Implications of tooth root hypercementosis in a Barbados slave skeletal collection

Abstract

A 17th- to 19th-century cemetery sample of 104 slaves from Newton Plantation (Barbados) shows uniquely high hypercementosis prevalence, as well as unexpectedly high and variable skeletal lead content. A variety of biological and archeological factors indicates that individuals with lower amounts of these anomalies (relative to age at death) were probably African-born, first-generation slaves. The hypercementosis is related to the progression of periodontal disease as assessed from alveolar bone. Although the hypercementosis is endemic in the Caribbean black population, it does not as yet have a clear explanation. We suggest the etiology might relate to chronic malnutrition involving periodic, seasonal rehabilitation.

Activity‐induced dental modification in holocene siberian hunter‐fisher‐gatherers

“…In addition, root resorption can be caused by local factors such as chronic infection of the area, eruptive forces on neighboring teeth, traumatic injury, and cysts or tumors; however, in no present instance was there any sign of disease or trauma to the area. Corruccini et al (1987) suggested that hypercementosis may be due in part to episodes of chronic malnutrition with periodic rehabilitation, a situation that may well have characterized the Shamanka II peoples. However, there is no evidence to indicate males experienced more malnutrition (i.e., sex‐based differences in isotopic indicators of diet or dental enamel defects), implying that the primary cause is activity‐based.…”

Effect of tooth size on the ageing and chronological distribution of enamel hypoplastic defects

“…Chronological distributions of hypoplastic defects have been produced for several dif-ferent prehistoric and historic populations (Blakey and Armelagos, 1985;Corruccini et al, 1985;Goodman et al, 1980;Hutchinson and Larsen, 1988;Schulz and McHenry, 1975). Characteristics of the distributions have been interpreted as evidence of behavioral practices, in particular the peak ageat-stress has been associated with weaning stress (Corruccini et al, 1985;Goodman et al, 1980).…”

“…Enamel hypoplasia, a developmental defect, has been used in recent anthropological studies as a non-specific indicator of stress (Blakey and Armelagos, 1985;Cook, 1981;Corruccini et al, 1985;Goodman et al, 1987). The defect, observed as a transverse groove or an array of pits, results from a reduction in the quantity of enamel matrix secreted (Messer, 1985;Shafer et al, 1983).…”

“…Characteristics of the distributions have been interpreted as evidence of behavioral practices, in particular the peak ageat-stress has been associated with weaning stress (Corruccini et al, 1985;Goodman et al, 1980). There are several assumptions underlying the estimation of age-at-stress of enamel hypoplasias, the validity of which are in need of examination before behavioral implications can be drawn from hypoplasia data.…”

“…In anthropological studies, enamel hypoplasias have been analyzed not only by comparing the frequency of individuals andl or teeth affected, but also by establishing chronologes of defect formation (Clarke, 1980;Corruccini et al, 1985;Goodman et al, 1980;Schulz and McHenry, 1975;Swardstedt, 1966). The location of the defect on the crown is used to determine the age of the individual at the time of the stress e isode.…”