Rediscovering the Past in a Disappearing Environment: A Study of Prehistoric Human Diet and Oral Health in Tortuga (Haiti)
Document Type
Event
Faculty Mentor
Nichole Fournier
Abstract
Manigat Cave, an archaeological site on the island of Tortuga, Haiti, was excavated in the 1960s. From this excavation, thousands of loose human teeth and skeletal remains were discovered. This pilot study focuses solely on the dental remains of this collection to assess health, diet, and viability for future research. The project began by sorting and cataloging hundreds of teeth through comparative anatomical observation using a standard dental anthropology textbook. The teeth were identified by type (incisor, canine, premolar, molar), side (left or right), and mandibular or maxillary location, then stored in labeled bags. Due to time constraints, a sample of 644 teeth was collected for analysis, comprising 111 deciduous and 533 permanent teeth. Analysis documented dental pathologies, wear patterns, and evidence of malnutrition. Results showed that decay and dental caries rates were low, with 2.7% of deciduous and 5.63% of permanent teeth showing decay. Notably, two molars exhibited features suggesting the presence of congenital syphilis in this population. Furthermore, an interesting genetic trait evident in the upper and lower molars was significant root fusion, with 48.4% of the molars exhibiting this trait. This trait was more apparent in the maxillary molars. Evidence of attrition was extensive in the permanent dentition, with 97.6% displaying wear (severe to mild), evenly distributed across all tooth types. Deciduous teeth showed no evidence of attrition. Enamel hypoplasia, often represented by hypoplastic pitting and discoloration, was present in 4.3% of the overall sample. Only one deciduous tooth was affected, while 3.4% of permanent teeth exhibited hypoplastic features, pointing to episodes of physiological stress and malnutrition during development. To investigate diet, four mandibular molars were selected for isotopic analysis and are being processed by Beta Analytics. Carbon-13 (13C) analysis will distinguish between C3 and C4 plant consumption and assess the degree of marine versus terrestrial dietary aspects. Nitrogen-15 (15N) analysis will determine the trophic level of dietary items. Since this site is no longer accessible and possibly destroyed due to rising sea levels, this pilot study will establish the isotopic composition and preservation quality of this collection, determining the potential for future destructive analysis. This poster and presentation will contain images and depictions of human remains.
Rediscovering the Past in a Disappearing Environment: A Study of Prehistoric Human Diet and Oral Health in Tortuga (Haiti)
Manigat Cave, an archaeological site on the island of Tortuga, Haiti, was excavated in the 1960s. From this excavation, thousands of loose human teeth and skeletal remains were discovered. This pilot study focuses solely on the dental remains of this collection to assess health, diet, and viability for future research. The project began by sorting and cataloging hundreds of teeth through comparative anatomical observation using a standard dental anthropology textbook. The teeth were identified by type (incisor, canine, premolar, molar), side (left or right), and mandibular or maxillary location, then stored in labeled bags. Due to time constraints, a sample of 644 teeth was collected for analysis, comprising 111 deciduous and 533 permanent teeth. Analysis documented dental pathologies, wear patterns, and evidence of malnutrition. Results showed that decay and dental caries rates were low, with 2.7% of deciduous and 5.63% of permanent teeth showing decay. Notably, two molars exhibited features suggesting the presence of congenital syphilis in this population. Furthermore, an interesting genetic trait evident in the upper and lower molars was significant root fusion, with 48.4% of the molars exhibiting this trait. This trait was more apparent in the maxillary molars. Evidence of attrition was extensive in the permanent dentition, with 97.6% displaying wear (severe to mild), evenly distributed across all tooth types. Deciduous teeth showed no evidence of attrition. Enamel hypoplasia, often represented by hypoplastic pitting and discoloration, was present in 4.3% of the overall sample. Only one deciduous tooth was affected, while 3.4% of permanent teeth exhibited hypoplastic features, pointing to episodes of physiological stress and malnutrition during development. To investigate diet, four mandibular molars were selected for isotopic analysis and are being processed by Beta Analytics. Carbon-13 (13C) analysis will distinguish between C3 and C4 plant consumption and assess the degree of marine versus terrestrial dietary aspects. Nitrogen-15 (15N) analysis will determine the trophic level of dietary items. Since this site is no longer accessible and possibly destroyed due to rising sea levels, this pilot study will establish the isotopic composition and preservation quality of this collection, determining the potential for future destructive analysis. This poster and presentation will contain images and depictions of human remains.
