Hypoplastic defects in two 17th-18th century skeleton series from Krasicznyn and Krakow (southern Poland).

Enamel hypoplasias constitute the best indicator of mineralization disturbance, resulting from environmental stress. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of the enamel hypoplasia in historical population and compare the results to date from other research on historical and contemporary groups. The distribution of hypoplasia was determined in complete and partial human dentitions from a two 17th-18th century series: from Krakow and from Krasiczyn. Both sites are located on south of Poland. Thirty four adults and twenty six no adults from Krakow and twenty four adults and eleven no adults from Krasiczyn, divided into five different age groups, were studied. In Krakow population altogether 1130 (1047 permanent and 83 deciduous) were examined macroscopically. The number of examined teeth from the individuals from Krasiczyn was 500 (351 permanent and 149 deciduous). Hypoplastic defects were scored according procedure proposed by Steckel et al. in Global History of Health Project. Among individuals from Krakow the frequency of hypoplastic defects was 42.03% (linear defects 37.96%, pits and grooves 4.07%). In Krasiczyn population the frequency of linear hypoplastic defects was 20.7%. The rate of hypoplastic defects in Krakow was relatively high, a much higher than in Polish contemporary populations. Among individuals from Krasiczyn the hypoplastic defects occur rarely than in other historical samples. The data indicate significantly greater frequencies of enamel hypoplasia in Krakow population compared to the population from Krasiczyn. It can be concluded that the stress level in Krakow population was higher than in Krasiczyn population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]