A N N A L E S H I S T O R I C O - N A T U R A L E S M U S E I N A T I O N A L I S H U N G A R I C I Volume 91. Budapest, 1999 pp. 219-230.

Studies on oral pathology in the cemetery of Vörs-Papkert B, Western Hungary

I . SZIKOSSY

Department of Anthropology, Hungarian Natural History Museum H-I083 Budapest, Ludovika tér 2, Hungary

E-mail: szikossy@ant.nhrnus. hu

SziKOSSY, I . (1999): Studies on oral pathology in the cemetery of Vörs-Papkert B, Western Hun­gary. -Annls hist.-nat. Mus. natn. hung. 91: 219-230.

Abstract - Oral pathological investigations were carried out on the population of Vörs-Papkert B (Hungary). The cemetery was used from the 8th to the 11th centuries. The frequency of caries, pre­mortem loss of teeth and cyst/abscessus was studied. Higher incidence of caries was statistically significant with the females and in the older age groups. With 7 tables.

I N T R O D U C T I O N

The present paper is devoted to the analysis of odontological conditions of the popu­lation in a Medieval cemetery at Vörs (Western Hungary). The study o f oral pathology is one o f the most important areas of anthopology because it makes possible to draw in ­ferences from feeding habits, diet, l iv ing standards or even social stratification of histori­cal populations. Bad condition of teeth can be traced back to a lower degree of protein in ­take and worse economical and social status.

It was LENHOSSÉK (1917) who first published data on oral pathological conditions of the Hungarian population from the Middle Ages. His examinations on the frequency of caries can be considered as a basis of subsequent caries research. BRUSZT (1952) examined caries 1000 skulls from 35 sites. HUSZÁR & SCHRANZ (1952) published a com­prehensive evaluation o f caries data from cemeteries o f Transdanubia. Their data range from the late Neolithic to Modern Times, including a number of data from the Middle Ages. TÓTH (1966) evaluated five series of the Árpádian Age from the South-Eastern part o f the Great Hungarian Plain. Correlations between oral pathological symptoms and social status were first published by FRAYER (1984). Having evaluated the material of two cemeteries of North-Eastern Hungary (Tiszafüred and Szabolcs), PAP (1986) found correlations of way of live, diet, hygienic and social status as well as premortem loss of teeth, caries and other lesions.

M A T E R I A L A N D M E T H O D S

The area investigated was the archeological site at Papkert, west of Vörs (Somogy County, Western Hungary). The Medieval settlement Vörs-Papkert A and the adjoining cemetery Vörs-Pap­kert B are situated on two low hills 800 m far from one another. Since the site was discovered in 1983, an area of 7000 m" was excavated in Vörs-Papkert B. Remains of the Neolithic and Middle Copper Age settlements, graves of the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, Celtic houses, an Early Me­dieval cemetery, Árpádian and Late Medieval settlements were found there. Burials were continu­ous from 8—9th to 11th century on the hill which was probably surrounded by marshland at that time. By 1993, a total of 682 graves were dug up. Owing to the low number of superposed burials or the loss of gravegoods the determination of an exact sequence was possible only for a small pro­portion of the graves. The majority of the graves was looted. According to KÖLTŐ & SZENTPÉTERI (1990) and KÖLTŐ et al. (1992) the robbery happened when the cemetery was no longer in continu­ous use. The time of robbery cannot be precisely determined but it is quite probable that the ce­metery was already out of use when the Middle Medieval village of Vörs was set up in the age of King Béla III (1172-1196).

On the basis of comparative analysis of gravegoods the group of the late Avar period proved to be the most numerous. Individuals from the first 544 graves were examined. Of them, 178 indi­viduals were of relatively good state. Age of adults was estimated from the ossification degrees of the endocranial surfaces of cranial sutures (FARKAS 1972) and those of the ectocranial surfaces (MEINDL & LOVEJOY 1985). Ageing by postcranial elements of adults was made from the structural changes of substantia spongiosa in the distal epiphyses of humerus and femur as well as from changes of the symphyseal face of the pubis (NEMESKÉRI et al. 1960). Age of children was esti­mated by the sequence of eruption of deciduous and permanent teeth and by the length of bones. Age groups were classified according to MARTIN-SALLER'S categories (MARTIN & SALLER 1957). Sexing was carried out on the basis of sexually dimorphic features of the cranium and the postcra­nial bones (ÉRY el al. 1963).

Twelve of the 178 skeletons were incomplete or in bad condition so their sex and/or age were impossible to estimate. The distribution of age groups and sex among the remaining 166 specimens is summarized in Table 1. It is evident that mortality is the highest in the category of maturus males. Adult females also presented high values, probably because of the high number of perinatal deceases. When compared with other groups, the mortality rate is high in the children group of 0-7 years. It can be explained by the infantile diseases which frequently resulted in death in the Middle Ages.

Oral pathologies were scored by visual inspection under artificial light. The dental lesions were surveyed with probe, excavator and magnifier. All skulls were individually recorded on an examination sheet. The teeth of the maxilla and mandibula were examined separately but these were not taken into account in the present study. Existing as well as premortem and postmortem lost teeth were recorded. It should be noted that premortem or postmortem status could not be al­ways decided with certainty, e.g. because of missing parts of the maxilla or a tooth lost immediate­ly before death, etc. This fact may affect the results. The place of the caries on the carious teeth was indicated. Only those cases were considered caries where the apex of the probe got caught in the enamel. Recognition of caries and premortem loss of teeth was made according to ORTNER & PUT-CHAR (1981). Remaining radices were also recorded with distinction of completely abraded teeth and those caused by caries with full crown destruction. Radicular cavities caused by cyst or ab scessus as results of dental and alveolar diseases were recorded as well. These cavities are evolved by histolytic effect of puss (abscessus) or pressure of a cyst. Their origin cannot be ascertained in archeological series because of the lack of filling material. Therefore, the term cyst/abseessus will be used further on. Wisdom-teeth (M3) were included in the survey and evaluation. Dental attrition

was determined according to KÖRBER'S five-degree scale (FARKAS 1972). The number of teeth available for study as well as optimal number of teeth were desrcibed. Both adults and children were examined from odontological point of view but only adults were taken into account in the present evaluation.

Methodological problems have arisen during the evaluation of the examination data of ce­meteries. Methods used to explore living populations cannot be applied in all cases of historical na-terial. A lot of teeth are mislaid in the process of excavation but these cannot be omitted from the evaluation. To eliminate this problem, BRINCH & MÖLLER-CRISTENSEN (1949) introduced the ar­chaeological dental index (ADI). The larger is the value of ADI, the more representative is the sample in question. ADI = teeth visible/teeth present at the time of death x 100. The in vivo number of teeth can be obtained by extraction of number of premortem lost teeth from optimal number of teeth. A further problem arises from the determination of the optimal number of teeth. Many auth­ors give average numbers for the age groups, i.e. 28 for juveniles and 32 for adultus, maturus and senilis groups, while others omit wisdom-teeth from the evaluation. We have applied the method which seems to be the most appropriate: the optimal number of teeth was determined for every single skull, and i f this was impossible for certain reasons we used the average number typical for the age group. Premortem lost teeth are counted among the carious teeth by some researchers. This is acceptable in juveniles where the loss was caused most probably by caries. Premortem loss may have been caused by trauma as well, but this is usually accompanied by clearly visible traces of traumatic lesions on the jaws. In older groups, however, the loss may be caused by a number of other reasons too. HUSZÁR & SCHRANZ (1952) list four reasons: 1) caries, 2) trauma, 3) loosing, 4) abrasion opening the cavity of root. The probability of the two last-mentioned reasons is little with juveniles while it increases with aging. The dental hygienic status of a population can be charac­terized by the C E index. C E = (number of carious teeth + number of premortem lost teethVtotal sample. The C R E index proposed by HUSZÁR & SCHRANZ (1952) is another good indicator of the dental condition of a population. In this index, the number of caries ( C ) and radix ( R ) are compared to the number of teeth examined while the number of premortem lost teeth ( E ) is compared to the optimal number of teeth. Unfortunately, other authors have not used this index, so we disregarded it in Table 3. The age index proposed by BRINCH & MÖLLER-CHRISTENSEN (1949) was also calcu­lated, using average ages by HUSZÁR & SCHRANZ (1952) as follows: Juvenilis 18 years, Adultus 30 years, Maturus 50 years and Senilis 65 years. The two principal goals of the evaluation were 1 ) to determine the oral pathological conditions of the population at Vörs, and 2) to compare it with

Table 1. Distribution of age groups and sex of the 166 examined skeletons

Age groups Sex n %

Infans I . 20 12.05

Infans I I . 5 3.01

Juvenilis 13 7.83

Adultus female 29 17.47

Adultus male 10 6.02

Maturus female 22 13.25

Maturus male 40 24.10

Senilis female 12 7.23

Senilis male 15 9.04

Table 2. Distribution of age groups and sex of the 135 adult skeletons suitable for oral pathological examination

Age groups Sex n

Juvenilis 13

Adultus female 28

Adultus male 10

Maturus female 22

Maturus male 3 S

Senilis female 1 1

Senilis male 13

other Medieval series available. Chi-square test (p = 0.05) was used for establishing the significant difference of dental condition between males and females as well as the increase of dental lesions with age.

RESULTS

A total o f 166 skulls from the 178 graves of the cemetery Vörs-Papkert B were suit­able for oral pathological analysis. Only the adults were taken into consideration (25 in-dividulas were children). The distribution of the 135 adults by age and sex is shown in Table 2. The number o f optimal (erupted) teeth was 3804, the number of in vivo (i.e. present at decease) teeth was 3420, the number of teeth studied was 2572 (CE = 4.76, CRE = 20.32). Tables 3-7 contain the other data characterizing the population at Vörs . For comparison, available data of Medieval samples are also presented in the Tables 3-6. Table 7 summarizes the oral pathological results of the cemetery of Vörs.

DISCUSSION

Environmental factors affect human organism. These factors may increase or de­crease stress. The social system may balance the environmental effects but may add new factors increasing the effect of stress. According to G O O D M A N et al. (1984) the physio­logical differences can be explained by the failure of equalization of the environmental and cultural stress effects through the extraindividual systems. As a result, these effects are equalized by the host resistance. The physiological changes leave indicators in the skeletal elements. The well-detectable traces (stress indicators) include Harris-lines, ena­mel hypoplasia, enamel microdefects, porotic hyperostosis, infectious diseases, traumae, degenerations and pathological changes of dentition (caries, abscessus/cyst and premor­tem loss of teeth) ( M A R T I N et al. 1985).

A number of different factors play important roles in the formation o f caries. In 1890, M Ü L L E R already ascertained that acids produced by microorganisms of the mouth

Table 3. Com parison of the available samples based on oral pathological data

Sample No. of skulls No. of teeth ADI Age index Author studied studied

Zalavár-Kápolna, 11 .c. 84 996 - (45.0)** FRAYER (1984)

Zalavár-Vár, 9-11. c. 108 1859 - (48.7)** FRAYER (1984)

Tiszafüred, 11. c. 32 748 83.23 35.6 PAP (1986)

Szabolcs, 10-12. c. 43 976 83.00 35.4 PAP (1986)

Kérpuszta. U.c . <S2 - 50.00 - BRUSZT(1952)

Székesfehérvár 28 - 50.00 - BRUSZT(1952)

Jászdózsa 24 - 50.00 - BRUSZT(1952)

Árpádian Age 43+460* 741 1* 50.00 - BRUSZT(1952)

Árpádian Age 69+659* 650+9994* 51.63 40.7 HUSZÁR &

SCHRANZ (1952)

Árpádian Age 26+240 459+5203 75.00 - TÓTH (1966)

Fészerlak, 8. c. 54 1210 86.40 38.5 FÓTHI(1989)

Vörs, 8-1 I.e. 135 2572 75.20 43.96 SZIKOSSY (1999)

* With decidous teeth

** Average ages of adults

cavity promote development of caries ( B Á N Ó C Z Y 1988). The decomposition of carbohy­drates mainly by Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus mutans produces acidic materials. These promote the demineralization of the teeth. Several theories of caries have been known today. According to L U C A S - P O W E L L (1985), three main groups of fac­tors have a role in the cariogenesis: environmental factors microbial factors individual factors The environmental factors include the trace element contents of (Mg, Se, Pb, Cd, Si) the soil and water as well as coarse particles in the food that grind away the tooth sur­face. Wi th in the individual factors, exogenic and endogenic factors can be distinguished. According to several authors exogenic factors have a greater role in the development of caries. Food is such an exogenic factor. Food stuffs influence the condition of the teeth in two ways ( B Á N Ó C Z Y 1988): 1) Postresorptive (pre-eruptive) effect. I t functions until the eruption of teeth. Appropriate nutrition is therefore very important during pregnancy and infancy in the prevention of caries. 2) Preresorptive effect. I t means the effects of food to the teeth after eruption. Proteins and lipids protect the teeth against caries while carbo­hydrates are definitely cariogenic ( B Á N Ó C Z Y 1988). Mucoids of the saliva cover and pro­tect the teeth. When pH of the mouth cavity is below 5 the protective effect of the saliva ceases and dental plaque evolves as a result of sticking bacteria and food remains. The lytic activity of the bacteria decalcinate the teeth. Carbohydrates change pH of the saliva toward acidic while proteins toward alkaline. This is the reason why proteins protect the teeth and carbohydrates are cariogenic. Exogenic factors include frequency and way of food intake, consistency and preparation o f the meals, oral hygieny and the level of den-

Table 4. Distribution of individuals a fleeted by oral pathologies

Sample No. of skulls No. of skulls with No. of skulls with pre­ No. of skulls with studied caries (%) mortem lost teeth (%) cysts/abscessi (%)

Zalavár-Kápolna 84 50 (59.5) 61 (72.6) 51 (60.7)

Zalavár-Vár 108 46 (42.6) 42 (38.9) 36 (33.3)

Tiszafüred

Juvenilis 4 - - -Adultus 16 8 (50.0) 9 (56.3) 2 (12.5)

Maturus 12 11 (91.7) 9 (75.0) 3 (25.0)

Total 32 19(59.4) 18(56.3) 5 (15.6)

Szabolcs

Juvenilis 4 3 (75.0) - -Adultus 25 17(68.0) 15 (60.0) 4(16.0)

Maturus 14 10(71.4) 11 (78.6) 6 (42.9)

Total 43 30 (69.8) 26 (60.5) 10(23.0)

Árpádian Age

Juv.+Ad.+Mat. - (43.0) (16.0) -Avaragc - (42.9) (17.2) -Juvenilis 32 10(31.3) 2(6.3) -Adultus 97 33 (34.0) 16(16.5) -Maturus 83 41 (49.4) 31 (37.3) -Senilis 9 6 (66.7) 3 (33.3) -Juv.+Ad.+Mat. 212 84 (39.6) 49 (23.1) -Avarage 244 92 (37.7) 52(21.3) -

Fészerlak 54 34 (62.9) - 33 (61.1)

Vörs

Juvenilis 13 2(15.4) - -Adultus 38 23 (60.5) 17(44.7) 11 (28.9)

Maturus 60 47 (78.3) 47 (78.3) 34 (56.6)

Senilis 24 14(58.3) 18 (75.0) 9 (37.5)

Total 135 86 (63.7) 82 (60.7) 54 (40.0)

tal attrition. Endogenic factors include shape and anatomical conditions. Caries is in­itiated most frequently on the occlusal surface of the molars and on the interproximal sur­faces. The shape of the fissures on the occlusal surface promotes development o f caries as wel l (BÁNÓCZY 1988).

Table 5. Pathological data of the teeth studied (* in % of optimal teeth number)

Sample No. of teeth studied No. of carious No. of premortem No. of cysts/ teeth (%) lost teeth (%) abscessi (%)

Zalavár-Kápolna 996 120(12.1) 392 (39.4) 165 (16.6)

Zalavár-Vár 1859 118(6.4) 170(9.1) 85 (4.6)

Tiszafüred

Juvenilis 99 - - -Adultus 409 29 (7.1) 18(4.4) 2 (0.5)

Maturus 240 30(12.5) 64 (26.3) 5(2.1)

Total 748 59 (7.9) 81 (10.8) 7 (0.9)

Szabolcs

Juvenilis 103 4(3.9) - -Adultus 562 56(10.0) 62(11.0) 6(1.1) Maturus 311 29 (9.3) 53 (17.0) 10(3.2)

Total 976 89 (9.1) 115 (11.8) 16 (1.6)

Árpádian Age

Average - (5.6) (9.8) -Árpádian Age

Juvenilis - (1.1) (0.3)* -Adultus - (3.8) (1.9)* -Maturus - (6.7) (8.1)* -Senilis - (5.1)* (41.3)* -Juv.+Ad.+Mat. - (4.3) (13.2)* -Average - (3.9) (14.2)* -

Árpádian Age

Juvenilis - (2.4) (0.5)* -Adultus - (2.3) (2.0)* -Maturus - (6.1) (12.5)* -Senilis - (11.1) (34.0)* -Juv.+Ad.+Mat. - (3.7) (8.2)* -Average - (3.7) (6.8)* -

Fészerlak 1210 83 (6.9) 273 (22.6) 97 (8.0)

Vörs

Juvenilis 287 2 (0.7) - -Adultus 824 79 (9.6) 50 (6.1 ) 26 (3.2)

Maturus 1088 138(12.7) 213 (19.6) 65 (6.0)

Senilis 373 44(11.8) 121 (32.4) 15 (4.0) Total 2572 263 (10.2) 384(14.9) 106 (4.1)

Table 6. Number of carious teeth, premortem lost teeth and abscessi per individuals

Sample No. of carious teeth per individuals

No. of premortem lost teeth per individuals

No. of cysts/abscessi per individuals

Sample

* ** * ** * * * Zalavár-Kápolna 1.43 2.40 4.67 6.42 2.00 3.24

Zalavár-Vár 1.09 1.11 1.57 4.05 0.79 2.36

Tiszafüred

Juvenilis - - - - - -Adultus 1.81 3.63 1.13 2.00 0.13 2.00

Maturus 2.50 2.73 5.25 5.73 0.42 1.67

Total 1.84 3.11 2.53 4.50 0.22 1.40

Szabolcs

Juvenilis 1.00 1.33 - - - -Adultus 2.24 3.29 2.48 4.13 0.24 1.50

Maturus 2.07 2.90 3.79 4.82 0.71 1.67

Total 2.07 2.97 2.67 4.42 0.37 1.60

Árpádian Age

Juv.+Ad.+Mat. 0.3 - 1.2 - - -Average 0.8 - 1.4 - - -

Árpádian Age

Juvenilis 0.1 - 0.2 - - -Adultus 0.7 - 1.1 - -Maturus 0.8 - 3.9 - - -Senilis 0.3 - 14.6 - - -Juv.+Ad.+Mat. 0.6 - 2.1 - - -Average 0.5 - 1.8 - - -

Árpádian Age

Juvenilis 0.6 - 0.1 - - -Adultus 0.7 - 1.1 - - -Maturus 1.3 - 4.0 - - -Senilis 1.5 - 10.7 - - -Juv.+Ad.+Mat. 0.8 - 1.0 - - -Average 0.8 2.0 - - -

Fészerlak 1.54 2.44 5.05 - 1.79 -

Table 6. (continued)

Sample No. of carious teeth per individuals

No. of premortem lost teeth per individuals

No. of cysts/abscessi per individuals

* ** * **

Vörs

Juvenilis 0.15 1.00 - - -Adultus 2.08 3.43 1.32 2.94 0.68 2.36

Maturus 2.30 2.94 3.55 4.53 1.08 1.91

Senilis 1.83 3.14 5.04 6.72 0.63 1.67

Total 1.95 3.06 2.84 4.68 0.79 1.96

* for all individuals

** for affected individuals

The oral pathological data o f the Vörs-Papkert population are suitable for compari­son with other populations presented in the Tables because of the similar age indices (Table 3), i . e. the average ages o f the samples are roughly similar (age index was not used by B R U S Z T and K. T Ó T H ) . A D I ' s value o f the Vörs cemetery (Table 3) is equivalent to that of Árpádian Age samples evaluated by K . TÓTH. A D I = 100 would have been op­timal but this is never attained on historical skeletal material. Thorough care of teeth is sometimes not taken during the excavations. Teeth may get lost when the grave is exca­vated or when the skeletal material is collected, cleaned or packed. Incisors and canines are especially easy to fall out of the alveoles so these are frequently lost postmortem. The cemetery o f Vörs-Papker t B is most similar to the population of Szabolcs (Tables 4-6) . Although the number of cysts/abscessi is lower in Szabolcs, other values are barely or not at all different. The population of Zalavár-Vár had the best status o f dentition while those of Fészerlak and Zalavár-Kápolna had the worst. The number of premortem lost teeth and cysts/abscessi are quite high in both places. Vörs presents an intermediate status.

From the oral pathological conditions of a population consclusions can be drawn on nutrition habits, circumstances o f life (PAP 1986) or social status. Gravegoods may corro­borate the inferences. Zalavár-Vár which proved to be odontologically the best was a ce­metery of the upper class ( S ó s & B Ö K Ö N Y I 1963, F R A Y E R 1984). It is verified by the richness of gravegoods. In the cemeteries of Zalavár-Kápolna and Fészerlak members of the lower class (servants, tradesmen and commoners) were interred ( F R A Y E R 1984, F Ó T H I 1989). Unfortunately, the above conclusion cannot be drawn in the case o f Vörs. As a result o f continuous burials from the 8 t h to the 1 1 t h centuries the population was quite mixed. Moreover, a great number of graves was disturbed and therefore the exact determination of the archaeological age of the graves was impossible. Table 7 sum­marizes the data obtained from the cemetery of Vörs-Papkert B . The numbers o f caries (17.6%) and premortem lost teeth (38.6%) are the highest wi th senile females. The num­ber of the individuals afflicted by caries and/or cyst/abscessus is the highest wi th mature males. I t means that i f senile females were afflicted, they had more than one caries or

Table 7. Distribution of oral pathological data of Vörs by sex and age

No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of skulls teeth skulls skulls skulls carious premor­ cysts/ab­

studied studied with with pre­ with teeth (%) tem lost scessi (%) caries (%) mortem cysts/ab­ teeth (%)

lost teeth scessi (%) (%)

JUVENILIS 13 287 2(15.4) - - 2 (0.7) - -Adultus fe­ 28 585 16(57.1) 15(53.6) 8 (28.6) 63 (10.8) 18(3.1) 47(8.0) male

Adultus male 10 239 7 (70.0) 2 (20.0) 3 (30.0) 16(6.7) 8 (3.3) 3(1.3)

ADULTUS 38 824 23 (60.5) 17 (44.7) 11 (28.9) 79 (9.6) 26(3.2) 50 (6.1)

Maturus fe­ 22 357 17(77.3) 19(86.4) 9 (40.9) 50(14.0) 14(3.9) 90 (25.2) male

Maturus male 38 731 30 (78.9) 28 (73.7) 25 (65.8) 88 (12.0) 51 (7.0) 123 (16.8)

MATURUS 60 1088 47 (78.3) 47 (78.3) 34 (56.6) 138 (12.7) 65 (6.0) 213 (19.6)

Senilis female 11 153 7(63.6) 10(90.9) 6 (54.5) 27(17.6) 11 (7.2) 59 (38.6)

Senilis male 13 220 7(53.8) 8(61.5) 3(23.1) 17(7.7) 4(1.8) 62 (28.2)

SENILIS 24 373 14(58.3) 18 (75.0) 9 (37.5) 44(11.8) 15 (4.0) 121 (32.4)

TOTAL 135 2572 86 (63.7) 82 (60.7) 54 (40.0) 263 (10.2) 106 (4.1) 384(14.9)

cyst/abscessus at the same time. The samples suggest higher incidence o f dental diseases in the females in all age groups. This is significant only in the case of carious teeth (p<0.05) while insignificant in all other cases (p>0.05). In the adultus age group the rate of caries-afflicted males (70.0%) is higher than that o f females (57.1%). However, the rate o f premortem tooth loss is much higher in females (53.6% vs. 20.0%). I f we take into consideration that the most probable reason of the tooth loss in this age group is caries, these data confirm the worse oral pathological status of females. It also explains the i n ­significant difference of the caries-afflicted skulls between the sexes. The situation is similar wi th the matures although the percentage of the caries-afflicted individuals is sub-equal (77.3% vs. 78.9%) while percentage of skulls with premortem tooth loss is still higher with females (86.4% vs. 73.7%). In seniles, both values are higher wi th females. Surprisingly, the incidence of cyst/abscessus is higher with males though the previous data would make us expect an opposite tendency. This may be explained by the higher resistence of females against inflammations and diseases. The worse odontological con­ditions of the females may be attributed to two reasons. 1) It is well-known that preg­nancy, parturition and lactation results in shortage of C a 2 + in the female organism that may lead to deterioration of teeth. The inherence of pregnancy and caries is still open to debate. However, according to examinations on modern populations the caries-influenc­ing role of pregnancy cannot be excluded (BÁNÓCZY 1988). 2) As it was mentioned

above the population of the studied cemetery was mixed. As determination of the archae­

ological age was possible only in a small number of graves the samples might include in­

dividuals of different archaeological ages, e.g. females l iving in worse conditions and

males getting better diet wich was richer in proteins. Chi-square tests always supported

the experience that dental conditions are getting worse with age. Although children were

excluded from the present evaluation it is worth mentioning that two of the 21 investi­

gated children had caries on the deciduous molars. Infans I I from grave 48 had a lower

molar wi th caries on the occlusal surface and Infans I from grave 90 had two lower mo­

lars wi th similar caries.

* * *

Acknowledgements - I would like to thank Dr. É V A BODZSÁR for her useful advice and to Dr. ILDIKÓ PAP for her help in preparing this paper. The research was supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA Nos F-020133, F-026099).

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