A Bioarchaeological Assessment of Diet and Dental Health During the New Kingdom/Napatan Transition in Ancient Nubia (Tombos, Sudan)

Summary

Nubia, once colonized by the Egyptian Empire during the New Kingdom Period (ca. 1550-1070 BCE), became increasingly independent and powerful with the rise of the Napatan State during the Third Intermediate and Napatan Periods (ca. 1070-664 BCE). This research addresses the social impacts of the New Kingdom/Napatan political and economic transition via the bioarchaeological examination of diet (carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis) and dental health (ante-mortem tooth loss, caries). We focus on skeletal remains from the archaeological site of Tombos due to the unique cultural and geopolitical positioning at the Third Cataract of the Nile River, but also make comparisons with other Nubian populations.

The assessment of dental health (n=66) suggests a decrease in negative health indicators between the New Kingdom and Napatan Periods, indicating an improvement in overall health. Dietary reconstruction at Tombos is less conclusive; tentatively, the local Tombos diet does not appear to have changed substantially between the two periods (n=11); however, further testing is necessary. In conclusion, the local Tombos population appears to have maintained similar dietary habits and good health during the New Kingdom/Napatan transition.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

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