Dem Zahn auf den Nerv gefühlt

Eine Revision zur Morphologie des Elefantenstoßzahns

Abstract

Investigating the Elephant Tusk: a Revision of its Morphology
Elephant tusks as well as finished ivory objects often display a distinctive feature best described as a small hole in its transverse section or a narrow tunnel in its longitudinal section. In technical conservation literature, this feature is commonly identified as a nerve canal. However, interdisciplinary research has indicated that there is no central nerve running through the elephant tusk. Rather, the tunnel-like cavity is the result of a flawed formation of dentine at the tip of the pulp. It is, therefore, more accurately a pathological feature that can be manifest with some elephants but not all. Because this phenomenon can be observed on many ivory objects, the author proposes a revision to the hitherto commonly used term “nerve canal”.