Archaeologists have made new discoveries in the necropolis of the Byzantine city of tell es-Sin, which is located on the territory of modern Syria. In the tombs of the age of 1400-1600 years were found the remains of hundreds of people, which is probably almost never suffered from toothache.
a Brief report on the study published on the website of the University of Barcelona. The necropolis of tell es-Sin, found in 1978, is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the middle East. Its area is 25 ha. In the centre even in ancient times, was built the pass which was used by Byzantine and Persian army.
during the excavations, scientists have discovered a previously unknown tomb used in the Byzantine period for mass graves. It is established that in graves were usually buried three to five adult men and women.
the Analysis showed that these people were buried in the period from the V to VII centuries of our era on the left Bank of the Euphrates river. By the way, tombs located to the South-East of the present town of Deir ez-Zor, near the border with Iraq.
of the hundreds of skeletons found under laboratory conditions was studied 71. This helped to create a typical portrait of a local resident at the time. According to lead author of the work Estebaranz Sanchez, the average height of men was of 174.5 cm and women 159,1 see These figures were typical for the whole of the Byzantine Empire.
Studies of the bones showed that these people suffered many diseases for example rickets and hyperostosis. Nowadays these diseases are not very common, but in the tell es-Blue they suffered 8.5 per cent of the population. Many of the surveyed people died from infections.
What struck the scientists, is the surprisingly good condition of the teeth. These people clearly do not suffer from dental pain as their contemporaries from other regions. Only 2.8% of the investigated teeth, scientists have discovered tooth decay. This share is negligible – in this respect the locals differed from the other citizens of the Byzantine Empire.
to explain this phenomenon, the researchers began the study into the cavities of the mouth. They plan to determine the diet of the local population. Perhaps the secret of the health of their teeth this is.
