Ancient teeth are buried treasures of Iron Age secrets
Teeth are considered accurate biological records, preserving evidence of the health, diet, and stresses a person has experienced throughout their life. According to what was published on the "SciTechDaily" website, citing the journal "PLOS One," teeth reveal much more than just age or appearance. In a recent study, researchers reported that dental remains from Iron Age Italy preserve detailed evidence of how people grew, what they ate, and how their bodies responded to the challenges of early life. The research, led by Roberto Germano of Sapienza University of Rome, focuses on individuals who lived more than 2,500 years ago.
Teeth are a rare exception
Reconstructing daily life in ancient societies is challenging because most biological evidence disappears long after death. Teeth are a rare exception. Once formed, tooth tissue does not regenerate, allowing them to permanently record developmental disturbances and long-term dietary habits. Using a combination of microscopic and chemical techniques, the research team examined teeth from the Iron Age archaeological site of Pontecagnano, specifically from the 7th and 6th centuries BC, to explore child development and adult lifestyle patterns.
Childhood stress
The study analyzed the growth patterns of 30 teeth from ten individuals, focusing on the differences between canines and molars. These comparisons helped researchers reconstruct growth trajectories during the first six years of life. Subtle indicators in dental tissues point to short periods of stress occurring around the age of one, and again around the age of four. These periods often coincide with major dietary and behavioral shifts in early childhood. These changes can increase susceptibility to infections and nutritional stress, leaving lasting effects on tooth structure.
Grains, legumes and carbohydrates
Evidence of the adults' diets came from an analysis of dental plaque, also known as tartar, which can trap microscopic food particles throughout a lifetime. The samples contained remnants of grains, legumes, carbohydrate-rich plants, and fermented foods. A varied diet Taken together, these findings point to a diverse and complementary diet within the broader Mediterranean food tradition. Previous research has linked this dietary diversity to increased trade and cultural exchange, and the new evidence from dental examinations provides direct biological support for these interpretations.
History of the lives of the ancients
The new study provides the first histological data from the Iron Age community of Pontecagnano, and demonstrates the potential for pooled dental analyses to provide detailed insights into the life history of ancient peoples. Given the small number of individuals analyzed, the results of this study should not be interpreted as representative of the general population, but rather as detailed insights into the life histories of individuals. The researchers believe that future studies involving larger samples and additional techniques, such as isotopic analysis, will significantly improve our understanding of ancient societies.
Environmental and social challenges
Roberto Germano adds that examining the teeth of the Iron Age inhabitants of Pontecagnano has opened a unique window into their lives: it has been possible to trace their growth and health in childhood with remarkable accuracy, and to identify traces of grains, pulses and fermented foods in adulthood, revealing how this society adapted to environmental and social challenges.
The histological structure of teeth
Alicia Nava stated, "Studying the histological structure of deciduous and permanent teeth in individuals found in ancient cemeteries allows us to move beyond a narrow focus on the period immediately following their death and sheds light on each individual's life during their early years. This approach, along with other modern methods, represents a significant technological and disciplinary advance that is revolutionizing the study of the biological and cultural adaptations of ancient populations." (
Fermented Foods and Beverages)
Emanuela Cristiani explains that "in the case of Pontecagnano, analysis of dental plaque revealed starch granules from grains and legumes, yeast spores, and plant fibers, providing a very clear picture of the diet and some of the daily activities of these Iron Age societies, and offering strong evidence of the regular consumption of fermented foods and beverages."
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