Anthropotamus - Anthropology Podcast · Anthropotamus

Tracing early life histories from Roman times to the Medieval era

January 15, 2024·16 min·1 clip

Horizontal grooves in ancient teeth, called linear enamel hypoplasia, are permanent records of childhood stress from disease or malnutrition.

Anthropology podcast Anthropotamus interviews researcher Marin Belta about her study using isotope analysis on ancient teeth to trace weaning practices and childhood stress from Roman to Medieval times in Bavaria. The episode explains how nitrogen ratios in tooth dentine reveal 'weaning dips' and how linear enamel hypoplasia marks physiological stress, while also reconstructing the ancient Bavarian diet.

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