Evaluation of linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) in western Anatolian skeletons from the late eastern roman period (Attepe settlements and Dereköy necropolis)

Paleopathological and paleoparasitological studies seek evidences to understand health and disease in past populations. These two approaches are often used independently despite the obvious importance of its complementary. This paper aims to explore the possible relation between a common indicator of childhood stress and infection by intestinal parasites. Thirty adult individuals from the Islamic necropolis of Santarém (9th-12th cent. AD) were macroscopically examined for linear enamel hypoplasia. Sediment from the pelvis and skull of each skeleton were observed under the optical microscope in search of helminth eggs. Hypoplasic defects were identified in 46.67% of the individuals, mostly on canines and incisors. Eggs from Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were identified respectively in 4 and 2 individuals. The Fisher’s exact test was performed to analyze whether the individuals with evidences of stress in early childhood were more prone to helminth infections or death at younger ages. Although these variables were shown to be independent, this exploratory study highlights the contribution of combining paleopathological and paleoparasitological methods to address the long-term impact of the physiological stress exposure in early life on the immune system. Furthermore, variety of factors that could have influenced these results are discussed and interpreted in a biocultural perspective.

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Frequency and chronological distribution of linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) in the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age population from Żerniki Górne (Poland) – preliminary report

Anthropological Review ◽

10.2478/v10044-012-0005-3 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

pp. 61-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jacek Tomczyk ◽

Maria Tomczyk-Gruca ◽

Marta Zalewska

Keyword(s):

Bronze Age ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Economic Status ◽

Permanent Teeth ◽

Early Bronze Age ◽

Enamel Hypoplasia ◽

Late Neolithic ◽

Linear Enamel Hypoplasia ◽

Tool Stress ◽

Health Related

Abstract Linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) is treated as a nonspecific indicator of stress, but even so, many authors consider it the most reliable tool stress in anthropological research. Its analysis allows the reconstruction of health related to the socio-economic status of the group. This study documents and interprets patterns of LEH in Żerniki Górne (Poland), a settlement which was functional in the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age. We examined two successive cultures: the Corded Ware Culture (CWC; 3200-2300BC) and the Trzciniec Culture (TC; 1500-1300BC). In total, there were 1486 permanent teeth (124 adult individuals). The frequency of LEH in the examined cultures shows a small rising trend. In these series from Żernik Górne, males showed a higher occurrence of LEH (16.5%) than females (13.4%). The earliest LEH appeared at similar ages at about 2.0/2.2 years and the last LEH occurred at about 4.2 years of age in both cultures. However, it is worth noting that periods associated with physiological stress were more common but not very long (four months on average) in the CWC. Longer stress periods (nine months on average) were associated with the TC.

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Exploring Linear Enamel Hypoplasia as an Embodied Product of Childhood Stress in Late/Final Jomon Period Foragers Using Incremental Microstructures of Enamel

Children and Childhood in Bioarchaeology ◽

10.2307/j.ctvx0794d.14 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 239-261

Author(s):

DANIEL H. TEMPLE

Keyword(s):

Enamel Hypoplasia ◽

Childhood Stress ◽

Linear Enamel Hypoplasia

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Dental Modifications of Anterior Teeth in the Danish Viking Age

A World View of Bioculturally Modified Teeth ◽

10.5744/florida/9780813054834.003.0006 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Verner Alexandersen ◽

Niels Lynnerup

Keyword(s):

Viking Age ◽

Enamel Hypoplasia ◽

Anterior Teeth ◽

Linear Enamel Hypoplasia

Inspired by previous finds of filed, likely ornamental grooves on upper incisors of Swedish and Danish male Vikings, a Viking sample from Denmark (ca. AD 800–1050) was studied (M=69, F=45, 90=?). We found evidence of modifications that could be distinguished from normal wear and linear enamel hypoplasia. In 24 individuals single or multiple filed horizontal grooves occurred on labial surfaces of the central upper incisors and some lateral incisors (22/159 or 13.8 percent). All grooves were inconspicuous and shallow, and other unrelated worn labial facets were found. This occurrence is unlike the grooves in male Swedish Vikings. The variation observed, as well as experiments with iron files and whetstones, leads us to suggest that the Danish Viking grooves could be made intentionally but more often developed as a result of task activities.

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Can linear enamel hypoplasia be used as a novel welfare indicator in pigs?

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200019438 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2007 ◽

pp. 40-40

Author(s):

E. Genever ◽

K. Dobney ◽

D.M. Broom

Keyword(s):

Stressful Life Event ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Environmental Stressors ◽

Developmental Stress ◽

Enamel Hypoplasia ◽

Linear Enamel Hypoplasia ◽

Welfare Indicator ◽

Calcified Tissue ◽

The Individual ◽

Incremental Lines

Linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) produces abnormal incremental lines or depressions in teeth enamel caused by a deficiency in the growth of calcified tissue. The depth and width of the LEH events can indicate the severity and duration of a stressful life event. LEH can be used to investigate developmental stress, as it will occur when the individual is unable to cope with environmental stressors during development, such as food shortage, pathological challenge or other stressful events. The LEH technique has been used by zoo-archaeologists to obtain information on early domestication and husbandry practices in ancient populations of pigs, where high levels of LEH have been found to correspond to birth and weaning. The objective of this work was to investigate if LEH was present in modern pigs and whether it could be used as a welfare indicator.

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