DENTAL STATUS OF BRONZE AGE POPULATION FROM THE AREA OF MODERN POLTAVA REGION (ACCORDING TO THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL MATERIALS)
Authors: Kaskova L.F. , Chuprina L.F. , Morgun N.A. , Andriyanova O.Yu. , Artemiev A.V. 
Published: September 2022

In modern medical science, and in particular in dentistry, regarding pathology, the following question is actual invariably: Have there always been manifestations of diseases as we see them today? At the same time, research on dental diseases in ancient people remains also a reliable source of knowledge about the causes of oral cavity pathology in the modern population.

Therefore, it is important to study deviations from the norms of development and peculiarities of skeleton of populations in various periods.

The purpose of the study. To investigate the condition of hard oral tissues in the Bronze Age population from the area of modern Poltava region by skeletal remains.

Object and methods of research. For the analysis the bone remains of 47 representatives (4 children's, 20 women's and 23 men's skeletons) of population of the Bronze Age (middle of the 3rd millennium – the 2nd millennium BC), from the area of modern Poltava region (main group), from the mound located in the vicinity of the village Hittsi of the Lubenskyi district, discovered by the archeological expedition in 2021 were selected.

Anthropological series of individuals living in the Bronze Age on the territory of modern Poltava region described earlier were taken as a control group for comparison.

The materials were discovered during the archaeological excavations carried out in 1998-2012, where a total of 102 skeletons were examined (30 children's skeletons, women's skeletons among examined are 20, and male ones are 52.)

The study of the material was carried out by the method of skeletal tissue analysis of ancient people, developed by the authors of this publication on the basis of the Laboratory of Medical and Historical Anthropology of the Municipal Establishment "Center of Protection and Research of Archaeological Monuments" of Poltava Regional Council and the Children's Department of Therapeutic Dentistry with prevention of dental diseases of Poltava State Medical University. The method provides maximum preservation of bone and teeth tissues.

Research results. Differences in the dental status of the main group correspond to the results of the paleopathological analysis of the collective anthropological series of the Bronze Age control group from the area of Poltava region (where there were found 4 tooth cavities per 102 persons and in another 22 persons dental mineralized deposits were observed) which reflect a specific consequence of the negative impact of social factors and environment in places of residence. However, the difference was determined in the form of coverage of the chewing organs with teeth mineralized deposits. Discrepancy in the number of encounters of mineralized deposits in the teeth of the studied groups is probably explained by the difference in food consumption and possible differences in types of lifestyles, the possible tendency of the male population to long transitions.

Conclusion. The general somatic status of the control group of the studied people corresponds to the state of health of the Bronze Age population of the main group from the area of Poltava.

So, another 47 people of the Bronze Age showed the same dynamics of the development of dental pathology with previously studied skeletons of representatives of this time from the area of the modern Poltava region.