新疆罗布泊小河墓地居民的口腔健康与饮食

Oral Heath and Diet of the Xiaohe Cemetery Populations in Lop Nur, Xinjiang Province

小河墓地是新疆罗布泊地区一处重要的早期青铜时代墓地。本文主要对该墓地出土颅骨所附牙齿的磨耗程度及牙结石沉积状况进行了观察、量化统计和分析,同时也对该人群其他的口腔疾病如根尖脓肿、颞下颌关节病变、生前牙齿脱落等做了简单的统计,以期从古病理学的角度获取当时居民的口腔健康、食物类型和饮食习惯等信息。本研究发现:1)小河人群的牙齿磨耗程度远远高于对比组的古代居民,其上腭圆枕及颞下颌关节炎出现率较高,存在牙齿崩裂现象,且其前后部牙齿磨耗差异不大。这一方面说明其食物加工技术比较落后,食物粗糙坚硬;另一方面小河居民的经济生活方式和食物构成都比较复杂,不同的食物对前部和后部牙齿磨耗的程度造成了不同的影响;此外,小河人群风沙肆虐的生活环境也对其严重牙齿磨耗的形成产生了一定影响。2)小河人群异常严重的牙结石沉积归功于其高蛋白质和碳水化合物的饮食,以及生活用水的水质。3)统计分析发现两性存在上、下颌犬齿的磨耗差异,而这一情况可能暗示了在家庭手工业方面存在男女分工的现象。

The Xiaohe cemetery is an important Early Bronze Age cemetery in Lop Nur, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The degree of wear and calculus deposition was observed and quantified using statistics. We also used some simple statistics on the other oral diseases, such as temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis, dental abscesses, and ante-mortem tooth loss. This study found the following results. Compared to other ancient populations in China, Xiaohe human teeth were characterized by a high degree of tooth wear and with a higher frequency of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis and maxillary torus. Front and rear teeth wear was unremarkable. We believe that the manner of food processing in the Xiaohe populations was relatively simple, with more tough foods eaten than in other groups. On the other hand, the economic lifestyle and foods of the Xiaohe residents was complex with different foods causing different attrition levels, with the environment playing a role. The severe dental calculus deposition shown in the Xiaohe populations was attributed to a high protein, carbohydrate diet, and due to water quality. Statistical analysis showed that Xiaohe populations had sexual differences in canine tooth wear, implying women and men had a division of skills within the family.