Enamel Hypoplasias as Indicators of Stress in Three Prehistoric Populations from Illinois

Document Type

Article

Authors

Alan H. Goodman, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
George J. Armelagos, University of Masachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
Jerome C. Rose, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Abstract

Enamel hypoplasias, deficiencies of enamel thickness resulting from systemic growth disturbances, were used as indicators of previous growth disruptions and stress in a sample of 111 adults from the Dickson Mound archaeological population, Lewiston, Illinois (A.D. 950-1300). The distance of hypoplasias from cemento- enamel junctions determines the age at which stresses occurred. Simultaneous occurrences of hypoplasias on different teeth of the same adult provide a “memory” of systemic growth disruption and stress which occurred between birth and age seven. This method provides an indicator of the teeth most susceptible to growth disruption. The number of individuals with one or more growth disruptions-hypoplasias increased significantly (p < .01) between the Late Woodland (45%), the Mississippi Acculturated Late Woodland (60%) and the Middle Mississippi periods (80%). No significant differences in the frequency of growth disruptions were found between males and females. The occurrence of hypoplasia at yearly intervals is presented as evidence of an annual cycle of stress. The increase in growth disruption-hypoplasias over time is probably related to an increased reliance on maize agriculture.

Recommended Citation

Goodman, Alan H.; Armelagos, George J.; and Rose, Jerome C. (1980) "Enamel Hypoplasias as Indicators of Stress in Three Prehistoric Populations from Illinois," Human Biology: Vol. 52: Iss. 3, Article 14.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol52/iss3/14