Changes in Suid and Caprine husbandry practices throughout dynastic Egypt using linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH)
Linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) is the most commonly identified form of enamel defect in teeth. Defined as a deficiency in enamel thickness encountered during dental development, LEH can occur as horizontal lines or depressions of irregular enamel, or clusters of pitting on the enamel surface. These defects are caused by physiological stresses such as disease or poor nutrition, causing a disruption of enamel secretion. Studies on LEH have been used as a way to understand the health status and husbandry practices of both ancient and modern animal populations. As there are no data that describe the prevalence of LEH in either ancient or modern Egyptian animal material, this thesis aims to establish the frequency of LEH in the archaeological remains of pigs and caprines (sheep and goat) from thirteen different ancient Egyptian sites, investigating the links between LEH, possible changes in husbandry practices, geographic, as well as site contexts, and compare it to modern Egyptian pig and caprine data from similar geographic contexts. Results indicate that enamel hypoplasia is common throughout the thirteen different sites throughout Egypt discussed in this thesis. These defects are related to key events in the
Bertini, Louise Catherine
Changes in Suid and Caprine husbandry practices throughout dynastic Egypt using linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH). Linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) is the most commonly identified form of enamel defect in teeth. Defined as a deficiency in enamel thickness encountered during dental development, LEH can occur as horizontal lines or depressions of irregular enamel, or clusters of pitting on the enamel surface. These defects are caused by physiological stresses such as disease or poor nutrition, causing a disruption of enamel secretion. Studies on LEH have been used as a way to understand the health status and husbandry practices of both ancient and modern animal populations. As there are no data that describe the prevalence of LEH in either ancient or modern Egyptian animal material, this thesis aims to establish the frequency of LEH in the archaeological remains of pigs and caprines (sheep and goat) from thirteen different ancient Egyptian sites, investigating the links between LEH, possible changes in husbandry practices, geographic, as well as site contexts, and compare it to modern Egyptian pig and caprine data from similar geographic contexts. Results indicate that enamel hypoplasia is common throughout the thirteen different sites throughout Egypt discussed in this thesis. These defects are related to key events in the
changes caprine husbandry_practice throughout dynastic_egypt use linear enamel_hypoplasia linear enamel_hypoplasia commonly identify form enamel defect teeth defined deficiency enamel thickness encounter dental development occur horizontal line depression irregular enamel cluster pit enamel surface defect cause physiological stress disease poor nutrition cause disruption enamel studies use way health_status husbandry_practice ancient_modern animal population data describe prevalence either ancient_modern egyptian animal material aim_establish frequency archaeological_remains sheep_goat thirteen different ancient_egyptian sit investigate link possible change husbandry_practice geographic well site context compare modern egyptian pig caprine data similar geographic context indicate enamel_hypoplasia common throughout thirteen different_site throughout egypt discuss thesis defect relate key_event