title: Mechanical and chemical dental wear in historical population from the Syrian lower Euphrates valley.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was a comprehensive macro- and microanalysis of dental wear observed in the populations inhabiting the Syrian lower Euphrates valley. We may assume that social changes have had an important impact on the dietetic and hygienic habits of the local population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six periods were chosen: Early Bronze (2650-2350 BC), Middle Bronze (2200-1700 BC), Neo-Assyrian (900-700 BC), late Roman (AD 200-400), Islamic (AD 600-1200), and modern Islamic (AD 1850-1950). The dental remains belong to 196 individuals, with a total of 3292 teeth. Mechanical dental wear was evaluated according to Smith's and Shykoluk & Lovell's scale. Also, SEM technique was used to select teeth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals from both Bronze Ages were characterized by a large percentage of severe dental wear, contrary to the younger chronological periods. The rate of dental wear slowed down from the Middle Bronze Age. The frequency of deep scratches, punctures, and pits successively decreased with younger periods, while striae became more frequent. The highest number of teeth diagnosed with erosive loss was from the Neo-Assyrian period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the Early and Middle Bronze Ages the diet was rather hard and more contaminated. The diet in the Neo-Assyrian period was rich in products lowering the pH in the oral cavity. The frequency of dental erosion in two consecutive periods--Islamic and late Roman--took place at a similar level. Thus similar alimentary habits in these periods can be suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Anthropology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, ul. Wóycickiego 1/3, 01-938 Warszawa, Poland. Electronic address: jaktom@post.pl.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Hazard Prevention and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Banacha 1a, 02-091 Warszawa, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zalewska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000266:history*; D005260:Female; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D010161:Paleodontology / Q000379:methods; D012922:Social Change; D013593:Syria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014070:Tooth / Q000473:pathology; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology; D057085:Tooth Wear / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Dental wear; Erosion; Near East