Enamel calcification patterns of the Averbuch site (40DV60), Nashville, Tennessee

Two skeletal populations from two cemeteries from the Averbuch site (40DV60), Davidson County, Tennessee, are interpreted through a model of increasing stress through time. Based on this model, the hypothesis was tested that the individuals from the later dating Cemetery 1 would show a higher incidence of dental pathologies, specifically abnormal Striae of Retzius and hypoplasias, than would individuals from Cemetery 3. It was further suggested that males from both cemeteries would exhibit a higher frequency of pathological striae and hypoplasias than would females. Finally, correlations between the dental pathologies and two other stress measures (dental asymmetry and porotic hyperostosis) for the same population were tested. It was predicted that correlations would be both positive and significant.

In order to test these hypotheses, a sample of 40 canines from each cemetery was selected. The samples were divided evenly with 20 of each sex for each cemetery. Each canine was embedded in epoxy, thin sectioned, and mounted on slides. After polishing and etching, each specimen was observed microscopically. The number and location of pathological bands and hypoplasias were recorded.

Although both cemeteries showed a high rate of both dental pathologies, no differences between the cemeteries could be detected. No sex differences were found either. It was concluded that the cemeteries did not differ in time or perhaps overlapped in time so that the stress levels for each of them were virtually the same. The correlations were all nonsignificant. It is suggested that the stress indicators used might be manifestations of different kinds of stresses or that the timing of development of each stress indicator is different.