1985 (R. S. Corruccini, J. S. Handler, and K. Jacobi) “Chronological Distribution of Enamel Hypoplasias and Weaning in a Caribbean Slave Population.” Human Biology 57: 699-711.
Dental enamel hypoplasia is a putative marker of childhood morbidity (nutritional or infectious stress) which can he analyzed by age-of-occurrence using a calcification standard. We have recorded age-specific occurrence of (a) minor linear hypoplasias, (b) pits, (c) major growth-arrest lines, and (d) combined hypoplasias in 103 specimens of 17-19th century Caribbean slaves. This population is probably unique in terms of environment, nutritional deficiency and other severe environmental stresses, and (especially) association with historical resources that might allow more specific correlation of stresses with hypoplasia chronology.