DAA-Sponsored INVITED Poster Symposium
Dental Anthropology:
A Collaborative Discourse on Its Past, Present, and Future
Chairs: Christina L Nicholas, Erin Corinne Blankenship-Sefczek
Friday, March 19, 2026 1:30-5:00 PM Plaza D
Abstract:
Dental anthropology is a uniquely situated sub-discipline providing a set of tools and methodologies for investigating a wide array of anthropological and biomedical questions. We currently find ourselves in a time of shifting paradigms and methodological advancements within this field. As such, now is an important moment to encourage collaborations within and outside anthropology. This symposium will provide a venue to define and discuss key issues within the field. To ensure a broad dissemination, the works presented will also be published in the independent, open-access journal Dental Anthropology.
Founded in 1986, the Dental Anthropology Association (DAA) works to highlight and promote research focused on the dentition and craniofacial complex in humans, hominins, and other primates. This symposium, organized by the DAA Executive Board, will provide a space to reflect upon the history of the field and facilitate a dialogue about its future. This discussion will include research ethics, novel findings, and development and application of new research methodologies. It will also contribute to the growing body of work which demonstrates connections between oral and systemic health. Symposium presenters represent a variety of specializations including geochemistry, microwear, histology, bioarchaeology, and forensics. The speakers also are of diverse research backgrounds, and the contributed research spans vast temporal and geographic spaces. The goal of this symposium is to weave threads of research collaborative potential, generate key research themes, identify areas for methodological innovation, and highlight the potential of Dental Anthropology as a venue for sharing knowledge across a global network of dental scholars – academic, clinical, and professional.
