3D and DNA methylation analysis of teeth, also to unveil a deeper comprehension of Pawon Man's life trajectory and its significance in the realm of human evolution. This descriptive study focused on two maxillary fragments of Pawon Man group Rangka V (R.V.), specifically first premolar and second molar. Age estimation based on CBCT 3D imaging was derived by semi-automatically measuring the pulp volume using ITK-SNAP software (version 3.8.0). DNA methylation analysis was performed on the ELOVL2 gene using pyrosequencing, with age estimation based on the percentage of methylated reference (PMR). Age estimation obtained using the CBCT 3D method was 30.711 ± 0.811 years (95% CI) for sample 1 and 16.998 ± 1.208 years (95% CI) for sample 2. In contrast, DNA methylation analysis provided age estimation of 34.602 years for sample 1 and 17.841 years for sample 2. The significant discrepancy in age estimation between the two methods highlights the complexity and variability inherent in age estimation approaches. Age estimation using CBCT 3D and DNA methylation shows significant differences due to methodological variations and the absence of universal regression standards. Integrating both methods is essential to improve accuracy and establish more consistent research protocols in ancient human analysis.