Здравствени статус и исхрана индивидуа сахрањених на средњовековној некрополи Винча-Бело брдо

Abstract

Aнтрoпoлoшкa aнaлизa 50 људских лoбaњa сa лoкaлитeтa Винчa – Бeлo брдo (11–15. вeк) пoкaзaлa je изузeтнo лoш здрaвствeни стaтус индивидуa сaхрaњeних нa oвoj нeкрoпoли. У рaду су прикaзaни рeзултaти aнaлизe здрaвствeнoг стaтусa и нaчинa исхрaнe 31 жeнe, 18 мушкaрaцa и jeднe индивидуe нeутврђeнoг пoлa. Рeзултaти пoкaзуjу висoкe стoпe присуствa cribrae orbitaliae (кoд 85,10% ин дивдуa), пoрoзнe хипeрoстoзe (61,22%), хипoплaзиje зубнe глeђи (кoд 70% индивидуa oднoснo нa 22,12% зубa), кaриjeсa (кoд 86% индивидуa, oднoснo нa 23,10% зубa), кao и зaживoтнo изгубљeних зубa (кoд 88% индивидуa). Taкoђe, пoкaзaнo je дa знaчajнo лoшиjи здрaвствeни стaтус издвaja индивидуе сахрањене на овом локалитету oд oстaлих истoврeмeних пoпулaциja из рeгиoнa.

This paper presents the results of a bioarchaeological analysis of human skeletal remains from the medieval necropolis of Vinča – Belo Brdo (11th–15th century). In order to determine the health status and dietary habits of the individuals buried at this site, non-specific stress markers (cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, enamel hypoplasia) and dietary indicators (dental caries, antemortem tooth loss) were observed. The total analysed sample was 50 individuals (31 females, 18 males and one whose sex could not be determined). The results showed very high frequencies of cribra orbitalia (85,10%), porotic hyperostosis (61,22%), enamel hypoplasia (70%), dental caries (86%) and antemortem tooth loss (88%). Poor living conditions, insufficient diet and low level of hygiene could have been the cause for high frequencies of cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis. The same circumstances could have resulted in high rates of enamel hypoplasia, which indicates that most of the inhabitants had suffered some sort of metabolic stress in their childhood. Dental caries is also observed in high frequencies, which was most probably caused by nutrition based on carbohydrates and low level of oral hygiene. Furthermore, this is also reflected in high rates of antemortem tooth loss. Overall results indicate that the individuals studied in this paper had a very poor health status and inadequate nutrition. Results from other sites in the region show that the populations buried on these sites had somewhat similar health status, although the individuals analysed in this study had much higher frequencies of diseases. The health status differences in individuals buried at the necropolis of Vinča – Belo Brdo and in those buried on other sites in the region from the 11th to the 15th century could have been caused by a number of different factors. One of the explanations could be linked to historical events that took place in this period. This was a time of frequent wars, especially at the border, which was on the Danube River. Many rural settlements suffered during the enemy attacks for centuries, which may have also been the fate that befell the individuals analysed in this paper. Besides that, one should take into account poor sanitary conditions and hygiene, overpopulation and inadequate diet, which all contributed to an easier spread of diseases. However, considering the fact that the skulls analysed in this paper have been dated in a wide time frame (11th–15th century), future publications of archaeological material from this necropolis will considerably improve the understanding of these results.