Tooth Tales from Lima: Pre-Columbian Dental Health along the Central Coast of Peru.

Summary

Changes in political, economic and social organisation may affect diet and access to resources, and consequently dental health. This study aimed to assess the dental health of two populations from Peru and to establish differences over time. Caries, Linear Enamel Hypoplasia (LEH), ante-mortem tooth loss (AMTL), and calculus were recorded for Tablada de Lurín (TL; 1 AD – 200 AD) and for Pueblo Viejo (PV; 1476 AD – 1534 AD). Frequencies were examined in order to assess sex and inter- population differences. The data was compared to earlier research. Seventy-three individuals from TL and 39 individuals from PV were selected. Results show no significant inter-sex or inter-population differences in LEH and calculus frequencies. Significantly higher caries frequencies in PV can be attributed to higher female frequencies. Female AMTL rates were higher than males’ for both series. AMTL was lower in PV. Differences in caries and AMTL between the sexes of both series can be attributed to differences in foodstuff consumption and to biological differences. The caries frequencies in PV are consistent with maize availability under Inca rule. Results show that socio-political change can impact on dental health over time. However, this impact can be variable between contemporaneous populations.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

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