Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 95. (Budapest 2003)

Évinger, S.: Paleostomatological investigation of the anthropological findings from the Avar period cemeteries of Toponár and Fészerlak

72.5.1. - 72.5.66. and 83.4.1. - 83.4.110. Those without stock-taking are kept under the scores G 1/3-12, Gl/3-14 and Zs-2. The first 65 anthropological finds were brought to light in 1970 and 1971 were examined by WENGER (1975), but FOTHI (1988) re-examined them along with the individuals unearthed meanwhile. In this work, we used the estimations of age of death and morphological gender carried out by FÓTHI with the exception of 15 skeletons (Table 1 ). They had been left out from the earlier researches, but we used them in our investigation. Therefore, we determined their morphological sex using the method given by ERY ( 1992) and we measured their age at the time of death using classical age estimation methods produced by TODD (1920), MEINDL and LOVEJOY (1985), NEMESKÉRI et al. (1960) and ISCAN et al. (1984). Methods Examinations were made under artificial light (100 W) with the help of a spot. In moot cases, a loupe was used. Only those with permanent dentition (the juvenile, adult, mature and senile males and females) were drawn into the research. Data were recorded on teeth-measuring protocols produced by SZIKOSSY (1999). Frequency and progress of carious lesions, number of cystae, abscessi and premortem lost teeth and level of abrasion were registered. Number of incisors and canines with enamel hypoplasia was determined, too. To characterize the progress of carious lesions we applied the slightly modified method of SZIKOSSY and BERNÉRT (1996). Instead of their system of 6 gradations, we used the following 5 categories only: CI (caries superficiales) = caries affects enamel surface only C2 (caries media et profunda) = carious lesion reaches dentin C3 (caries penetrans) = tooth decay opens pulp C4 = large carious lesion with at least half of tooth crown destroyed C5 = nearly complete destruction of tooth crown, with only roots remaining Premortem lost teeth were treated separately from carious teeth. HUSZÁR and SCHRANZ ( 1952) appointed that not only caries could cause premortem tooth loss, but abrasion, trauma or periodontological diseases as well. To nominate cystae and abscessi evolved during tooth or periodontological diseases, the term cysta/abscessus was used, because with simple inspection these two alterations are indistinguishable on skeletal material (PAP 1992). To typify level of abrasion, the scale with 6 degrees produced by HUSZÁR and SCHRANZ ( 1952) was applied. For determination of average wear of a single tooth, all of them were characterized with a number (1-6) in accordance with their level of abrasion on the scale, and mean was drawn from them. Enamel hypoplasias, which are the results of disturbances of the ameloblasts (the cells responsible for creating the enamel layer of a tooth) by non-specific stresses (nutritional stresses or long lasting feverish diseases) during the development of teeth, were registered in the case of front teeth (incisors and canines), because they show this alteration with the highest frequency (GOODMAN & ARMELAGOS 1985a, h). Although from enamel hypoplasias we can deduce directly only the nonspecific stresses occurred in childhood, indirectly they can show the circumstances of life of the whole population as well. Representativity of the samples were described with the archeological dental index (ADI) given by BRINCH & M0LLER-CHRISTENSEN (1949).