Social strata and oral pathologies: A comparative study in two co-localized, temporally disjunct burial sites of ancient Egypt

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jds.2024.01.010
• Publication Date: 2024-02-06T06:17:12Z
• Authors: Roger Seiler; Myriam Seco Álvarez; Frank Rühli; Patrick Eppenberger
• Keywords: Interdental consonant; Cementoenamel junction; Paleopathology

Oral pathologies in ancient human remains provide a unique glimpse into the lifestyles, health, and societal norms of past civilizations, including Egypt. However, comprehensive paleo-odontological studies accounting for temporal sociodemographic variations remain scarce. We address this gap by analyzing oral 68 57 adult individuals, respectively, unearthed from two adjacent yet temporally socioeconomically diverse burial sites, representing XIth dynasty (2160–1985 BCE) XXVth-XXVIth dynasties (948–525 BCE), at Luxor's Thutmose III Funerary Temple. examined dental wear, carious periapical lesions, periodontal disease, temporomandibular joint alterations, hypothesizing that wear correlates with age, lifestyle, diet. also postulated link between higher caries frequency elevated social status posited enhanced efficacy evaluating interdental septa over measuring alveolar bone-cementoenamel junction distance periodontitis assessment. Our findings confirm pronounced both showing more severe indicating differing dietary habits. While similar across younger age groups, later showed significantly than dynasty, older groups. Furthermore, our results underscore superior accuracy disease Variations sociodemographic, trends studied deepen understanding health trajectories. Additionally, methodology emphasizes paleo-odontology's vital role deciphering nuanced health-environment relationship societies, laying foundation subsequent investigations.