Assessment and Further Development of the Recording and Interpretation of Linear Enamel Hypoplasia in Archaeological Pig Populations

Through the study of five archaeological collections, it has previously been established that there is a consistent pattern in the height distribution of Linear Enamel Hypoplasia (LEH) on the molars of pigs. Consequently, the hypothesis has been published, that the non-random occurrence of LEH along the tooth's surface is explained by a consistent, underlying chronology, i.e. that of the major physiological events of birth, weaning and surviving winter. In this paper, the interpretations of the previous study were tested by the analysis of two further assemblages, i.e. those from Middle to Late Saxon Flixborough (UK) and from 15th century Raversijde (Belgium). The question whether the distinction between two different forms of LEH can shed more light on the aetiology of the condition, is also posed. In addition, the previously published hypothesis, i.e. that the relative frequency of LEH always roughly follows the same pattern along the molar row (a necessary assumption in order to compare the frequency of LEH between sites, on the basis of an index combining the data for individual teeth), has been tested by the analysis of the same two additional assemblages. The results are promising with regard to the further analysis of LEH in archaeological material.