OBJECTIVES: This study presents biological affinities between the last hunter-fisher-gatherers and first food-producing societies from the Nile Valley. We investigate odontometric and dental tissue proportion changes between these populations from the Middle Nile Valley and acknowledge the biological processes behind them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dental remains of 329 individuals from Nubia and Central Sudan that date from the Late Pleistocene to the mid-Holocene are studied. Using 3D imaging techniques, we investigated outer and inner metric aspects of upper central incisors, and first and second upper molars. RESULTS: Late Paleolithic and Mesolithic foragers display homogeneous crown dimensions, dental tissue proportions, and enamel thickness distribution. This contrasts with Neolithic trends for significant differences from earlier samples on inner and outer aspects. Finally, within the Neolithic sample differences are found between Nubian and Central Sudanese sites. DISCUSSION: Substantial dental variation appears to have occurred around 6000 bce in the Nile Valley, coinciding with the emergence of food-producing societies in the region. Archeological and biological records suggest little differences in dietary habits and dental health during this transition. Furthermore, the substantial variations identified here would have happened in an extremely short time, a few centuries at most. This does not support in situ diet-related adaptation. Rather, we suggest these data are consistent with some level of population discontinuity between the Mesolithic and Neolithic samples considered here. Complex settlement processes could also explain the differences between Nubia and Central Sudan, and with previous results based on nonmetric traits.
- MeSH
- History, Ancient MeSH
- Diet history MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Molar anatomy & histology MeSH
- Paleodontology * MeSH
- Incisor anatomy & histology MeSH
- Tooth anatomy & histology chemistry MeSH
- Check Tag
- History, Ancient MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Historical Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Sudan MeSH
In the Central European context, the 9th and 10th centuries are well known for rapid cultural and societal changes concerning the development of the economic and political structures of states as well as the adoption of Christianity. A bioarchaeological study based on a subadult skeletal series was conducted to tackle the impact of these changes on infant and young child feeding practices and, consequently, their health in both urban and rural populations. Data on growth and frequency of nonspecific stress indicators of a subadult group aged 0-6 years were analyzed. A subsample of 41 individuals was selected for nitrogen and carbon isotope analyses, applying an intra-individual sampling strategy (bone vs. tooth). The isotopic results attest to a mosaic of food behaviors. In the urban sample, some children may have been weaned during their second year of life, while some others may have still been consuming breast milk substantially up to 4-5 years of age. By contrast, data from the rural sample show more homogeneity, with a gradual cessation of breastfeeding starting after the age of 2 years. Several factors are suggested which may have been responsible for applied weaning strategies. There is no evidence that observed weaning strategies affected the level of biological stress which the urban subadult population had to face compared with the rural subadult population.
- MeSH
- Anthropology, Physical MeSH
- History, Medieval MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Nitrogen Isotopes analysis MeSH
- Carbon Isotopes analysis MeSH
- Infant MeSH
- Breast Feeding history MeSH
- Bone and Bones chemistry MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Urban Population statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Weaning MeSH
- Child, Preschool MeSH
- Age Determination by Teeth MeSH
- Rural Population statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Tooth chemistry MeSH
- Check Tag
- History, Medieval MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Infant MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Child, Preschool MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Historical Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
An analytical method for the determination of the composition of renal stones by capillary isotachophoresis with conductometric detection was developed. Using different leading/terminating electrolyte systems, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic compounds (urate, xanthate, oxalate) and inorganic ions (phosphate, Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Na(+), NH(4)(+)) species commonly present in mixed renal stones in three separate steps can be carried out with limits of detection about 10 μmol/L. The developed method was validated by the analysis of real samples and can be used for urinary calculi classification. In addition, it was verified that this method can also be employed for the determination of the above mentioned analytes in some other samples (bones, teeth) concerning apatite biominerals (fluoro-, carbonate-, chloro-apatite).
- MeSH
- Anions urine MeSH
- Apatites chemistry MeSH
- Phosphates urine MeSH
- Isotachophoresis methods MeSH
- Cations, Divalent urine MeSH
- Cations, Monovalent urine MeSH
- Conductometry MeSH
- Bone and Bones chemistry MeSH
- Uric Acid urine MeSH
- Kidney Calculi chemistry MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Limit of Detection MeSH
- Oxalates urine MeSH
- Salts urine MeSH
- Carbonates urine MeSH
- Tooth chemistry MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
The present article provides results of analyses of trace elements from dental tissues and their relations with social status, dietary habits, and pathological changes in vertebras in the skeletal remains from the former family crypt in the St. Catherine Church ruins. Three aristocratic families (the Labsánszkys from the Korlátko castle, the Erdődys and the Apponyis) were buried under St. Catherine church in the 18th century. Skeletal material from one of the three crypts was investigated. The family allegiance of these skeletal remains is still not known; our considerations based on the historical sources indicated the Labsánszky family. The concentrations of Ca, Sr and Zn in 8 permanent teeth obtained from 8 individuals were analysed. The number of analysed teeth was limited by the number of buried individuals and the preservation state of the skulls. Concentrations of the trace elements and their ratios – a relatively low content of strontium and a higher concentration of zinc – indicated a rich protein diet. Despite the small number of teeth analysed, the results are relatively homogenous and show that probably all of the buried persons had belonged to a higher society. The results were also confirmed indirectly by the palaeopathological findings in the bones of the postcranial skeleton. The Forestier disease (DISH) was diagnosed in three individuals at minimum, which can also indicate that they suffered from obesity or type 2 diabetes. However, DISH is a hereditary disease; therefore we must also consider the familiar appearance.
- MeSH
- Anthropology, Physical methods MeSH
- Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal pathology MeSH
- Financing, Organized MeSH
- Bone and Bones chemistry MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Trace Elements analysis MeSH
- Feeding Behavior ethnology MeSH
- Strontium analysis MeSH
- Calcium analysis MeSH
- Zinc analysis MeSH
- Tooth chemistry MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
