ASM Bioarchaeologist Dr. James Watson
Today’s blog is a report from the field by Dr. James Watson who has been in Chile teaching and researching supported by a Fulbright award.
When I arrived in Arica, Chile to start four months of research on the dental health of some of the world’s oldest skeletons I had no idea how barren a desert could be. Those of us who live in and love the Sonoran Desert appreciate its rich flora and fauna–even if it pricks us once in a while. But here in the Atacama Desert, there isn’t a single plant for miles unless a human has irrigated it.
Steep sandy hills and narrow valleys run to a precipitous end in the cold Pacific Ocean. You may be lucky to see a low scraggly shrub or small patch of poor looking reeds clinging to moist sand patches where underground water flows come close to the surface near the coast but that‘s about it. The Atacama is known as the driest desert in the world. NASA does research on the soil here as a simulation of working on Mars because there is literally no life in it.
How did the prehistoric residents of this area make a living here? That is precisely one of the questions that sent me to this area. As a bioarchaeologist, I am interested in how humans adapt to their environments and how those adaptations result in differences in bodily health that can be observed in the skeleton.
Come to find out, the modern city of Arica and the adjoining Azapa Valley hold the answer to my question. Arica is known for it’s seafood and Azapa is known for its olive tree plantations. The northern Chilean coast is a maritime cornucopia that provided the foundation for largely sedentary fishing folk for over 8,000 years, the Chinchorro culture. Although these people lived in the driest desert, they had access to some of the richest marine resources in the world. Their adaptation to the coast allowed them to develop the world’s oldest artificial mummies, several thousands of years before Egyptians began their famed practice. Their teeth certainly show the signs of wear and tear of a diet of the sea. Heavy wear and lots of damage to the tooth crown often resulted in the loss of teeth in older adults. But, they had almost no cavities to speak of…and not a dentist in sight!
Although the Chinchorro were extremely successful at their coastal adaptation, sometime around 1,500 B.C. (or about 4,000 years ago) domesticated plants and animals arrived from other parts of South and North America. Along with corn, potatoes, beans, squash, chilis, quinoa, and llamas and alpacas came the technology of farming and pastoralism. These new resources attracted many of the coastal residents deeper to the interior of the valley and they began to live a very different life; one based in agricultural production. People living along the coast continued to exploit the ocean, but the villages growing in the Azapa Valley became completely dependent on domesticates and soon enough their change in diet caused their teeth to suffer. Consuming mostly processed plants and animal products caused a lot more food material to get stuck in the nooks and crannies of their teeth and caused cavities and some very painful dental problems. In this case, these later agricultural groups adapted to the dry desert environment by irrigating it and growing what food they needed. However, in the end, their health ended up suffering for it.
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Very interesting to discover valuable pieces to make up history. This research also proved that people in those times already experiencing dental problems. Though before it can lead to death, but now we have dental experts to look at our oral health.
Its difficult to imagine the pain these people endured back in the days before dentists.
Thanks for sharing this post. I found it interesting how you pointed out the relationship of diet with the prevelance of dental tooth decay.
-Amy
Without regular visits to the dentist, teeth will develop wear and tear and eventually lead to tooth loss as you mentioned.
With a diet consisting of mostly processed plants and animal products leading to food debris to get stuck between their teeth, it is no wonder they developed painful dental problems.
This research also proved that people in those times already experiencing dental problems.who can motivated for your reseach work.Thanks for sharing your article.
I found it interesting how you pointed out the relationship of diet with the prevelance of dental tooth decay.
Without regular visits to the dentist, teeth will develop wear and tear and eventually lead to tooth loss as you mentioned.
It is true that ancient Egyptians made use of a document, now known as ‘The Book of the Dead’, though it is far less dubious than the name suggests. The name of the book, coined by German Egyptologist Karl Richard Lepsius, was an unfortunate failure of translation from ancient Egyptian, to Arabic, to German and then to English. Something was definitely lost in that translation.
Being a dentist, I can appreciate your article and found it very useful.
It’s incredible how they were able to live without proper dental care. I can only imagine they probably lost most of their teeth.
It’s hard to imagine the pain people went through before their where common dentist like we think of today. Nice post.
Love reading history titbits like these. Even though Chile is now a developing country, it has a enriching history on its own.
Great article. I love reading information like this, information that is both historical and informative. Ive always had a desire to do a little archaeology, but I guess that is just a dream.
I am from Sonora
It´s nice read some of my home town 
And yes… It´s reaaally hot :S
Ninel
Were you able to obtain any information on the age that these individuals would start having significant dental issues? What were the treatments available besides the obvious extraction?
It’s incredible how they were able to live without proper dental care. I can only imagine they probably lost most of their teeth.
Fascinating article. I love this field and I hope to get back to school soon. I work at salons in Dalton GA now, it pays the bills but archeology is so interesting. Great piece.
Very intriguing findings. Really shows the importance of proper dental care. I’m glad I took advantage of the modern opportunity of great dental care . Again, very intriguing.
I found it interesting how you pointed out the relationship of diet with the prevelance of dental tooth decay.