Dental investigation of the peat-bog body from Elling

Abstract

Dental investigation of the peat-bog body from Elling

Our present knowledge of the dental condition of prehistoric Danes is very scant. The few reports available have focussed on attrition and dental caries. Only one other peat-bog body -the Grauballe Man- has been subjected to dental examination.

Four pieces af jaw bone remnants from the present body were studied. They comprised the right mandibular ramus and body region, the anterior part of the mandible and the two most anterior parts of the maxillary bone separated along the intermaxillary suture. Although distorted, shrunken, and markedly decalcified, the general morphology of the jaw remnants is well preserved. The areas of previous muscular insertion are not well developed, which in conjunction with the complete lack of beard stubble in well preserved remnants of chin skin lends support to the idea of the body being that of a human female. The presence of mandibular third molar alveoli, the slight reduction in height of interdental septa and the location of the mental foramen in relation to the gengival bone crest indicates a young individual (20-30 years of age at the time of death).

Intact teeth were not present. However, several root remnants were found in the alveoli. X-rays of the jaw bones did not disclose disease processes.

Hans Peter Philipsen