Deciduous enamel 3D microwear texture analysis as an indicator of childhood diet in medieval Canterbury, England. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mahoney, Patrick; Schmidt, Christopher W.; Deter, Chris; Remy, Ashley; Slavin, Philip; Johns, Sarah E.; Miszkiewicz, Justyna J.; Nystrom, Pia
• Is Part Of: Journal of archaeological science. Volume 66(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 128
• Page End: 136
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: Dental microwear -- Medieval childhood diet; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archéologie -- Périodiques; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2016.01.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-4403

Abstract

Abstract: This study conducted the first three dimensional microwear texture analysis of human deciduous teeth to reconstruct the physical properties of medieval childhood diet (age 1–8yrs) at St Gregory's Priory and Cemetery (11th to 16th century AD) in Canterbury, England. Occlusal texture complexity surfaces of maxillary molars from juvenile skeletons ( n = 44) were examined to assess dietary hardness. Anisotropy values were calculated to reconstruct dietary toughness, as well as jaw movements during chewing. Evidence of weaning was sought, and variation in the physical properties of food was assessed against age and socio-economic status. Results indicate that weaning had already commenced in the youngest children. Diet became tougher from four years of age, and harder from age six. Variation in microwear texture surfaces was related to historical textual evidence that refers to lifestyle developments for these age groups. Diet did not vary with socio-economic status, which differs to previously reported patterns for adults. We conclude, microwear texture analyses can provide a non-destructive tool for revealing subtle aspects of childhood diet in the past. Highlights: We conducted the first 3D microwear texture analysis of human deciduous teeth. Texture surfaces of deciduous teeth from children aged one to eight years from Medieval Canterbury were analysed. Diet became significantly tougher from age four, and significantly harder from age six. Experimental abrasion of deciduous and permanent tooth enamel reveals similar microwear texture surfaces.