ЗДРAВСTВEНИ СTATУС И ИСХРAНA ИНДИВИДУА САХРАЊЕНИХ НА СРЕДЊОВЕКОВНОЈ НЕКРОПОЛИ ВИНЧA – БEЛO БРДO

THE HEALTH STATUS AND DIET OF INDIVIDUALS BURIED
AT THE MEDIEVAL NECROPOLIS OF VINČA – BELO BRDO
 

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 11thto 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.