• MeSH
• Jaw pathology   MeSH
• Skeleton pathology   MeSH
• Tooth Diseases MeSH

• MeSH
• Archaeology MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Neoplasm Metastasis pathology   MeSH
• Skull Neoplasms pathology   MeSH
• Paleopathology MeSH
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to reconstruct the dietary behavior of two early medieval individuals who display gnathic malformation. MATERIAL: Two skeletons affected by temporomandibular ankylosis were analyzed, one from the Great Moravian burial site of Rajhradice (9th century AD, Czech Republic), and the other from the Avar burial site of Schӧnkirchen (8th century AD, Austria). METHODS: Carbon and nitrogen isotopic values were measured from the bone collagen of both individuals. In the Rajhradice case, where the childhood origin of ankylosis is deduced, isotopic analysis of dentine sections was performed. RESULTS: Both individuals show isotopic values within the range of variation of a contemporaneous population sample. There was no observable dietary change in the Rajhradice individual that could be linked to the occurrence of ankylosis. CONCLUSIONS: Both individuals consumed diets typical for their populations. They appear to not have restricted access to foodstuffs, namely animal protein, which would likely have had to be served in liquid (e.g. milk) or in a highly mashed form to compensate for insufficient mastication. SIGNIFICANCE: This finding provides specific evidence of care provided to these two afflicted members of past populations. LIMITATIONS: Though the proportion of animal protein is an important indicator of the quality of diet, many other aspects of diet - such as micronutrient content - elude stable isotope analysis. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Amino acid compound specific isotope analyses of collagen would provide deeper insight into both the diet and physiology of the affected individuals.

• MeSH
• Ankylosis * ethnology   pathology   MeSH
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Diet ethnology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Collagen chemistry   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorders * ethnology   pathology   MeSH
• Paleopathology MeSH
• Temporomandibular Joint pathology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Historical Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Austria MeSH

OBJECTIVES: To highlight conditions that may cause early-onset degenerative joint disease, and to assess the possible impact of such diseases upon everyday life. MATERIAL: Four adults aged under 50 years from a medieval skeletal collection of Prague (Czechia). METHODS: Visual, osteometric, X-ray, and histological examinations, stable isotope analysis of bone collagen. RESULTS: All four individuals showed multiple symmetrical degenerative changes, affecting the majority of joints of the postcranial skeleton. Associated dysplastic deformities were observed in all individuals, including bilateral hip dysplasia (n = 1), flattening of the femoral condyles (n = 3), and substantial deformation of the elbows (n = 3). The diet of the affected individuals differed from the contemporary population sample. CONCLUSIONS: We propose the diagnosis of a mild form of skeletal dysplasia in these four individuals, with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia or type-II collagenopathy linked to premature osteoarthritis as the most probable causes. SIGNIFICANCE: Combining the skeletal findings with information from the medical literature, this paper defines several characteristic traits which may assist with the diagnosis of skeletal dysplasia in the archaeological record. LIMITATIONS: As no genetic analysis was performed to confirm the possible kinship of the individuals, it is not possible to definitively assess whether the individuals suffered from the same hereditary condition or from different forms of skeletal dysplasia. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Further studies on premature osteoarthritis in archaeological skeletal series are needed to correct the underrepresentation of these mild forms of dysplasia in past populations.

• MeSH
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Diet history   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Cemeteries history   MeSH
• Bone and Bones pathology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Hip Dislocation pathology   MeSH
• Osteoarthritis * history   pathology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Historical Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

The socioeconomic structure of an early medieval society from the Mikulčice settlement (Czech Republic) was studied on the basis of an evaluation of the fluctuating and directional asymmetry (DA) of skulls. Two distinct inhabited regions, castle and sub-castle, were compared. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) was used as a bioindicator of environmental stress, which is thought to have been different in the Mikulčice castle and sub-castle regions. DA is consistent with biomechanical loading, and it was expected to reflect different subsistence patterns. The material consisted of 129 crania from what was presumed to be a higher socioeconomic class (Mikulčice castle) and 71 crania from middle and lower socioeconomic classes (Mikulčice sub-castle). As a comparative sample, 138 crania from modern, lower socioeconomic classes (Pachner Collection) were used. The three-dimensional coordinates of 68 landmarks were digitized and analyzed using geometric morphometrics. In terms of DA, the highest values were recorded in the sub-castle sample and confirmed their lower socioeconomic position, with a grittier and lower protein diet compared with the castle sample. In terms of FA, distinctive differences between the sexes were found. In males, no differences were observed between castle and sub-castle, and the lowest FA values were recorded. In females, significantly higher values of FA were found, surprisingly in the castle sample, comparable with the more stressed Pachner Collection. We suspect that the FA reflects a more varied population of castle females as a consequence of patrilocality, although environmental stress remains a possibility.

• MeSH
• Anthropology, Physical MeSH
• History, 20th Century MeSH
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Stress, Physiological MeSH
• Skull anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Socioeconomic Factors * MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, 20th Century MeSH
• History, Medieval 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
• Czech Republic MeSH

• MeSH
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Diet MeSH
• Stress, Physiological MeSH
• Orbit pathology   MeSH
• Paleopathology MeSH
• Environmental Exposure MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, Medieval MeSH

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship of mastication and directional asymmetry (DA) of upper facial skeleton in Early Medieval sample from the Mikulčice settlement (Czech Republic). DESIGN: The settlement is divided into two burial areas of presumably different socioeconomic status: the castle and the sub-castle. The material consisted of 193 individuals (125 castle, 68 sub-castle). The relationship of facial skeleton DA and mastication was analysed by examining tooth wear and mandibular shape by means of 3D geometric morphometrics. Tooth wear of premolars and molars was evaluated using appropriate scoring systems. 3D coordinates of 35 mandibular landmarks were scanned using MicroScribe G2X digitizing system. RESULTS: The results did not reveal any significant differences in tooth wear DA or mandible DA values between burial areas or sexes. Mandibular shape, however, differed significantly between burial areas and sexes. Directional changes of mandibular landmarks supported a right chewing side preference in the sample. Significant relationship between upper facial skeleton DA and mandible DA was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in subsistence between burial areas and sexes did not translate into differences in mandible DA and dental wear. However, mandibular shape analysis revealed prominence of areas affected by masticatory muscles in individuals from the castle. Higher consumption of tough material, such as meat, has been proposed as possible explanation. The right side was found to be preferential for chewing. The relationship between upper facial skeleton DA and mandible DA was concluded to be the result of the compensatory and adaptive function of mandible.

• MeSH
• Anatomic Landmarks MeSH
• Anthropology, Physical MeSH
• Facial Asymmetry physiopathology   MeSH
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Facial Bones anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Tooth Wear physiopathology   MeSH
• Socioeconomic Factors MeSH
• Masticatory Muscles physiopathology   MeSH
• Mastication physiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Historical Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to map the dental health status in non-adult individuals and to verify whether and how the existence of caries in the non-adult age group is associated with the different socio-economic status of early medieval populations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied the dental remains from the acropolis of the Mikulčice settlement agglomeration, where members of the higher social classes were buried, and from the Mikulčice hinterland. Overall, we evaluated 2544 teeth/3714 alveoli of deciduous dentition and 1938 teeth/2128 alveoli of permanent dentition. We determined the number of individuals with dental caries (i.e., caries frequency index, F-CE) and the proportion of teeth/alveoli with caries/ante-mortem tooth loss (i.e., caries intensity index, I-CE). RESULTS: We found no statistical significant difference in the F-CE values between the Mikulčice hinterland and the acropolis. In addition, we found no statistically significant difference in the proportion of teeth with carious lesions (I-CE) either in the case of deciduous dentition or in the case of permanent dentition between the hinterland and the acropolis. In the case of permanent dentition, the statistically significant highest proportion of carious lesions (I-CE) was found in Mikulčice I (p ≤ 0.05). We confirmed an increase in the rate of caries with age. CONCLUSIONS: The level of caries at all of the studied medieval locations was very low. We presume that lifestyle and the associated dietary habits and hygienic practices of the individuals or population groups had a greater influence on dental caries than did the socio-economic status of these individuals.

• MeSH
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Dentition, Permanent MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Prevalence MeSH
• Social Class history   MeSH
• Dental Caries epidemiology   history   MeSH
• Tooth, Deciduous MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Historical Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe MeSH

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to provide a detailed view of dental health in relationship to the diet of the Great Moravian population, with emphasis on childhood diet. DESIGN: We studied skeletal samples of the early medieval population of the Mikulčice agglomeration (Czech Republic) originating from the cemetery of the church VI (91 adults). Stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen (intra-individual sampling - tooth and bone) was performed on this material, and dental characteristics (carious lesions, intensity of caries (I-CE), dental wear, linear enamel hypoplasia) evaluated. RESULTS: Isotopic signals obtained from tooth and bone samples of the same individuals differ significantly. Tooth samples show higher δ13C and lower δ15N than bone samples. δ15N in tooth and bone samples is related to socio-economic status. We discovered a relationship between isotopic signals from tooth or bone and intensity of caries and dental wear. CONCLUSION: We provide the first direct information about the diet of the juvenile part of the Great Moravian population from Mikulčice. The diet of children differed from the diet of adults. Children consumed more millet and less animal protein than adults. The social stratification of this population was obvious in dietary composition from childhood. Elites consumed more animal proteins than non-elite individuals. Tooth decay was related to relative consumption of plant and animal proteins. Greater dental wear is related to a diet based on C3 plants. There was no significant connection between diet composition and the formation of enamel hypoplasia.

• MeSH
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Diet history   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Tooth Wear * MeSH
• Oral Health history   MeSH
• Plant Proteins, Dietary MeSH
• Animal Proteins, Dietary MeSH
• Dental Caries * MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Historical Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

• MeSH
• Anthropology MeSH
• Archaeology MeSH
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Dental Enamel Hypoplasia MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Bone Diseases MeSH
• Spinal Diseases MeSH
• Oral Health MeSH
• Paleopathology MeSH
• Hierarchy, Social * MeSH
• Socioeconomic Factors * MeSH
• Statistics as Topic MeSH
• Health Status * MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, Medieval MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH