Abstract
This study tests the hypothesis that thearrival of Europeans in Jamestown, Virginia, hada negative impact on the dental health of nativepopulations in the Chesapeake Bay. Data werecollected on three variables—dental caries, periapicallesions, and antemortem tooth loss—in a sample of 644individuals from four prehistoric (n = 500) and twocontact era ossuaries (n = 144) from the Potomac Creeksite in Virginia (44ST2). Statistical analysis reveals atrend of declining dental health for the post-contactsample (chi-square; P<0.05). The temporally latestossuary had the highest prevalence of all indicators.There is also a trend toward poor dental health forfemales relative to males. In particular, females havea higher prevalence of carious lesions and antemortemtooth loss than males. Sex differences in dental healthprobably correspond to sex-based differences in foodproduction and preparation in this setting, sincefemales likely ate more cariogenic foods. Multiplefactors likely explain the general pattern of decline indental health, including: (1) a change in diet involvinggreater consumption of carbohydrates, (2) increasedexposure to infectious pathogens, (3) warfare andother forms of conflict, (4) strain on resources, and(5) increased population density.
Publisher
Dental Anthropology Association
Cited by
1 articles.
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