Life history reconstruction by dental enamel analysis of the medieval population (8th–10th Century AD) of Gevensleben (Lower Saxony, Germany)

Abstract

Accentuated lines (AL) are microscopic bands or lines in tooth enamel that indicate disruptions in enamel formation, which can be caused by various environmental factors such as stress, illnesses, or malnutrition. These lines can provide valuable insight into timing and duration of these stressors. The Gevensleben site (Lower Saxony, Germany, 8th–10th Century AD) provides an opportunity to gain insight into the early life history of a rural medieval population. 27 permanent teeth from 10 individuals were cut into histological thin sections for quantitative analyses of the Daily Secretion Rate (DSR) and a chronology of Accentuated Lines (AL). In addition, analyses by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed that both tooth structure and composition of the dental enamel remained unchanged since burial. The comparison of the DSR with other populations during the Middle Ages enabled the classification of the Gevensleben population. The distribution of AL prevalence showed three periods with higher stress levels, with the first maximum at 7–10 months of age, followed by a second maximum at 32–38 months of age, and finally, a high stress prevalence at 98–106 months of age. These were attributed to developmental periods and external stress influences.