Interpreting developmental stress in archaeological pigs: The chronology of linear enamel hypoplasia

By recording abnormal incremental lines, known as linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH), visible on the south crowns of numerous archaeological pigs' teeth, it has been possible to construct a chronology of physiological stress for five different archaeological assemblages. The results confirm that LEH is a common occurrence in all the populations investigated. Given the geograph ical and temporal differences between the sites studied. LEH in pigs is thu s likely to be a frequently observable phenomenonal Analysis of the frequen cy distribution of the height of each LEH lesion on the lingual surface of each cusp of each molar shows that the occurrences of LEH follow clear patt erns. Taking into account the published data on tooth crown growth in the m odern domestic pig, it is proposed that birth and weaning are the direct ca usal agents of the two discrete peaks noted on the first permanent molar (M -1), whilst a period of under-nutrition encountered during the first winter of the animals' life is thought to be the main causal factor for the occur rence of the single distinct LEH peak noted on the second permanent molar ( M-2). A broad peak on the third permanent molar (M-3) is similarly interpre ted. These links between patterns of LEH and the normal developmental physi ology of the animal open a number of possibilities for interpretation.