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55
VII/1/2016
INTERDISCIPLINARIA ARCHAEOLOGICA
NATURAL SCIENCES IN ARCHAEOLOGY
homepage: http://www.iansa.eu
Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
Ivana Jarošová
a*
, Jiří Vávra
a
, Jaroslav Jiřík
b,c
, Marcela Horáková
a
a
Labrys, o. p. s., Hloubětínská 16/11, 198 00 Praha 9, Czech Republic
b
Prácheň Museum in Písek, Velké náměstí 114, 397 24 Písek, Czech Republic
c
Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Arts, Institute of Prehistory and Early History, Celetná 20, 116 36 Praha 1, Czech Republic
1. Introduction
Buccal microwear analyses have been carried out on
numerous past populations. Focusing mainly on inter- and
intra-population variability within the non-occlusal striation
pattern of postcanine dentition, these analyses have yielded
valuable information on dietary habits (Puech
et al.
1980;
Pérez-Pérez
et al.
1994; Lalueza
et al.
1996; Pérez-Pérez
1990; 2004; Estebaranz
et al.
2012,
etc.
). These fndings
have been recently supported by research on the buccal
microwear patterns of African Pygmy Foragers and Bantu-
Speaking Farmers and pastoralist populations that proved
the diferent dietary habits to be independent of ecological
conditions and refected the abrasive properties of preferred
foods (Romero
et al.
2013). Proven fndings show that there
is a tendency for less striations and a higher frequency
of vertical striations exhibited on the dental surfaces of
carnivore populations rather than of vegetarian ones (Lalueza
et al.
1996). The high incidence of abrasive particles in plant
foods (phytoliths) result in higher scratch densities and an
increasingly horizontally-oriented, vestibular microwear
pattern in agricultural populations (Lalueza
et al.
1996).
The embedding of phytoliths in enamel surfaces and their
classifcation has been demonstrated in the previous research
of Lalueza Fox and his colleagues (1994) in a sample from La
Olmeda, Spain. In addition, buccal microwear is independent
of the analyzed teeth of individuals, as intergroup variability
appears to be signifcantly higher than intragroup variability
and to be independent of seasonal variations in dietary
Volume VII ● Issue 1/2016 ● Pages 55–70
*Corresponding author. E-mail: ivanajar@gmail.com
ARTICLE INFO
Article history:
Received: 11
th
December 2015
Accepted: 28
th
July 2016
Key words:
Buccal dental microwear
Diet
SEM
Prague-Zličín
Migration Period
social status
ABSTRACT
Buccal dental microwear analysis was carried out on a sample of 46 individuals from the Prague-Zličín
site, Czech Republic. The Prague-Zličín burial ground is dated to the Migration Period, 5
th
century
AD. For each individual, molars or premolars were analyzed in secondary electrons of scanning
electron microscope. The length, orientation and number of all observed striations were quantifed
using SigmaScan Pro 5.0, image analysis software. Subsequently, results obtained were compared with
published datasets acquired from studies of various modern hunter-gatherers, pastoral, and agricultural
populations with diferent dietary habits (Lalueza
et al.
1996). The analysis yielded a similar microwear
pattern within the Prague-Zličín population. The density and the length of microstriations showed no
inter-group variability according to sex and age in adults; only an age-related variability, which might
have resulted from diferent ratios of meat and vegetable intake, was observed between adults and
subadults. The abrasiveness of food consumed in the Migration period was signifcantly higher than the
other comparative Neolithic and Medieval samples in terms of striation density (NT) and length (XT).
The observed amounts of abrasive particles in the diet might have originated from highly-abrasive food
and/or food preparation technology. Migration period individuals were found to have a signifcantly
higher number of vertical microwear features (NV), which were also found to be longer (XV) than
other examined individuals from diferent periods. A possible high meat intake might be inferred in the
Prague-Zličín population using NH/NT and NV/NT ratios. When comparing social status with dietary
habits, a softer diet was found in individuals with higher social status.
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IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 55–70
Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
56
habits due to the long-term “turnover” efect in comparison
to occlusal microwear pattern (Pérez-Pérez
et al.
1994).
Moreover, recent research of the observed long-term stability
of buccal microwear patterns has shown them to be a reliable
indicator of overall dietary habits (Romero
et al.
2012).
2. Material and methods
2.1 Prague-Zličín burial ground
The archaeological site is located at the western edge of
Prague (Czech Republic) and a complete skeletal burial
ground was excavated here between 2005 and 2008. It
is dated to the Migration Period, to the greater part of the
5
th
century AD, and the skeletons buried there belong to the
so-called Vinařice Group (for more details, see Vávra
et al.
2008; Vávra
et al.
2012; Jiřík
et al.
2015). From a historical
point of view, this studied population inhabited an area just
outside the Roman Empire: its members were considered as
Barbarians inhabiting and migrating behind and along the
fortifed borders (Limes Romanus) of the Roman Empire.
The analyzed skeletal sample consisted of 176 burials in
173 graves with the remains of 180 individuals. The state
of bone preservation was very low (due to the geochemical
and hydrological conditions, and the re-opening activities
of looters), thus only 113 individuals were available for
anthropological evaluation, including 19 subadults (0–14
years), and 94 adult individuals over 15 years (“adult” in terms
of social status, not biological status) that consisted of 26 males,
33 females and 35 adult individuals of unknown sex (Víšková
et al.
2012; Horáková
et al.
2014; Horáková, Jarošová 2015).
A preliminary analysis of buccal dental microwear from the
Prague-Zličín population was undertaken on a random sample
of 23 adult individuals (15+ yrs) and indicated a meat-based
diet with large amounts of abrasive particles (NT=94.3) in
their food; no statistically-signifcant sex- and age- (within the
sample of studied age categories: 15–19 yrs; 20–35 yrs; 35–50
yrs; 50+ yrs) related diferences were found within the Prague-
Zličín population (Horáková
et al.
2014).
In the current analysis, all 89 individuals from this
burial ground with posterior teeth (
i.e.
premolars and
molars) present were intended to be included in the dental
microwear analysis, but due to postmortem enamel defects
on a microscopic (
e.g.
grave 62, 64, 103, 172a, 174) or
macroscopic level, only 46 individuals (51.7%) were included
and the other 43 individuals (48.3%) had to be excluded.
The microscopic damage found at the enamel surface can
be attributed to post-mortem taphonomic processes, which
afect the enamel surfaces and make it impossible to perform
a dietary reconstruction (Martínez, Pérez-Pérez 2004). The
damage patterns observed within the Prague-Zličín sample
at the microscopic level (using SEM) included eroded
surfaces with an irregular aspect, in some cases with a high
density of parallel striations, or patches of slightly-damaged
enamel, or an eroded enamel surface exhibiting incremental
growth lines, known as perikymata. All the observed types
of damage present at the microscopic level were known
examples and had already been described in detail elsewhere
(see Martínez, Pérez-Pérez 2004).
Thus, for the buccal microwear analysis, 7 subadult
(0–14 yrs) and 39 adult (over 15 yrs) individuals with
well-preserved buccal surfaces were eventually deemed
suitable, and these constitute the fnal data collection for this
population (Table 1). Data on each individual’s sex and age-
at-death has been adapted from previous estimations carried
out in a palaeodemographic analysis (Víšková
et al.
2012).
Individuals that were tested for their dental microwear
pattern were also linked with their grave goods in order to
Table 1.
Demographics of the 46 individuals from Prague-Zličín tested for dental microwear pattern.
Age
Gender
0–6 yrs7–14 yrs15–35 yrs35–50 yrs50+ yrsTotal
Subadults
Adults
Ambiguous
424311468
Females
1394
17
116
Males
3841515
Total431020946739
Table 2.
Individuals from Prague-Zličín grouped according to grave goods: GG0 = unknown grave goods; GG1 = common grave goods containing ceramic,
bronze or iron objects, beads from glass; GG2 = grave goods containing precious materials as gold, silver, amber, or glass vessels.
Grave goods
Gender
AgeGG0GG1GG2Total
Ambiguous
all26614
subadults336
adults2338
Females
all269
17
subadults11
adults26816
Males
all5
7
315
adults5
7
315
Totalall9191846
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Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
57
show possible social stratifcation according to their dietary
habits. Unfortunately, 44 of the 46 graves showed evidence
of having been re-opened by looters, which would, of course,
distort valuable information on their real social status; only
graves no. 152 and 168 did not show any disruption of their
burial area. Both of these graves contained grave goods made
of precious materials. On the one hand, a lot of information
regarding the original burial inventory is today unknown; on
the other hand, the richest grave, no. 61 situated in the middle
of the burial area, contained gold objects even after having
been re-opened. With this information, we can only assume
that the number of all objects put in the graves of this Prague-
Zličín population was very high; but, up till now, only partial
studies can be reasonably made. To conclude, currently the
well-preserved grave goods have been categorized into three
groups: all graves in group GG0 contained no objects and all
of them had been re-opened (19.6%); these graves could have
contained common or precious goods, but it is unknownable
today. The next group of graves in category GG1 contained
ceramic, bronze or iron objects, and/or glass beads (41.3%),
Figure 1.
Preparation of dental negative and positive casts (a); preparation of scanning electron-microscope samples (b); SEM analysis (c); the surface of
the frst lower premolar (Pm3LR) analyzed in a male, died at age of 40–50 years from Prague-Zličín grave 594/65 (d).
a)
d)c)
b)
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Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
58
which represent common grave goods whose owners could
be linked with common/average social status. Group GG2
graves contained grave goods made of precious materials,
such as gold, silver, amber, or glass vessels (39.1%); these
individuals can be linked with some higher social status (see
Table 2).
2.2 Comparative modern human samples
Buccal microwear has been studied in modern hunter-
gatherers, pastoralists, and agriculturists, all of whom have
arisen from diferent ecological conditions and may have
gained their food from all parts of the world (Lalueza
et al.
1996). According to ecological criteria that, as indicated,
correspond with the geographical latitude from which
these people lived, these populations can be divided into
four broad groups: (1) agriculturalist / vegetarian (Hindus,
n=20: 7 females, 13 males); (2) mixed-diet, hunter-gatherer
populations from tropical forests (Andamanese and Veddahs,
n=27: 14 females, 9 males, 4 ambiguous); (3) carnivorous,
hunter-gatherer and pastoralist populations, including
Fueguians (mainly hunting and fshing), Inuits (exclusively
hunting strategies), Vancouver Islanders (mainly fshing
and hunting), and Lapps (predominantly reindeer herding)
(n=62: 24 females, 30 males, 8 ambiguous); and (4) mixed-
diet, hunter-gatherer populations from arid and mesothermal
environments, including Bushmen, Australian Aborigines,
and Tasmanians (n=44: 14 females, 18 males, 12 ambiguous)
(Lalueza, Pérez-Pérez 1993; Lalueza
et al.
1996). Except for
three juvenile Bushmen skulls, only adult individuals were
studied, in order to control for age variability of the striation
pattern (Lalueza
et al.
1996).
2.3 Study data collection
2.3.1 Teeth moulding
Both molars and premolars from the 46 individuals of the
Prague-Zličín site were considered for buccal microwear
analysis and a single tooth per individual was fnally analyzed.
Previous analyses of buccal microwear intra-individual
variability have proved no diferences between posterior
tooth type for each individual (Pérez-Pérez
et al.
1994), even
if statistically-signifcant intra-individual diferences of the
XDM variable of microwear pattern between the frst and
second, lower-right and -left molars, and the upper-right,
second premolar have been observed in a recent study made
on an
Australopithecus afarensis
sample (Estebaranz
et al.
2009).
Tooth selection of each individual in the Prague-Zličín
sample depended on the preserved tooth type and the state of
its enamel surface observed at a macroscopic level. If well-
preserved buccal enamel was present on several teeth of a
single individual, then preference was given to the frst and
second upper-left molars. Otherwise, the second premolars
were chosen in preference. Left and upper teeth were
preferred whenever possible.
Negative impressions of the tooth’s buccal surface were
obtained using polyvinylsiloxane Afnis Regular Body
(Coltène
®
); afterwards, the bicomponent polyurethane resin
Feroca Feropur PR55 + ER55 was used to make positive
moulds (Galbany
et al.
2004) (Figure 1a, b). Finally, the
tooth replicas were sputter-coated with a 400 Å gold layer
using SCD Balzers Unions 040 and then proceeded to SEM
imaging.
2.3.2 SEM imaging
SEM images were obtained with a Scanning Electron
Microscope Tescan Vega TS 5136XM at Masaryk
University, Brno (Figure 1c). Micrographs were taken at
226
×
magnifcation on the medial third of the buccal surface
of the tooth crown (Pérez-Pérez
et al.
1994). (Note: the
226
×
magnifcation was calculated because of the wide-angled
scanning window of the Tescan Vega. These micrographs are
compatible with 100 × magnifcation of the SEM Cambridge
Stereoscan 120 at the SCT, University of Barcelona). All SEM
pictures were digitalized using SEM Vega TC Software Image
Processing, obtaining 1024 x1024 pixel images that were
subsequently enhanced with Adobe Photoshop v.8.0, and a
0.56 mm
2
enamel patch was cropped in all images for surface
area standardization (Pérez-Pérez
et al.
1994; Lalueza
et al.
1996; Galbany
et al.
2004; Figure 1d).
2.4 Data acquisition
Using image analysis software package SigmaScan Pro 5.0,
the length (X), standard deviation of the length (SD), and
number (N) of all striations present (T) were computed and
4 categories of orientation from 0˚ to 180˚ – in 45-degree
intervals – were determined with respect to the given tooth’s
orientation: V = vertical; MD = mesio-occlusal to disto-
cervical; DM = disto-occlusal to mesio-cervical; and H =
horizontal. Mean values for each individual’s tooth were
characterized by a sum of 15 variables (Pérez-Pérez 1990;
Lalueza, Pérez-Pérez 1993; Lalueza
et al.
1993, 1996; Pérez-
Pérez
et al.
1994;1999; 2003). All micrographs from Prague-
Zličín samples and other archaeological samples from Czech
Republic were analyzed by one single researcher, Ivana
Jarošová, to eliminate inter-observer error (see Galbany
et al.
2005). All statistics were calculated and graphs obtained
using the STATISTICA 10.0 StatSoft Inc. package, IBM
SPSS Statistics 19.0, and PAST v2.17c. The signifcance of
all statistical data was evaluated at the p≤0.05 level.
3. Results and discussion
3.1 Historical context of the Prague-Zličín population
Late Antique reports of the dietary habits of central European
Populations are extremely rare. One of them is a notice by
Jordanes (Getica XLIX, 257–258) describing the funeral
ceremonies of the Huns (and perhaps also their Germanic
vassals), in the case of the burial of King Attila. Among the
rites we are told that “a strava, as they call it, was celebrated
over his tomb with great revelling”. The nature of this rite
and especially its “culinary charge”, as well as the linguistic
origin of the word itself, remains unclear. Ambiguity of the
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Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
59
Table 3.
Descriptive statistics of all 15 variables in the 46 individuals from Prague-Zličín.
PRG-ZL: all (n=46)Adults (n=39)
Subadults (n=7)
MeanMinimumMaximumStd.Dev.MeanMinimumMaximumStd.Dev.MeanMinimumMaximumStd.Dev.
NH13.24.039.08.313.54.039.08.513.15.022.0
6.7
XH
159.779.1314.753.7170.179.1314.7
56.1118.386.8138.519.3
SDH134.446.8243.558.4144.551.1243.559.2
90.7
46.8165.541.9
NV
48.2
7.0
105.020.249.3
7.0
105.020.938.921.058.012.4
XV
205.3
117.6
323.9
57.1
214.5120.5323.956.6153.8
117.6
184.923.5
SDV
151.1
78.3240.7
38.1155.0
78.3240.7
38.1123.4102.0143.2
17.7
NMD20.25.053.012.820.45.053.012.320.05.042.015.6
XMD158.981.8290.652.3165.596.2290.651.2116.381.8154.225.5
SDMD132.946.8
272.0
54.4138.446.8
272.0
54.2
95.7
48.8143.332.9
NDM21.34.054.013.021.14.054.012.421.64.051.0
17.8
XDM150.1
67.3
252.546.6156.6
79.7
252.546.3119.4
67.3
181.3
37.1
SDDM123.233.8222.0
47.1
125.033.8222.045.5106.951.2215.158.9
NT102.849.0
175.0
30.4104.352.0
175.0
30.293.649.0135.033.2
XT
179.0
101.1296.344.3
187.1
101.1296.342.8135.2101.9
175.9
24.4
SDNT
147.767.2207.7
34.5152.9
67.2207.7
32.9115.484.1151.620.9
NH/NT
0.140.030.390.080.140.030.390.080.130.09
0.17
0.04
NV/NT
0.460.12
0.74
0.13
0.47
0.12
0.74
0.130.440.250.640.12
Males (n=15)Females (n=16)
Ambiguous, Adults (n=8)
MeanMinimumMaximumStd.Dev.MeanMinimumMaximumStd.Dev.MeanMinimumMaximumStd.Dev.
NH13.14.029.0
7.4
13.65.0
37.0
8.514.34.039.011.2
XH190.1111.4
312.7
52.0
167.7
95.5
314.757.4137.279.1
214.149.8
SDH162.581.2
237.7
51.0138.051.1242.3
57.4
124.052.6243.5
74.2
NV
49.09.088.019.141.8
7.0
63.016.164.933.0105.025.9
XV
224.8161.5323.948.6225.2121.8303.561.8
174.0
120.5266.945.9
SDV
164.6103.1
240.7
33.2151.2
78.3
218.042.1145.0
86.7187.3
38.9
NMD
18.7
8.0
37.0
8.420.25.049.014.223.99.053.015.3
XMD
187.0
108.4290.660.0160.9110.9263.243.0
134.7
96.2183.230.5
SDMD159.3
71.8272.0
60.4129.346.8221.851.6
117.4
68.0
169.7
35.9
NDM19.54.043.011.8
19.77.0
38.08.526.94.054.018.9
XDM
172.2
94.5232.438.6158.8
79.7
252.555.3123.3104.9156.5
17.0
SDDM
137.5
60.6
217.4
42.7
123.133.8222.054.8105.6
73.9
129.819.2
NT100.352.0142.026.195.254.0132.0
27.0
129.9
76.0175.0
32.3
XT204.5148.4296.3
41.7187.2
101.1249.139.2154.5112.2215.635.9
SDNT164.9100.5
207.727.3149.767.2
192.435.3136.888.5
178.9
32.9
NH/NT
0.140.040.390.090.150.050.330.080.110.03
0.270.07
NV/NT
0.480.120.620.130.430.130.590.120.50
0.270.74
0.16
written sources is in this case so great that we can mostly
judge based on the indirect evidence. This is the case for
another report of Jordanes (Getica, XLIX, 273) describing
the confict between the Goths and Sueves, which was started
by a raid on Dalmatia resulting in cattle robbery, from which
we can infer that cattle played a special role in the economy
(and, perhaps, also nutrition) of the Barbarians. Therefore,
the archaeological and especially paleoenvironmental and
natural science data (
i.e.
osteology of the burial provisions,
archaeobotany, stable isotopes and dental microwear) remain
a unique source of our knowledge concerning nutrition
during the Migration Period.
3.2 Archaeobotanical and osteoarchaeological research
at Prague-Zličín
An archaeobotanical macro-remain analysis of the
carbonized and non-carbonized remains of useful plants was
performed on the infll of the graves at Prague-Zličín. Even
though the concentration of macro-remains samples was
low, the results yielded the structure of their crops, where
barley (
Hordeum vulgare
) was confrmed as being dominant.
This crop structure was infuenced by certain modern
elements of the plant economy, which could have come
from trade contacts, cultural exchange and/or migrants from
diferent regions (perhaps the central Danube region) (see
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Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
60
Šálková
et al.
2016 – this IANSA issue). As confrmed by
the osteoarchaeology analysis, the main source of meat was
accounted for by domestic animals (cattle 21.0%, pig 16.5%,
sheep/goat 0.3%), which was supplemented by hunting wild
fauna (Nohálová
et al.
2016 – this IANSA issue). On the one
side, the results of both these analyses seem to provide the
expected data (see Dreslerová, Kočár 2013); on the other, it
is necessary to take into account that these results might be
somewhat skewed or distorted. The whole area of the burial
ground was full of burrows as evidenced by the extremely
high proportion of rodent bones (56.4%) (Nohálová
et al.
2016 – this IANSA issue); rodents had been living and
tunnelling there for centuries and thus disturbing the original
distribution of plant macro-remains by moving plant seeds
into diferent archaeological layers (see C
14
data, in Šálková
et al.
2016 – this IANSA issue). For this reason, data from
the archaeobotanical and osteoarchaeological research of
the grave-infll should not be used for a diet reconstruction
of the Prague-Zličín individuals, as such results would be
misleading and only cause bias.
3.3 The Prague-Zličín dental buccal microwear pattern
Mean values, medians, minimums, maximums and standard
deviation values of the studied population from Prague-
Zličín with the analyzed categories are shown in Table 3.
No deviations from the normal distribution (Kolmogorov-
Smirnov normality test, p<0.05) in all 15 variables was
observed in the Prague-Zličín population (tests were
performed using groups of both adults and subadults,
including only adults and only subadults). The density of
microstriations (NT) in the modern human hunter-gatherer
groups ranged between 32.0 and 74.8 (Lalueza
et al.
1996),
whereas the Prague-Zličín sample reached higher values (NT
from 49.0 to 175.0 with a mean of 102.8; Figure 2a, Table 3).
This result may be indicative of a high abrasive diet in the
Prague-Zličín sample. By comparing the average striation
lengths (XT), the Prague-Zličín population approaches
that (XT=179.0) of all mixed-diet, gatherer populations
and also hunter (carnivorous) populations (Figure 2a).
By using the non-parametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov test,
statistical signifcant diferences at p<0.05 were found
in the XH (p<0.025), XV (p<0.01), SDV (p<0.025), XT
(p<0.005) and SDNT (p<0.05) variables between adults and
subadults, which is in accordance with previously-analyzed
populations, where a diferent buccal microwear pattern
was observed between groups of adults and infants (Pérez-
Pérez
et al.
1994; Pinilla Pérez
et al.
2011). By comparing
both the NT and XT values of the Prague-Zličín sample, we
see a tendency towards a lower striation density (NT) and
shorter scratches (XT) in subadults compared to the adult
sample. The observed high amounts of abrasive particles
(NT) in the diet of both adults and subadults might have
originated from certain highly abrasive foods, or to the type
of food preparation technology; or it can be concluded that
this density of microstriations is of unclear origin – as this
studied population, dated to the Migration period, has not
been identifed in historical sources, and hence there is no
available information on the food composition of typical diets
and their processing techniques. The extensive microwear
pattern might be explained by the coarsely-processed foods,
which include relatively large amounts of exogenous grits
in the Prague-Zličín buccal microwear pattern (for detailed
information, see Salazar-García
et al.
2016; Romero, De
Juan 2007). For all subsequent analysis, these data were
treated separately for the adult and subadult sample of the
Prague-Zličín population.
The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA for 15
variables gave no statistically-signifcant sex-related
diferences in the adult sample within the Prague-Zličín
population. Both adult females (n=16) and males (n=15)
exhibited a similarly-increased number of microwear pattern
(NT) without there being a statistically-signifcant diference
in their average length (XT), which in infants (0–6 years),
and partially in females and males, overlap with the values
reported for arid, tropical and vegetarian populations
(Figure 2a). As a conclusion, no sexual dimorphism in
dietary strategy, with no predominance in either a vegetable
or meat-based diet, may be hypothesized. When comparing
the 15 variables using non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis
ANOVA, between the age categories of the subadult- (0–6
yrs and 7–14 yrs) and adult-analyzed sample (15–35 yrs, 35–
50 yrs, 50+ yrs), we fnd statistically-signifcant diferences
in the average length of all striations (XT), and the length
of horizontal (XH) and vertical (XV) striations. Statistically-
signifcant diferences between adults and subadults were
also present in the standard deviations of all (SDNT) and
vertical striations (SDV). When comparing the three adult
age categories within the adult population, no statistically-
signifcant diference was observed using Kruskal-Wallis
ANOVA. These results are consistent with the previous
preliminary analysis of buccal dental microwear performed
on randomly-selected adult individuals from Prague-Zličín
(n=23), that confrmed no statistically-signifcant sex- and
age-related diferences in adults (Horáková
et al.
2014).
Finally, all analyzed individuals were compared using the
NH/NT and NV/NT ratio in order to highlight diferences
found in the ratio of number of horizontal (NH) and vertical
striations (NV), which reduces the diferences between
the densities of microstriations (NT) in the Prague-Zličín
population in comparison with a modern human sample
with known diet (Figure 3). Males show an increased
number of vertical striations and this group overlaps with
the hunters depending on meaty food (Figure 3a); females
also show higher values of vertical striations associated with
lower values of horizontal striations, which overlaps with
that of a carnivorous diet, but some of the females in their
horizontal striations (individuals 60 and 78) can be inferred
as of mixed-food habits. Individual no. 61, with a high social
status due to the presence of golden grave goods, displayed
the highest values for vertical striations and the lowest for
horizontal striations from all the individuals studied. His/
her diet can be assumed as one with a high meat intake of
unusual composition within the studied population. Only
two individuals (female no. 35, male no. 119) do not show a
image/svg+xml
IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 55–70
Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
61
NH
Outliers
Extremes
NV
Outliers
Extremes
vegetarian
arid
carnivorous
tropical
0-6 yrs
7-14 yrs
15-35 yrs
35-50 yrs
50+ yrs
food
-20
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
NT
Outliers
Extremes
XT
Outliers
Extremes
vegetarian
arid
carnivorous
tropical
0-6 yrs
7-14 yrs
15-35 yrs
35-50 yrs
50+ yrs
SubAd
A
F
M
food
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
260
280
300
320
XH
Outliers
Extremes
XV
Outliers
Extremes
vegetarian
arid
carnivorous
tropical
0-6 yrs
7-14 yrs
15-35 yrs
35-50 yrs
50+ yrs
food
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
260
280
300
320
340
Figure 2.
Boxplot showing the density
of microstriations (NT), the length of
microstriations (XT) (a) and number and
length of horizontal (NH, XH) and vertical
striations (NV, XV) (b, c) observed in
the teeth of arid, tropical, vegetarian and
carnivorous populations in comparison with
males (M), females (F), ambiguous (A) and
according to age categories from the Prague-
Zličín population.
b)
a)
c)
image/svg+xml
IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 55–70
Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
62
Figure 3.
Scatterplot of NH/NT index with respect to NV/NT index for all individuals from the Prague-Zličín population: M (adult males), F (adult females),
A (ambiguous adults), SubAd (aubadult individuals 0–15 yrs) and populations with recently studied samples with known dietary pattern (AG_Hin = Hindu,
vegetarian agriculturalist; populations from tropical areas: TR_And = Andamanese, TR_Vedd = Veddahs; populations from arid areas AR_Bush = Bushmen,
AR_Tasm = Tasmanians, AR_Aus = Australian aborigines; carnivorous populations: CR_Fue = Fueguians, CR_Inuit = Inuits, CR_Van = Vancouver
islanders, CR_Lapp = Lapps; see Lalueza
et al.
1996): (a) scatterplot according to sex /age with convex hull showing the areas occupied by studied groups,
using diferent colours, representing the smallest convex polygon that contains all points; (b) scatterplot according to grave goods with convex hull: GG0
= unknown grave goods, GG1 = common grave goods, GG2 = grave goods containing precious materials such as gold, silver, amber, or glass vessels. The
populations with known diets are presented as mean values only, whereas the population from Prague-Zličín shows raw data.
b)
a)
image/svg+xml
IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 55–70
Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
63
clear food pattern. For female no. 35 we can assume a high
social status, and for male no. 119 we assume a common/
average social status; however, no conclusion can be made
on these two individuals. In summary, it is possible to infer
meat predominance in the diet of both the male and female
adult sample from Prague-Zličín through the NH/NT and
NV/NT ratios, with a minimal number of horizontal and
a high number of vertical striations, which are present in
carnivorous hunters. When using the ratios for NH – NV
– NT for inferences of diet composition, we can assume
that 4 out of 7 subadults (about 57%) and 29 of 39 adults
(about 75%) (6 of 8 ambiguous adults, 11 of 16 females
and 12 of 15 males) have a signifcant meat intake in their
diet. Taking into account their well-preserved grave goods,
then 11 adult and 3 subadults have common grave goods,
whereas 10 adults and one subadult have grave goods made
of precious materials, which can be linked to higher social
status. For 8 adult individuals it was impossible to estimate
their social status – as their graves had been re-opened and
were without any objects. All other examined individuals can
be associated with either a mixed or unknown diet. When
analyzing the ratio of abrasive particles in a diet, a relatively
soft diet (within the Prague-Zličín specimens) with very
short striations was observed in 4 out of 7 (57%) analyzed
subadults individuals, whereas in the adults it was possible
to observe a relatively soft diet in 25 out of 39 individuals
(about 64%). In the adults there was a relatively soft diet
linked with a wide range of average length of all striations
(XT), which does not produce such a clear pattern. The
highly-abrasive diet (within the Prague-Zličín specimens)
linked with the short or very short striations were present
in 7 out of 39 (18%) adult individuals and only 1 immature
individual (14%).
When comparing separate groups of adult males, adult
females and subadults according to their grave goods
(Figure 3b), there is no statistically-signifcant diference
between the GG1 and GG2 groups at p=0.05 using the non-
parametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov two-sample test, even
though 4 out of 7 subadults and 9 of 17 females have objects
made of precious materials in their graves. Males had mostly
common grave goods in their graves, with only 3 out of 15
having goods made of precious materials, but one third of
their graves had been re-opened and possibly for this reason
these graves were also empty. When comparing grave goods
with respect to an individual’s age, statistical diferences were
confrmed, according to age category, between the subadult
(0–6/7–14 years) and adult age categories. Comparing the
group of meat eaters according to their grave goods, one can
point out that a meat-dependent diet was eaten by 11 of the
18 individuals with higher social status
(i.e.
the group with
precious grave goods, GG2) and by 14 of the 19 individuals
with common/average social status (
i.e.
the group with
common grave goods, GG1). It is thus possible to assume
that meat was eaten very often in the population of Prague-
Zličín, independent of their social status. When comparing
the composition of diet with respect to the corresponding
Table 4.
Mean values of selected buccal microwear variables in adults.
Population
(only adults over 15 years)
nNTXTSD NTSD XTNHNVSD NHSD NVNH/NTNV/NTReference
Carnivorous62
37.1217.2
16.248.5 4.0
17.6
2.6 8.5
0.10780.4744
Lalueza
et al.
1996
Tropical
27 74.6168.722.7
42.322.324.4 8.512.60.2989
0.3271
Lalueza
et al.
1996
Arid44 68.5164.618.532.216.223.4
7.9
8.90.23650.3416Lalueza
et al.
1996
Vegetarian/agriculturalist
20
57.4
191.1
17.8
49.629.413.412.4 8.10.51220.2334Lalueza
et al.
1996
Neol_LBK, Linear pottery
in Moravian settlements,
including Vedrovice
cemetery, 55–49 century
BC, CZ
29
87.6
144.221.234.119.330.110.114.80.22020.3434
Jarošová
et al.
2008,
Jarošová 2008
Neol_LgK, Lengyel culture
in Moravian settlements,
49–37 century BC, CZ
11 89.6149.622.922.813.535.5
7.7
10.50.15130.3959
Jarošová
et al.
2008,
Jarošová 2010,
Trampota
et al.
2012
Migration_period Prague-
Zličín, 5 century AD, CZ
39104.3
187.1
30.242.813.549.3 8.520.90.1294
0.4727
this paper
Late Roman, Tossal de les
Basses, 4–8 century AD,
Spain
26104.5 96.946.220.1NANANANANANA
Salazar-García
et al.
2016
Old_Slavonic_population
(Early Medieval period),
Dolní Věstonice Na
Pískách, 9–10 century AD,
CZ
60 82.4158.922.330.514.631.2
7.8
12.5
0.17730.3792
Jarošová 2007a,b,
Jarošová
et al.
2012
Middle_Ages, Dolní
Věstonice Vysoká Zahrada,
12 century AD, CZ
36 84.5166.215.532.215.630.4
7.4
8.8
0.1847
0.3595
Jarošová 2007a,b
image/svg+xml
IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 55–70
Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
64
grave goods, it is possible to conclude that a soft, or very
soft, diet was eaten by 16 of the18 individuals with higher
social status (
i.e.
the GG2 group with precious grave goods),
whereas a very abrasive diet was eaten by 4 individuals with
common grave goods (group GG1) and only 2 individuals
with higher social status (group GG2).
3.4 Comparative archaeological samples
The Neolithic and Medieval samples represent populations
from the Czech Republic used to compare buccal microwear
patterns with the studied archaeological population from
Prague-Zličín dated to the Migration period (see Table 4).
As proved by previous studies, all of these populations
depended only on a terrestrial diet (Zvelebil, Pettitt 2013;
Bickle
et al.
2014; Richards
et al.
2008; Jarošová
et al.
2008;
Jarošová 2008). The Early Neolithic sample dated to Linear
Pottery (Linearbandkeramik, LBK) represents early farmers
depending mainly on domesticated plant species (Zvelebil,
Pettitt 2013; Jarošová
et al.
2008; Jarošová 2008), whereas
the Late Neolithic sample dated to the Lengyel culture (LgK
/ Moravian Painted Ware) represents the dramatic changes
in diet that comes with a reliance on hunting wild animals
(Jarošová
et al.
2008). Medieval samples from Dolní
Věstonice (Czech Republic) represent both the Old Slavonic
epoch,
i.e.
Early Medieval period (historically known as the
Great Moravian epoch) and the Medieval population well
known for its intensive farming with grain cultivation. Both
samples were highly dependent on cereal resources, since
their meat consumption was low (Jarošová 2007a; 2007b;
Jarošová
et al.
2012). The Late Roman sample from Spain
falls into an identical period as the Prague-Zličín sample
(5
th
century AD). The Late Roman sample represents
a terrestrial diet with no evidence of marine protein
consumption, which appears to be softer compared to other
analyzed Neolithic and Medieval samples from the same
geographical area in Spain (Salazar-García
et al.
2016).
When comparing the Prague-Zličín sample with other
archaeological populations dated to the Neolithic, Late
Roman and Medieval period, only adults (over 15 years) were
included and only the diferences in buccal microwear pattern
were observed. Subadults were not examined for their buccal
microwear pattern due to the small number of individuals
available for analysis in each group. Buccal-microwear
data for the populations analyzed are shown in Table 4 and
Figures 4 and 5. Signifcant statistical diferences among the
Neolithic, Medieval and Migration period groups in terms
of their microwear pattern were found (Kruskal-Wallis
ANOVA; p<0.05: NV, XV, SDV, XMD, SDMD, SDDM, NT,
XT, SDNT and ratios NH/NT and NV/NT). Migration period
individuals were found to have a signifcantly higher number
of vertical microwear features (NV), which were also found
to be longer (XV) than other examined individuals from the
other periods. The abrasiveness of the food consumed in the
Migration period was also signifcantly the highest among
Figure 4.
Bivariate plot comparing buccal
microwear density (NT) and length (XT,
in µm) related to the dietary abrasiveness
between those adult populations (
i.e.
over
15 years old) analyzed. Error bars denote
± standard deviation. For data source, see
Table 4.
image/svg+xml
IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 55–70
Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
65
the other comparative archaeological samples in terms of
striation density (NT) and length (XT).
By comparing both the Neolithic groups with both the
Medieval samples and the Migration period samples for
dietary abrasiveness (NT and XT), we found that the buccal
microwear of the Neolithic and Medieval populations is
characterized by a lower density of smaller microwear length,
indicative of a less abrasive diet than that of individuals
of the Late Roman and Migration periods (Table 4 and
Figure 4). Moreover, adults in the Migration period sample
have an identical dietary abrasiveness as adults in the Late
Roman sample; both samples difering only in the length of
their microstriations, being twice as long in the Migration
period sample. This could indicate the same abrasiveness of
food in both samples, but with diferences in food processing
methods between the Migration and Late Roman samples,
i.e.
between the Barbarian and Late Roman populations
during the 5
th
century in the two diferent geographical areas.
When comparing both Neolithic groups with both the
Medieval and Migration period samples for the ratio of
Figure 5.
Scatterplot of NH/NT index with respect to NV/NT index for adult individuals from the Prague-Zličín population (Migration period) and
other comparative samples of adult individuals [populations with known diet: vegetarian agriculturalist, populations from tropical and arid areas and
carnivorous populations (Lalueza
et al.
1996); Neolithic samples dated to Linear Pottery (LBK) and Lengyel culture (LgK); and samples from Dolní
Věstonice comparing Old Slavonic population (Early Medieval period) with Middle Ages sample]. The scatterplot with convex hull shows the areas
occupied by the studied groups (using diferent colours) representing the smallest convex polygon that contains all points. Populations with known diet are
presented as mean values only, whereas archaeological populations show raw data. Mean values of each comparative sample are presented in the small chart
above right; for data sources, see Table 4.
image/svg+xml
IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 55–70
Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
66
Table 5.
List of individuals from the Prague-Zličín site included in the dental microwear analysis (F = female, M = male, A = ambiguous, Ad = adult, SubAd = subadult, GG0 = unknown grave goods,
GG1 = common grave goods, GG2 = grave goods containing precious materials as gold, silver, amber, or glass vessels).
Grave no.
Context / grave
Archeological context
Grave goods
Sex
Age-at-death
Sex category
Age category
Age category 1
Tooth
FDI code
NH/NT
NV/NT
NT
XT
Dietary inferrences
through NH – NV – NT
ratio
Composition of diet
Lenght of striations
2
501/2
re-opened
grave
GG0
M30–40MAd35–50 yrsM3UL28
0.2447
0.351194150.1
lower NV, higher NH…..
mixed-diet
soft dietshort striations
8
518/8
re-opened
grave
GG1
?
14–17
AAd15–35 yrsM1LL 36
0.0571
0.4914
175
113.5
high NV, low NH…meat
highly abrasive dietvery short striations
10
522/10
re-opened
grave
GG2
M?50+MAd50+ yrsM2UL
27
0.19300.4825114219.5
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietlong striations
13
523/13
re-opened
grave
GG1
?4,5–5ASubAd0–6 yrsm1UL640.10200.428649133.3
high NV, low NH…meat
very soft dietvery short striations
16
527/16
re-opened
grave
GG2
F16–19FAd15–35 yrsM1UR160.13330.4800
75
194.4
high NV, low NH…meat
very soft dietshort striations
19
530/19
re-opened
grave
GG1
F?45–50FAd35–50 yrsM2UR
17
0.1181
0.4724127
180.8
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietshort striations
24
535/24
re-opened
grave
GG2
F30–40FAd35–50 yrsPm3UL24
0.0667
0.5524105159.1
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietshort striations
26
537/26
re-opened
grave (?)
GG1
?3–4ASubAd0–6 yrsm2UL650.08930.642956
175.9high NV, low NH…meat
very soft dietshort striations
34
544/34
re-opened
grave
GG2
F30–40FAd35–50 yrsM1UL260.0820
0.4754
122210.0
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietlong striations
35
545/35
re-opened
grave
GG2
F45–50FAd35–50 yrsPm3LR440.33330.129654
167.9
low NV, high NH….
mixed / unknown diet
very soft dietshort striations
40
550/40
re-opened
grave
GG2
?24–30AAd15–35 yrsPm4LR450.12390.2920113112.2
lower NV, higher NH…..
mixed-diet
soft dietvery short striations
44a
555/44a
re-opened
grave
GG2
M?16–20MAd15–35 yrsM2UL
270.1167
0.4333120195.8
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietshort striations
47563/47
re-opened
grave
GG1
?30–35MAd15–35 yrsM2UL
27
0.10000.4692130
176.0high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietshort striations
54
572/54
re-opened
grave
GG1
F35–45FAd35–50 yrsM1UR160.04690.4922128153.0
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietshort striations
56
574/56
re-opened
grave
GG0
F35–45FAd35–50 yrsPm4LR450.1525
0.4237
59215.1
high NV, low NH…meat
very soft dietlong striations
60
587/60
re-opened
grave
GG1
F35–40FAd35–50 yrsM1UL260.29600.2960141
157.4
lower NV, higher NH…..
mixed-diet
highly abrasive dietshort striations
61
586/61
re-opened
grave
GG2
?35–40AAd35–50 yrsPm4LL350.0284
0.7447
125209.3
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietlong striations
63
591/63
re-opened
grave
GG1
M45MAd35–50 yrsPm4LR450.12310.4538130
167.3high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietshort striations
image/svg+xml
IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 55–70
Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
67
Grave no.
Context / grave
Archeological context
Grave goods
Sex
Age-at-death
Sex category
Age category
Age category 1
Tooth
FDI code
NH/NT
NV/NT
NT
XT
Dietary inferrences
through NH – NV – NT
ratio
Composition of diet
Lenght of striations
65
594/65
re-opened
grave
GG0
M40–50MAd35–50 yrsPm3LR440.08420.463295254.5
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietlong striations
67599/67
re-opened
grave
GG1
?16–20AAd15–35 yrsM2UL
270.07220.577397
215.6
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietlong striations
75608/75
re-opened
grave
GG1
?4–5ASubAd0–6 yrsm2LR85
0.1739
0.5043115
137.6high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietvery short striations
77721/77
re-opened
grave
GG0
M
40–50
(50)
MAd35–50 yrsM1UR16
0.07690.5577
52296.3
high NV, low NH…meat
very soft dietlong striations
78722/78
re-opened
grave
GG1
F45–55FAd50+ yrsM2UL
27
0.1648
0.2747
91101.1
lower NV, higher NH…..
mixed-diet
soft dietvery short striations
95
778/95
re-opened
grave
GG1
F50FAd50+ yrsPm3LR440.12500.500056193.5
high NV, low NH…meat
very soft dietshort striations
101
785/101
re-opened
grave (?)
GG2
?3–4ASubAd0–6 yrsm2UR550.13100.392984110.0
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietvery short striations
105
789/105
re-opened
grave
GG0
?35–40AAd35–50 yrsM2UL
27
0.12990.4805154
127.8high NV, low NH…meat
highly abrasive dietvery short striations
108
796/108
re-opened
grave
GG2
?10ASubAd
7–14 yrs
M1LR460.10480.4194124146.8
lower NV, lower NH…..
meat / mixed-diet
soft dietvery short striations
109
797/109
re-opened
grave
GG1
M40?MAd35–50 yrsPm4UR150.19230.5385
78
228.8
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietlong striations
110
798/110
re-opened
grave
GG2
F40–50FAd35–50 yrsPm3LL34
0.0789
0.5526
76
249.1
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietlong striations
112
800/112
re-opened
grave
GG1
M45–55MAd50+ yrsM1LL36
0.14750.5738
61
247.6high NV, low NH…meat
very soft dietlong striations
119
807/119
re-opened
grave
GG1
M
45–50
(50)
MAd35–50 yrsM2LR
47
0.39190.1216
74
186.0
low NV, high NH….
mixed / unknown diet
very soft dietshort striations
126
1504/126
re-opened
grave
GG0
?30–40AAd35–50 yrsPm4UR150.0935
0.5971
139153.3
high NV, low NH…meat
highly abrasive dietshort striations
128
1506/128
re-opened
grave
GG1
F20–25FAd15–35 yrsM1UL260.2233
0.4078
103
135.7
lower NV, higher NH…..
mixed-diet
soft dietvery short striations
129
1507/129
re-opened
grave
GG2
F
15–17
FAd15–35 yrsM1UL260.04850.5922103180.4
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietshort striations
131
1509/131
re-opened
grave
GG1
M50+MAd50+ yrsPm3LL340.05000.6200100209.8
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietlong striations
132
1544/132
re-opened
grave
GG2
M?35–45MAd35–50 yrsM2UL
270.1702
0.414994
207.1
lower NV, lower NH…..
meat / mixed-diet
soft dietlong striations
Table 5.
List of individuals from the Prague-Zličín site included in the dental microwear analysis (F = female, M = male, A = ambiguous, Ad = adult, SubAd = subadult, GG0 = unknown grave goods,
GG1 = common grave goods, GG2 = grave goods containing precious materials as gold, silver, amber, or glass vessels).
(Continuation)
image/svg+xml
IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 55–70
Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
68
Grave no.
Context / grave
Archeological context
Grave goods
Sex
Age-at-death
Sex category
Age category
Age category 1
Tooth
FDI code
NH/NT
NV/NT
NT
XT
Dietary inferrences
through NH – NV – NT
ratio
Composition of diet
Lenght of striations
141
1553/141
re-opened
grave
GG0
M
15–17
MAd15–35 yrsM1UL260.04310.5948116218.0
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietlong striations
142
1555/142
re-opened
grave
GG1
M50+MAd50+ yrsPm4LL350.0915
0.6197
142161.6
high NV, low NH…meat
highly abrasive dietshort striations
144
1557/144
re-opened
grave
GG2
?12ASubAd
7–14 yrs
m2LR85
0.1739
0.413092101.9
lower NV, lower NH…..
meat / mixed-diet
soft dietvery short striations
151
1570/151
re-opened
grave
GG2
F40–50FAd35–50 yrsPm4LL35
0.1742
0.4015132
174.6
lower NV, lower NH…..
meat / mixed-diet
highly abrasive dietshort striations
152
1571/152
intact (?)
GG2
?24–30AAd15–35 yrsPm4UR150.09210.5658
76178.5high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietshort striations
154
1573/154
re-opened
grave
GG0
M35–45MAd35–50 yrsPm3LR44
0.0476
0.5524105148.4
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietvery short striations
1571576/157
re-opened
grave
GG2
F13–14FSubAd
7–14 yrs
M1UR160.16300.2519135141.0
lower NV, higher NH…..
mixed-diet
highly abrasive dietvery short striations
160
1594/160
re-opened
grave
GG0
F50+FAd50+ yrsM1LR460.1461
0.4270
89240.5
high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietlong striations
168
1602/168
intact (?)
GG2
F55+FAd50+ yrsM2UL
270.16670.448778230.7high NV, low NH…meat
soft dietlong striations
1731611/173
re-opened
grave
GG1
?55+AAd50+ yrsM1LR46
0.27080.2708
144
177.7
lower NV, higher NH…..
mixed-diet
highly abrasive dietshort striations
Table 5.
List of individuals from the Prague-Zličín site included in the dental microwear analysis (F = female, M = male, A = ambiguous, Ad = adult, SubAd = subadult, GG0 = unknown grave goods,
GG1 = common grave goods, GG2 = grave goods containing precious materials as gold, silver, amber, or glass vessels).
(Continuation)
image/svg+xml
IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 55–70
Ivana Jarošová, Jiří Vávra, Jaroslav Jiřík, Marcela Horáková: Buccal Dental Microwear of a Barbarian Population from Prague-Zličín
– a Study of the Migration Period in the Czech Republic
69
horizontal and vertical striations (NH/NT and NV/NT),
we found diferences between the Neolithic adult samples
in terms of higher number of vertical striations and lower
number of horizontal striations in the Lengyel sample, which
can be an indicator of a more meat-based diet in comparison
to the LBK sample that has a higher number of horizontal
striations as evidence of a mixed diet. Both the Medieval
adult samples present similar buccal microwear patterns
with NH/NT and NV/NT ratios that can be associated with a
mixed diet. The Migration period represented by the Prague-
Zličín population has the highest values of vertical striations
(in terms of NH/NT and NV/NT) with the lowest number of
horizontal striations among all comparative samples, which is
similar to the carnivorous populations as shown in Figure 5.
This buccal microwear pattern can thus be associated with
the high meat intake of the adult Prague-Zličín population.
4. Conclusion
The analysis of buccal microwear pattern, carried out on
the Migration Period specimens from the Prague-Zličín site
(5
th
century AD), the so-called Barbarians, was performed on
the whole possible sample (n=46) as the rest of individuals
with molars or premolars showed postmortem enamel
defects (n=43). The buccal microwear pattern indicates
a meat-dependent diet with relatively high amounts of
abrasive particles in the food. The diet of the Prague-Zličín
population was probably highly dependent on meat resources
independent of their social status, since cereal/vegetable
consumption was decreased. The relatively soft, or very soft,
diet was eaten predominantly by Prague-Zličín individuals
with higher social status. Comparing Prague-Zličín adult
individuals over 15 years old with other archaeological
populations dated to the Neolithic, Late Roman, Early
Medieval and Medieval period, signifcant statistical
diferences in buccal microwear patterns were observed in 9
out of 15 variables. The abrasiveness of the food consumed in
the Migration period was signifcantly the highest among all
the comparative archaeological samples in terms of striation
density (NT) and length (XT). The Neolithic and Medieval
populations were characterized by a lower density of smaller
microwear length, indicative of a less abrasive diet than that
of individuals of the Late Roman and Migration period.
The abrasiveness analysed in Late Roman and Migration
period individuals was found to be identical; both groups
difered only in the length of microstriations, which were
twice as long in the Migration period sample. In the Prague-
Zličín population we found the highest number of vertical
striations (NV), which were also found to be longer (XV)
than in any of the other samples. When comparing all Czech
samples for the ratio of horizontal and vertical striations,
the lowest number of horizontal striations with the highest
number of vertical striations (in terms of NH/NT and NV/
NT) was found in the Prague-Zličín population. This can be
associated with the higher meat intake of the adult Prague-
Zličín population compared to the Neolithic and Medieval
samples. These results will contribute to our knowledge of
the buccal microwear variability for past populations dated
to the Migration period as this is the frst and biggest sample
in central Europe yet analyzed for buccal dental microwear.
Acknowledgement
All microscopic images were obtained at the Department of
Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk
University, Brno. This research was supported by the Czech
Science Foundation; grant number P405/13-18955S. All
authors would also like to thank two anonymous reviewers
for their helpful comments.
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