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Cox SL, Nicklisch N, Francken M, Wahl J, Meller H, Haak W, Alt KW, Rosenstock E, Mathieson I. Socio-cultural practices may have affected sex differences in stature in Early Neolithic Europe. Nat Hum Behav 2024; 8:243-255. [PMID: 38081999 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01756-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The rules and structure of human culture impact health as much as genetics or environment. To study these relationships, we combine ancient DNA (n = 230), skeletal metrics (n = 391), palaeopathology (n = 606) and dietary stable isotopes (n = 873) to analyse stature variation in Early Neolithic Europeans from North Central, South Central, Balkan and Mediterranean regions. In North Central Europe, stable isotopes and linear enamel hypoplasias indicate high environmental stress across sexes, but female stature is low, despite polygenic scores identical to males, and suggests that cultural factors preferentially supported male recovery from stress. In Mediterranean populations, sexual dimorphism is reduced, indicating male vulnerability to stress and no strong cultural preference for males. Our analysis indicates that biological effects of sex-specific inequities can be linked to cultural influences at least as early as 7,000 yr ago, and culture, more than environment or genetics, drove height disparities in Early Neolithic Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Cox
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Physical Anthropology Section, Penn Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Nicole Nicklisch
- Center of Natural and Cultural Human History, Danube Private University, Krems-Stein, Austria
| | - Michael Francken
- State Office for Cultural Heritage Management Baden-Württemberg, Osteology, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Joachim Wahl
- Paleoanthropology Section, Institute of Archaeological Sciences, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Harald Meller
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, State Museum of Prehistory, Halle, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Haak
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kurt W Alt
- Center of Natural and Cultural Human History, Danube Private University, Krems-Stein, Austria
| | - Eva Rosenstock
- Bonn Center for ArchaeoSciences, Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Iain Mathieson
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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2
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Massé L, d’Incau E, Souron A, Vanderesse N, Santos F, Maureille B, Le Cabec A. Unraveling the Life History of Past Populations through Hypercementosis: Insights into Cementum Apposition Patterns and Possible Etiologies Using Micro-CT and Confocal Microscopy. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:43. [PMID: 38248474 PMCID: PMC10813066 DOI: 10.3390/biology13010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The "teeth-as-tools" hypothesis posits that Neanderthals used their anterior teeth as a tool or a third hand for non-dietary purposes. These non- or para-masticatory activities (e.g., tool-making or food preparation prior to ingestion) have also been described in other past and extant human populations, and other Primates. Cementum is the mineralized tissue that covers the tooth root surface and anchors it to the alveolar bone. Under certain conditions (e.g., mechanical stress, infection), its production becomes excessive (i.e., beyond the physiological state) and is called 'hypercementosis'. Several studies in dental anthropology have established a correlation between the teeth-as-tools and hypercementosis. The present work aims to characterize the different patterns of cementum apposition on archeological teeth and discuss their supposed etiology. Using microtomography and confocal microscopy, the patterns of cementum apposition (i.e., thickness, location, and surface characteristics) were analyzed in 35 hypercementotic teeth (Sains-en-Gohelle, France; 7th-17th c. A.D.). Four groups were identified with distinct hypercementosis patterns: (1) impacted, (2) infected, (3) hypofunctional, and (4) hyperfunctional teeth. Characterizing hypercementosis can contribute to documenting the oral health status (paleopathology) and/or masticatory activity of individuals, even from isolated teeth. This has implications for the study of fossil hominins, particularly Neanderthals, known for their use of anterior teeth as tools and frequent and substantial occurrence of hypercementosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Massé
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
- UFR des Sciences Odontologiques de Bordeaux, Univ. Bordeaux, F-33076 Bordeaux, France;
- University Hospital, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Emmanuel d’Incau
- UFR des Sciences Odontologiques de Bordeaux, Univ. Bordeaux, F-33076 Bordeaux, France;
- University Hospital, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, SANPSY, UMR 6033, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Antoine Souron
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
| | - Nicolas Vanderesse
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
| | - Frédéric Santos
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
| | - Bruno Maureille
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
| | - Adeline Le Cabec
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600 Pessac, France; (A.S.); (N.V.); (F.S.); (B.M.); (A.L.C.)
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3
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Ferrando-Bernal M. Ancient DNA suggests anaemia and low bone mineral density as the cause for porotic hyperostosis in ancient individuals. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6968. [PMID: 37117261 PMCID: PMC10147686 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33405-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Porotic hyperostosis (PH) is a disease that had high prevalence during the Neolithic. Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain the origin of the disease, such as an iron deficiency diet, low B12 intake, malaria caused by Plasmodium spp., low haemoglobin levels or low vitamin D levels. None of these hypotheses have been tested genetically. Here, I calculated different genetic scores to test each hypothesis. Additionally, I calculated a genetic score of bone mineral density as it is a phenotype that seems to be selected in ancient Europeans. I apply these genetic scores on 80 ancient samples, 33 with diagnosed PH. The results seem to suggest anaemia and low bone mineral density as the main cause for this disease. Additionally, Neolithic individuals show the lowest genetic risk score for bone mineral density of all other periods tested here, which may explain the highest prevalence of the porotic hyperostosis during this age.
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Popovici M, Groza VM, Bejenaru L, Petraru OM. Dental morphological variation in Chalcolithic and Bronze Age human populations from North-Eastern Romania. Ann Anat 2023; 245:152015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2022.152015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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5
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Alt KW, Al-Ahmad A, Woelber JP. Nutrition and Health in Human Evolution-Past to Present. Nutrients 2022; 14:3594. [PMID: 36079850 PMCID: PMC9460423 DOI: 10.3390/nu14173594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Anyone who wants to understand the biological nature of humans and their special characteristics must look far back into evolutionary history. Today's way of life is drastically different from that of our ancestors. For almost 99% of human history, gathering and hunting have been the basis of nutrition. It was not until about 12,000 years ago that humans began domesticating plants and animals. Bioarchaeologically and biochemically, this can be traced back to our earliest roots. Modern living conditions and the quality of human life are better today than ever before. However, neither physically nor psychosocially have we made this adjustment and we are paying a high health price for it. The studies presented allow us to reconstruct food supply, lifestyles, and dietary habits: from the earliest primates, through hunter-gatherers of the Paleolithic, farming communities since the beginning of the Anthropocene, to the Industrial Age and the present. The comprehensive data pool allows extraction of all findings of medical relevance. Our recent lifestyle and diet are essentially determined by our culture rather than by our millions of years of ancestry. Culture is permanently in a dominant position compared to natural evolution. Thereby culture does not form a contrast to nature but represents its result. There is no doubt that we are biologically adapted to culture, but it is questionable how much culture humans can cope with.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt W. Alt
- Center of Natural and Cultural Human History, Danube Private University, 3500 Krems, Austria
- Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ali Al-Ahmad
- Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 71906 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Johan Peter Woelber
- Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 71906 Freiburg, Germany
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6
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Childebayeva A, Rohrlach AB, Barquera R, Rivollat M, Aron F, Szolek A, Kohlbacher O, Nicklisch N, Alt KW, Gronenborn D, Meller H, Friederich S, Prüfer K, Deguilloux MF, Krause J, Haak W. Population Genetics and Signatures of Selection in Early Neolithic European Farmers. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:6586604. [PMID: 35578825 PMCID: PMC9171004 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human expansion in the course of the Neolithic transition in western Eurasia has been one of the major topics in ancient DNA research in the last 10 years. Multiple studies have shown that the spread of agriculture and animal husbandry from the Near East across Europe was accompanied by large-scale human expansions. Moreover, changes in subsistence and migration associated with the Neolithic transition have been hypothesized to involve genetic adaptation. Here, we present high quality genome-wide data from the Linear Pottery Culture site Derenburg-Meerenstieg II (DER) (N = 32 individuals) in Central Germany. Population genetic analyses show that the DER individuals carried predominantly Anatolian Neolithic-like ancestry and a very limited degree of local hunter-gatherer admixture, similar to other early European farmers. Increasing the Linear Pottery culture cohort size to ∼100 individuals allowed us to perform various frequency- and haplotype-based analyses to investigate signatures of selection associated with changes following the adoption of the Neolithic lifestyle. In addition, we developed a new method called Admixture-informed Maximum-likelihood Estimation for Selection Scans that allowed us test for selection signatures in an admixture-aware fashion. Focusing on the intersection of results from these selection scans, we identified various loci associated with immune function (JAK1, HLA-DQB1) and metabolism (LMF1, LEPR, SORBS1), as well as skin color (SLC24A5, CD82) and folate synthesis (MTHFR, NBPF3). Our findings shed light on the evolutionary pressures, such as infectious disease and changing diet, that were faced by the early farmers of Western Eurasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainash Childebayeva
- Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany.,Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Adam Benjamin Rohrlach
- Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany.,Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers, School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Barquera
- Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany.,Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maïté Rivollat
- Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany.,Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, PACEA-UMR 5199, 33615 Pessac, France
| | - Franziska Aron
- Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - András Szolek
- Applied Bioinformatics, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Immunology, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Kohlbacher
- Applied Bioinformatics, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Translational Bioinformatics, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Biomolecular Interactions, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nicole Nicklisch
- Center of Natural and Cultural Human History, Danube Private University, Krems-Stein, Austria.,State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt - State Museum of Prehistory, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Kurt W Alt
- Center of Natural and Cultural Human History, Danube Private University, Krems-Stein, Austria.,State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt - State Museum of Prehistory, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Detlef Gronenborn
- Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, Leibniz Research Institute for Archaeology, Ernst-Ludwig-Platz 2, 55116 Mainz, Germany
| | - Harald Meller
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt - State Museum of Prehistory, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Susanne Friederich
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt - State Museum of Prehistory, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Kay Prüfer
- Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany.,Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Krause
- Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany.,Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Haak
- Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany.,Archaeogenetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
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7
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Nicklisch N, Oelze VM, Schierz O, Meller H, Alt KW. A Healthier Smile in the Past? Dental Caries and Diet in Early Neolithic Farming Communities from Central Germany. Nutrients 2022; 14:1831. [PMID: 35565796 PMCID: PMC9105495 DOI: 10.3390/nu14091831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Dental health is closely linked to an individual's health and diet. This bioarcheological study presents dental caries and stable isotope data obtained from prehistoric individuals (n = 101) from three Early Neolithic sites (c. 5500-4800 BCE) in central Germany. Dental caries and ante-mortem tooth loss (AMTL) were recorded and related to life history traits such as biological sex and age at death. Further, we correlate evidence on caries to carbon and nitrogen isotope data obtained from 83 individuals to assess the relationship between diet and caries. In 68.3% of the adults, carious lesions were present, with 10.3% of teeth affected. If AMTL is considered, the values increase by about 3%. The prevalence of subadults (18.4%) was significantly lower, with 1.8% carious teeth. The number of carious teeth correlated significantly with age but not sex. The isotopic data indicated an omnivorous terrestrial diet composed of domestic plants and animal derived protein but did not correlate with the prevalence of carious lesions. The combined evidence from caries and isotope analysis suggests a prevalence of starchy foods such as cereals in the diet of these early farmers, which aligns well with observations from other Early Neolithic sites but contrasts to Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age populations in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Nicklisch
- Center for Natural and Cultural History of Man, Faculty of Medicine/Dentistry, Danube Private University, Förthofstraße 2, 3500 Krems, Austria;
| | - Vicky M. Oelze
- Anthropology Department, University of California at Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 96064, USA;
| | - Oliver Schierz
- Department of Prosthodontics and Materials Science, University of Leipzig, Liebig Str. 12, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Harald Meller
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt and State Museum of Prehistory, Richard-Wagner Str. 9, 06114 Halle, Germany;
| | - Kurt W. Alt
- Center for Natural and Cultural History of Man, Faculty of Medicine/Dentistry, Danube Private University, Förthofstraße 2, 3500 Krems, Austria;
- Institute of Prehistory and Archaeological Science, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Spalenring 145, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
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8
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Nicklisch N, Schierz O, Enzmann F, Knipper C, Held P, Vach W, Dresely V, Meller H, Friederich S, Alt KW. Dental pulp calcifications in prehistoric and historical skeletal remains. Ann Anat 2021; 235:151675. [PMID: 33515689 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2021.151675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of hard tissue formations in the dental pulp varies considerably. Beside ageing processes and irritations of the dental pulp, etiological associations with cardiovascular disease and dietary habits have been discussed, which are of particular research interest. The aim of this pilot study is to provide new insights on structural and etiological factors involved in the development of pulp calcifications by investigating skeletal remains from different (pre)historic periods. METHODS The jaws of 46 skeletons excavated in central Germany, were examined for the presence of pulp stones using digital volume tomography (DVT). A total of 1122 teeth were examined with all tooth types considered. To obtain information about the three-dimensional structure of pulp calcifications, micro-CT images were taken. Thin sections of three molars were histologically analysed. Potential dietary effects were studied by analysing stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ15N) in bone samples collected from each individual. RESULTS The analysis indicates that pulp stones affect molars in particular and increase slightly with age and dental wear. The micro-CT scans and the histological analysis show that the structures are much more complex than presumed on the basis of DVT imaging. Individuals with lower δ15N-isotope values and thus with a potentially lower proportion of animal protein in their diet appear to be less affected by pulp stones. CONCLUSION When comparing between archaeological and recent data, DVT analysis provides qualitatively comparable results. Micro-CT and histological images illustrate the excellent preservation of pulp calcifications and their complex structure. Differences in prevalence rates and δ15N-isotope values of Neolithic and historical individuals support the assumption that dietary habits and living conditions could have an influence on the development of pulp calcifications. Due to the small sample size these results require further validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Nicklisch
- Danube Private University, Förthofstraße 2, 3500 Krems-Stein, Austria.
| | - Oliver Schierz
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Materials Science, Leipzig University, Liebigstr. 12, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Frieder Enzmann
- Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Johann-Joachim-Becher-Weg 21, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Corina Knipper
- Curt Engelhorn Centre Archaeometry gGmbH, D6, 3, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Petra Held
- Institute of Anthropology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany.
| | - Werner Vach
- Institute of Prehistory and Archaeological Science, University of Basel, Spalenring 145, 4055 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Veit Dresely
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt - State Museum of Prehistory, Richard-Wagner-Str. 9, 06114 Halle [Saale], Germany.
| | - Harald Meller
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt - State Museum of Prehistory, Richard-Wagner-Str. 9, 06114 Halle [Saale], Germany.
| | - Susanne Friederich
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt - State Museum of Prehistory, Richard-Wagner-Str. 9, 06114 Halle [Saale], Germany.
| | - Kurt W Alt
- Danube Private University, Förthofstraße 2, 3500 Krems-Stein, Austria; Institute of Prehistory and Archaeological Science, University of Basel, Spalenring 145, 4055 Basel, Switzerland.
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9
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Karsten JK, Jeske RJ, Edwards RW, Strange D, Kubehl K, Behm JA. Assessing subsistence and its relationship to cultural complexity in the late prehistoric upper Midwest: A new perspective provided by dental health. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 168:750-763. [PMID: 30784057 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous researchers have assumed that the Late Prehistoric Oneota were less reliant on maize agriculture than their Middle Mississippian neighbors to the south. This assumption is based on the idea that intensive maize agriculture is related to sociopolitical complexity, and that the climate of the Great Lakes region was less conducive to full-scale agriculture than that of the American Bottom. Here, we assess the diet of the Oneota using dental pathology to test the hypothesis that the Oneota in Eastern Wisconsin were highly reliant on maize agriculture. MATERIALS AND METHODS To test our hypothesis, skeletal remains representing 187 individuals and 1,102 teeth were examined from nine Oneota sites from the Middle Fox and Koshkonong Localities, as well as the Late Woodland/Middle Mississippian site of Aztalan. Dental caries, antemortem tooth loss (AMTL), and dental abscesses were assessed for each individual in the sample. Dental pathologies in the Oneota groups were compared to each other based on Locality and to the Aztalan population using chi-squared tests. RESULTS Dental caries rates for the Oneota, based on the tooth count approach, were observed at 16.8% for the Middle Fox Locality, and 49% for the Koshkonong Locality. Comparatively, the Late Woodland/Middle Mississippian population from Aztalan had a tooth count rate of 19.5%. AMTL rates were similar across samples. Dental abscessing was universally low. DISCUSSION The relatively high rate of dental caries among the Oneota is comparable to Middle Mississippian populations from throughout the Midwest, suggesting similar reliance on maize between the groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan K Karsten
- Department of Religious Studies and Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
| | - Robert J Jeske
- Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Richard W Edwards
- Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.,Commonwealth Heritage Group Inc. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - David Strange
- Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Kayla Kubehl
- Department of Religious Studies and Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
| | - Jeffery A Behm
- Department of Religious Studies and Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
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10
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Maixner F, Turaev D, Cazenave-Gassiot A, Janko M, Krause-Kyora B, Hoopmann MR, Kusebauch U, Sartain M, Guerriero G, O'Sullivan N, Teasdale M, Cipollini G, Paladin A, Mattiangeli V, Samadelli M, Tecchiati U, Putzer A, Palazoglu M, Meissen J, Lösch S, Rausch P, Baines JF, Kim BJ, An HJ, Gostner P, Egarter-Vigl E, Malfertheiner P, Keller A, Stark RW, Wenk M, Bishop D, Bradley DG, Fiehn O, Engstrand L, Moritz RL, Doble P, Franke A, Nebel A, Oeggl K, Rattei T, Grimm R, Zink A. The Iceman's Last Meal Consisted of Fat, Wild Meat, and Cereals. Curr Biol 2018; 28:2348-2355.e9. [PMID: 30017480 PMCID: PMC6065529 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The history of humankind is marked by the constant adoption of new dietary habits affecting human physiology, metabolism, and even the development of nutrition-related disorders. Despite clear archaeological evidence for the shift from hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agriculture in Neolithic Europe [1], very little information exists on the daily dietary habits of our ancestors. By undertaking a complementary -omics approach combined with microscopy, we analyzed the stomach content of the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old European glacier mummy [2, 3]. He seems to have had a remarkably high proportion of fat in his diet, supplemented with fresh or dried wild meat, cereals, and traces of toxic bracken. Our multipronged approach provides unprecedented analytical depth, deciphering the nutritional habit, meal composition, and food-processing methods of this Copper Age individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Maixner
- Eurac Research - Institute for Mummy Studies, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Dmitrij Turaev
- CUBE - Division of Computational Systems Biology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Amaury Cazenave-Gassiot
- SLING, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Marek Janko
- Institute of Materials Science, Physics of Surfaces, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 2, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany; Center of Smart Interfaces, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ben Krause-Kyora
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Rosalind-Franklin-Str. 12, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Michael R Hoopmann
- Institute for Systems Biology, 401 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Ulrike Kusebauch
- Institute for Systems Biology, 401 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Mark Sartain
- Institute for Systems Biology, 401 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Gea Guerriero
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Niall O'Sullivan
- Eurac Research - Institute for Mummy Studies, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Matthew Teasdale
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Giovanna Cipollini
- Eurac Research - Institute for Mummy Studies, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alice Paladin
- Eurac Research - Institute for Mummy Studies, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Valeria Mattiangeli
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Marco Samadelli
- Eurac Research - Institute for Mummy Studies, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Umberto Tecchiati
- Responsabile del Laboratorio di Archeozoologia della Soprintendenza Provinciale ai Beni culturali di Bolzano - Alto Adige, Ufficio Beni archeologica, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Andreas Putzer
- South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, Museumstrasse 43, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Mine Palazoglu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - John Meissen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sandra Lösch
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Sulgenauweg 40, 3007 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Rausch
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Strasse 2, D-24306, Plön, Germany
| | - John F Baines
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Strasse 2, D-24306, Plön, Germany
| | - Bum Jin Kim
- Cancer Research Institute & Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Hyun-Joo An
- Cancer Research Institute & Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Paul Gostner
- Department of Radiodiagnostics, Central Hospital Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Eduard Egarter-Vigl
- Scuola Superiore Sanitaria Provinciale "Claudiana," Via Lorenz Böhler 13, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Peter Malfertheiner
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Infectious Diseases, Otto-von-Guericke University, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Keller
- Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Medical Faculty, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Robert W Stark
- Institute of Materials Science, Physics of Surfaces, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 2, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany; Center of Smart Interfaces, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Markus Wenk
- SLING, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Bishop
- Elemental Bio-imaging Facility, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| | - Daniel G Bradley
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Oliver Fiehn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology & Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Lars Engstrand
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Robert L Moritz
- Institute for Systems Biology, 401 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Philip Doble
- Elemental Bio-imaging Facility, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| | - Andre Franke
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Rosalind-Franklin-Str. 12, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Almut Nebel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University, Rosalind-Franklin-Str. 12, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Klaus Oeggl
- Institute of Botany, Sternwartestrasse 15, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Thomas Rattei
- CUBE - Division of Computational Systems Biology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Grimm
- Agilent Technologies, 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95051, USA
| | - Albert Zink
- Eurac Research - Institute for Mummy Studies, Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
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11
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Münster A, Knipper C, Oelze VM, Nicklisch N, Stecher M, Schlenker B, Ganslmeier R, Fragata M, Friederich S, Dresely V, Hubensack V, Brandt G, Döhle HJ, Vach W, Schwarz R, Metzner-Nebelsick C, Meller H, Alt KW. 4000 years of human dietary evolution in central Germany, from the first farmers to the first elites. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194862. [PMID: 29584767 PMCID: PMC5870995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigation of human diet during the Neolithic has often been limited to a few archaeological cultures or single sites. In order to provide insight into the development of human food consumption and husbandry strategies, our study explores bone collagen carbon and nitrogen isotope data from 466 human and 105 faunal individuals from 26 sites in central Germany. It is the most extensive data set to date from an enclosed geographic microregion, covering 4,000 years of agricultural history from the Early Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. The animal data show that a variety of pastures and dietary resources were explored, but that these changed remarkably little over time. In the human δ15N however we found a significant increase with time across the different archaeological cultures. This trend could be observed in all time periods and archaeological cultures (Bell Beaker phenomenon excluded), even on continuously populated sites. Since there was no such trend in faunal isotope values, we were able largely to exclude manuring as the cause of this effect. Based on the rich interdisciplinary data from this region and archaeological period we can argue that meat consumption increased with the increasing duration of farming subsistence. In δ13C, we could not observe any clear increasing or decreasing trends during the archaeological time periods, either for humans or for animals, which would have suggested significant changes in the environment and landscape use. We discovered sex-related dietary differences, with males of all archaeological periods having higher δ15N values than females, and an age-related increasing consumption of animal protein. An initial decrease of δ15N-values at the age of 1–2 years reveals partial weaning, while complete weaning took place at the age of 3–4 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Münster
- Institute of Anthropology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- * E-mail: (AM); (KWA)
| | - Corina Knipper
- Curt-Engelhorn-Centre for Archaeometry gGmbH, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Vicky M. Oelze
- Anthropology Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Nicole Nicklisch
- Center of Natural and Cultural History of Man, Danube Private University (DPU), Krems-Stein, Austria
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt/State Museum of Prehistory, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Marcus Stecher
- Institute of Anthropology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Björn Schlenker
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt/State Museum of Prehistory, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Robert Ganslmeier
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt/State Museum of Prehistory, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | | | - Susanne Friederich
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt/State Museum of Prehistory, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Veit Dresely
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt/State Museum of Prehistory, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Vera Hubensack
- State Office for Heritage Management, Saxony, Dresden, Germany
| | - Guido Brandt
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Hans-Jürgen Döhle
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt/State Museum of Prehistory, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Werner Vach
- Clinical Epidemiology Group, Center for Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Schwarz
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt/State Museum of Prehistory, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Carola Metzner-Nebelsick
- Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology and Provincial Roman Archaeology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Harald Meller
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt/State Museum of Prehistory, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Kurt W. Alt
- Center of Natural and Cultural History of Man, Danube Private University (DPU), Krems-Stein, Austria
- State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, Saxony-Anhalt/State Museum of Prehistory, Halle/Saale, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science, Basel University, Basel, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (AM); (KWA)
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12
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Kolawole KA, Folayan MO, Agbaje HO, Oyedele TA, Oziegbe EO, Onyejaka NK, Chukwumah NM, Oshomoji OV. Digit Sucking Habit and Association with Dental Caries and Oral Hygiene Status of Children Aged 6 Months to 12 Years Resident in Semi-Urban Nigeria. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148322. [PMID: 26890262 PMCID: PMC4758693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Non-nutritive sucking (NNS) is a common behavior in childhood. The association between digit sucking, dental caries and oral health has been studied with inconclusive results. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of, and the association between digit sucking, caries and oral hygiene status of children age six months to 12 years, resident in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State. Data were collected through a household survey using a multi-stage sampling procedure from children between six months and 12 years. Details of each child’s socio-demographic characteristics, digit sucking habits, caries status and oral health status were collected. The association between digit sucking, caries status and oral hygiene status was determined using Chi square and Logistic regression. Results The mean age of the 992 study participants was 5.8 ± (3.2) years. The prevalence of digit sucking, caries and poor oral hygiene were 7.2%, 10.5% and 2.4% respectively. The mean dmft score was 0.22 ± (0.80), mean DMFT score was 0.04 ± (0.30) while mean Oral Hygiene Index score was 1.27 ± (0.73). Digit sucking increased the odds of having caries (OR: 1.28; CI: 0.58–2.81) but decreased the odds of having poor oral hygiene (OR: 0.58; CI: 0.34–1.01) insignificantly. Conclusions Digit sucking was not a significant predictor of caries and oral hygiene status, although the odds of having caries increased while the odds of having poor oral hygiene decreased with digit sucking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kikelomo Adebanke Kolawole
- Department of Child Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
- * E-mail: ;
| | - Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan
- Department of Child Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Hakeem Olatunde Agbaje
- Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Titus Ayodeji Oyedele
- Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Elizabeth Obhioneh Oziegbe
- Department of Child Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Nneka Kate Onyejaka
- Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Nneka Maureen Chukwumah
- Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Olusegun Victor Oshomoji
- Department of Child Dental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
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13
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Analysis of human dentition from Early Bronze Age: 4000-year-old puzzle. Odontology 2015; 105:13-22. [PMID: 26582188 DOI: 10.1007/s10266-015-0220-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents the first ever paleodontological investigation of human remains from an archeological site in Central Europe dating from the Early Bronze Age and attributed to the Strzyzow Culture. It corroborates the knowledge gained from archeological, anthropological and genetical investigations. Our study aimed to assess dental status, dental morphology and dental pathologies as well as tooth wear and enamel hypoplasia based on visual inspection and stereomicroscopic investigation. The research was supported by CBCT imaging to obtain digital images and 3D reconstructions as well as 2D radiographs essential for dental age estimation. All of the 191 teeth discovered showed morphological similarity, with adult teeth showing similar color, shape and size. A maxillary molar presenting with a unique root morphology and a mandibular molar with a rare occlusal surface were found. Both permanent and deciduous dentition presented significant tooth wear. A few specimens displayed signs of dental caries, periapical pathology and antemortem tooth loss. Three individuals exhibited linear enamel hypoplasia. CBCT provided high-quality 2D images useful for dental age estimation by non-destructive methods. Estimated dental age correlated with the age estimated by other anthropological methods. In one case, this was crucial because of insufficient material for anthropological analysis. The presented studies have proved that besides the skeleton, teeth can be used as a fundamental tool in assessing the overall health and living conditions of paleopopulations. It would seem that there is potential for considerable development to be made in the research and investigation of paleodontological material using CBCT.
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