This study investigates the oral health status and dental morphological traits of an Iron Age population from the Dobrogea region (southeastern Romania), based on the macroscopic analysis of 226 teeth from 32 adult individuals recovered from the necropolises of Histria, Isaccea, and Enisala. Despite challenges related to the prevalence of cremation practices, the analysis revealed a high frequency of dental pathologies, including antemortem tooth loss (over 80%), dental caries (6.25%), periapical granulomas (10.42%), and linear enamel hypoplasia (6.3%). Additionally, non-metric morphological traits such as dental rotation (12.5%) and the torso-molar angle (9.4%) were identified, indicating both hereditary and environmental influences on cranio-dental development. Statistical analyses using the Chi-square test and Phi coefficient revealed significant associations between several pathological variables, especially between antemortem and postmortem tooth loss, and between antemortem loss and carious lesions. These findings suggest a complex interplay of biological, dietary, and cultural factors influencing oral health.
Keywords:- bioanthropology
- iron age
- oral health