Objective To investigate the tooth wear of mandibular first molar (MSUB>1/SUB>) in Bronze-Iron Age and recent population in China .Methods This study was conducted on 230 human mandibles from China. MSUB>1/SUB> was divided into 4 areas, tooth wear of each area was recorded. Comparisons were made among 4 areas and different time periods. Results Tooth wear of Bronze-Iron Age people was more obvious than recent population. Area 1 had the biggest wear, while area 2 had the smallest. Conclusion Tooth wear exhibits a sequence of area 1＞ area 3＞ area 4＞ area 2 in MSUB>1/SUB>, and this ki