Histological enamel indicator of childhood stress in prehistoric skeletal samples

Abstract

Although previous paleopathological studies have used disturbances in enamel formation as indicators of childhood stress, the full potential of this technique has not been realized. This paper presents a test case which demonstrates that the frequency of disturbed enamel formation (i.e., Wilson bands) is associated with other stress indicators (i.e., probability of dying and infectious lesions) in three prehistoric skeletal samples representing the Middle Woodland (10.3%), Mississippian Acculturated Late Woodland (21.4%), and the Middle Mississippian (40.0%). Additionally, the mean ages at death of individuals with at least one Wilson band are lower than those without bands. These results suggest that Wilson bands are an indicator of the relative proportion of individuals who are high susceptibles in prehistoric populations. The data also corroborate the hypothesis that the adoption of maize agriculture in the prehistoric American Midwest is associated with increased stress.

Gestation Length, Mode of Delivery, and Neonatal Line-Thickness Variation

“…Fatina includes a whole of 250 exfoliated primary teeth from 225 healthy children, most of European (Italian) origin, aged 6-10 years, sampled in 1996-97 in four primary schools of Rome ("Agatarco", "C. Corradi", "C. Forlanini", "Pirgotele"). The realization of this collection has been conceived and set by the Section of Anthropology of the National Prehistoric Ethnographic "L. Pigorini" Museum, Rome, with the specific aim to create a modern reference record based on controlled and standardized histological sections to be used in paleobiological studies dealing with tooth microstructural growth markers and infant health assessment (e.g., Antoine et al 2009;Dean 2006;FitzGerald and Rose 2000;FitzGerald et al 1999FitzGerald et al , 2006Geusa et al 1999;Goodman and Rose 1990;Levine et al 1979;Rose 1979;Rose et al 1978;Rossi et al 1999;Shellis 1984).In agreement with the school authorities, on voluntary basis, the parents of the children available to provide for invasive analysis at least one exfoliated tooth from their primary dentition have been requested to fill an anonymous information form about the original "owner" of the specimen and his/her mother. In the forms, basic questions concerned: sex, gestational age, delivery mode, weight and length at birth, health problems occurred during pregnancy and/or along the first six months after birth, lactation, weaning time.…”

Mecanismos de atención materno infantiles en dos contextos comparativos: México-Beijing

“…The time of the defect formation, based on its location, was not estimated. However, the complete formation of permanent canines and incisors occurs between 1 and 6 years old (Reid and Dean, 2006), suggesting that the LEH in this skeletal sample can be regarded as a non-specific indicator of disease in infancy and early childhood (Rose et al, 1978). Weaning age occurs within this time-frame (1 to 6 years old) and represents a period of vulnerability for infants because they stop receiving antibodies from their mothers through breastfeeding and start new diets (Goodman and Armelagos, 1989;McDade, 2003;Lewis, 2007).…”

Paleohistology and the study of human remains: past, present and future approaches

“…Microscopic examination of linear enamel defects, such as Wilson bands, is also an important tool for understanding the physiological mechanisms responsible for growth disruptions during dental development (e.g. Rose, 1977;Rose et al, 1978;Marks and Rose, 1985;Goodman and Rose, 1990;King et al, 2005;Witzel et al, 2008).…”