hrvatski

Dental age estimation by macroabrasion of teeth at the late iron age archaeological sample from the Kopila site on the island of Korčula

Introduction: The aim of this study is to analyze the changes caused by abrasive wear on the teeth of archaeological skeletal remains and thus to estimate the dental age at the time of death of the observed individuals. Materials and methods: The analysis included a part of the collection of samples from the Kopila necropolis (tomb 4), at island Korčula , stored in the Vela Luka Cultural Center . A total of 284 permanent dentition teeth were classified into 32 individuals and by sex. Dental age was determined by the Lovejoy method, and the degree of tooth wear by the Smith and Knight methods. Results: Under the age of 20 there are two (n = 2) individuals, from 20-24 years there are five (n = 5), from 24-30 years there are three (n = 3), from 30-35 years there are three (n = 3), from 35-40 years there are six (n = 6), and older than 40 there are eleven (n = 11), while for two individuals it was not possible to determine the age. The average total age of individuals is 35.6 years (+/- 3.1 years, SD 11.1). Abrasive changes are present on 92.9% of teeth, and 93.3% have oblique abrasion. According to the degree of wear, grades 2 and 3 are the most common (in 63.1%), so dentin without pulp exposure is exposed. Changes were equally present in the incisors and molars (p = 0.236). No significant gender difference was observed (p> 0.05 for all teeth and jaw parts). There were also no differences in the degree of abrasion of the maxillary and mandible teeth (t = - 0.266, p = 0.791), right and left maxillary teeth (t = -0.392, p = 0.702), and right and left mandible teeth (t = -0.889, p = 0.390). There is a statistically significant association between age and the average degree of tooth abrasion in the mandible, right and left mandibles, and right and left maxillae. The best level of association was found for the degree of tooth abrasion in the mandible (r = 0.935, p <0.001). Conclusion: The Illyrian population belonging to the analyzed archaeological sample was buried in the Kopila necropolis, and dental analysis resulted in dental age, which concludes that the analyzed population had a life expectancy normal for the Late Iron Age, which was 30-40 years. Abrasive changes suggest a diet rich in hard, abrasive, poorly cariogenic foods with probable particles of inorganic origin.

dental wear ; dental remains ; late iron age

Acknowledgments: The research was funded by the Croatian Science Foundation through the project: Tooth Analysis in Forensic and Archaeological Research, IP-2020-02-9423

engleski

Dental age estimation by macroabrasion of teeth at the late iron age archaeological sample from the Kopila site on the island of Korčula

Introduction: The aim of this study is to analyze the changes caused by abrasive wear on the teeth of archaeological skeletal remains and thus to estimate the dental age at the time of death of the observed individuals. Materials and methods: The analysis included a part of the collection of samples from the Kopila necropolis (tomb 4), at island Korčula , stored in the Vela Luka Cultural Center . A total of 284 permanent dentition teeth were classified into 32 individuals and by sex. Dental age was determined by the Lovejoy method, and the degree of tooth wear by the Smith and Knight methods. Results: Under the age of 20 there are two (n = 2) individuals, from 20-24 years there are five (n = 5), from 24-30 years there are three (n = 3), from 30-35 years there are three (n = 3), from 35-40 years there are six (n = 6), and older than 40 there are eleven (n = 11), while for two individuals it was not possible to determine the age. The average total age of individuals is 35.6 years (+/- 3.1 years, SD 11.1). Abrasive changes are present on 92.9% of teeth, and 93.3% have oblique abrasion. According to the degree of wear, grades 2 and 3 are the most common (in 63.1%), so dentin without pulp exposure is exposed. Changes were equally present in the incisors and molars (p = 0.236). No significant gender difference was observed (p> 0.05 for all teeth and jaw parts). There were also no differences in the degree of abrasion of the maxillary and mandible teeth (t = - 0.266, p = 0.791), right and left maxillary teeth (t = -0.392, p = 0.702), and right and left mandible teeth (t = -0.889, p = 0.390). There is a statistically significant association between age and the average degree of tooth abrasion in the mandible, right and left mandibles, and right and left maxillae. The best level of association was found for the degree of tooth abrasion in the mandible (r = 0.935, p <0.001). Conclusion: The Illyrian population belonging to the analyzed archaeological sample was buried in the Kopila necropolis, and dental analysis resulted in dental age, which concludes that the analyzed population had a life expectancy normal for the Late Iron Age, which was 30-40 years. Abrasive changes suggest a diet rich in hard, abrasive, poorly cariogenic foods with probable particles of inorganic origin.

dental wear ; dental remains ; late iron age

Acknowledgments: The research was funded by the Croatian Science Foundation through the project: Tooth Analysis in Forensic and Archaeological Research, IP-2020-02-9423