Abstract:

Examinations on teeth provide important data in illuminating the nutrition, health structure, age, gender, kinship relations with other societies and cultural habits of archaeological societies. The teeth constituting the material of the study belong to the Silver Tumulus society dated to the Byzantine Period. The Silver Tumulus is located in the Karabük province, Safranbolu district, Erenler Hill Mevkii. The aim of the study is to examine the teeth of the Gümüş Tumulus community dated to the Byzantine Period from a paleopathological point of view and to determine the socio-economic status, health structure and nutrition styles. In addition, it is to determine its place among other ancient Anatolian societies, which are contemporary in terms of dental pathologies. Accordingly, 282 teeth belonging to 24 individuals recovered from the Gümüş Tumulus excavations were examined in terms of paleopathology. Out of 282 teeth, 139 belong to women, 73 to men, 38 to children and 15 to adolescents. 17 teeth are isolated. As a result of the examinations, the rate of dental caries in the population was found to be 3.52%. While the rate of dental caries in Silver Tumulus is 4.76% in women, it is 1.69% in men. The rate of dental caries in children was determined as 5.26%. No caries was observed in the teeth of the adolescent individual. Abscess rate, which is one of the most important indicators of dental health, was determined as 1.4%. Antemortem tooth loss rate is 6.2%. While the rate of antemortem tooth loss was 5.31% in female individuals, it was determined as 7.84% in male individuals. The proportion of dental stones that provide important clues about the health of the society needs nutritional structure, the form of food preparation, and the proportion of dental stones that provide important clues about the health of the mouth is determined to 17.34%. The toothbrush of the society is advanced.