Making sense of medieval mouths: Investigating sex differences of dental pathological lesions in a late medieval Italian community

Abstract

Objectives: Bioarchaeological investigations of sex-based differences in the prevalence of dental pathological lesions, particularly caries, have drawn considerable attention, and out of this work, two dominant models have emerged. Traditionally, the first model interprets sex-related patterns in caries as a product of gendered differences in diet. A more recent model interprets a generally higher propensity for caries prevalence in females in light of reproductive ecology. To test the hypothesis that females have higher risk of caries in accordance with reproductive ecology, we examined and analyzed caries prevalence and other potentially synergistic oral pathological lesions in a late medieval (A.D. 1300-1500) Italian archaeological sample.Materials and methods: We examined sex-and age-related prevalence in caries and other oral pathological lesions in a late medieval Italian skeletal assemblage excavated from Villamagna consisting of 38 females and 37 males (n = 1,534 teeth). We examined age-and sex-related patterns in six dental traits: antemortem tooth loss, caries, calculus, periapical inflammation, tooth wear, and periodontitis.Results: Significant age-related increases in antemortem tooth loss, caries, calculus, and tooth wear were observed in both males and females. However, there was a lack of expected sex differences in oral pathological lesions, with instead older males exhibiting significantly more antemortem tooth loss and corrected caries than females.Discussion: Results are discussed in relation to the ethnohistoric context of medieval rural dietary practices as well as biomedical salivary literature, which suggest that dietary changes throughout the life course may have facilitated trade-offs that buffered females from higher rates of dental pathological lesions. K E Y W O R D Sbioarchaeology, caries, dental anthropology, reproductive ecology, saliva

Economic access influences degenerative spine disease outcomes at rural Late Medieval Villamagna (Lazio,IT)

“…Unlike many other published sites from this period, there is no evidence that an epidemic of Yersinia (Black Death) affected the site (Agarwal, Beauchesne, Kinkopf, & Trombley, 2015; Goodson, 2016). Recent bioarchaeological research at Villamagna suggests that oral health indicators had complex patterning with relation to age and sex (Trombley et al, 2019).…”

“…Morphological sex was estimated based on observation of the os coxae and cranial morphology (Acsádi & Nemeskéri, 1970; Brothwell, 1981; Buikstra & Ubelaker, 1994; see Trombley et al, 2019 for further discussion of sex estimation at Villamagna). Adult age was estimated using multiple standard morphological indicators from the pubic symphysis (Brooks & Suchey, 1990) and auricular surface (Lovejoy, Meindl, Pryzbeck, & Mensforth, 1985); these were corroborated by examination of the sternal end of the rib when possible (İşcan, Loth, & Wright, 1984, 1985).…”

“…Location of Villamagna (star) in Lazio, Italy Source: Adapted from Trombley et al, 2019; Goodson based on Ancient World Mapping Center, http://awmc.unc.edu/awmc/applications/alacarte/ …”

“…In order to assess the probability of severe disease outcome after exposure to the effects of a given risk variable (i.e., less economic access) compared to the probability of severe disease outcome in our unexposed group (i.e., more economic access) we employed relative risk ratios (Andrade, 2015; see also Trombley et al, 2019 for further discussion of relative risk ratios in bioarchaeology). Relative risk is expressed as a ratio value and is estimated based on the absolute risk given exposure divided by the absolute risk in the unexposed (control) group.…”

“…F I G U R E 1 Location of Villamagna (star) in Lazio, Italy Source: Adapted from Trombley et al, 2019; Goodson based on Ancient World Mapping Center, http://awmc.unc.edu/awmc/ applications/alacarte/ Adult age was estimated using multiple standard morphological indicators from the pubic symphysis (Brooks & Suchey, 1990) and auricular surface (Lovejoy, Meindl, Pryzbeck, & Mensforth, 1985); these were corroborated by examination of the sternal end of the rib when possi- Loth, & Wright, 1984. We categorized individuals using three conservative age groups: 18-29 years (young adult), 30-49 years (middle adult), and 50+ years (older adult) to remedy the issue of precise aging in skeletal assemblages without documentary records of age (Jackes, 2000).…”