Oral Infections in Ancient Human Skulls in 2000 BC/ Iron Age, Iran

Dariush D.  Farhud; Mahsa  Azari; Mehdi  Rahbar

doi:10.18502/ijph.v53i5.15593

Dariush D. Farhud School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahsa Azari Research Center for Paleogenomics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mehdi Rahbar Organization of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v53i5.15593

Keywords: Oral disease; Abscess; Homo heidelbergensis; Ancient human; Iran

Abstract

Background: Oral infections have been seen in humans since ancient times. Excessive penetration of this infection can cause human death. Most of these infections are gum cysts and abscesses. The cyst creates large hard lumps in the gums, which is causes loose, and protruding teeth and abscesses, causing cavities in the jawbone and teeth. In this article, we have discussed for this infectious disease in 4000 – year - old ancient humans from Qazvin Province, Iran. The bone remains of our research are related to Sagezabad ancient cemetery in Qazvin plain.

Methods: We tried to use reliable international atlases to get detailed information about ancient oral infections. The bones were extracted from the 2019 excavation of the Ghara Tappe area of Sagezabad for the Iron Age 2^nd and 3^rd Qazvin plains of Iran. This cemetery belongs to the period of the Medes Kingdom (pre - Achaemenian kingdom) in Iran.

Results: We have discussed one of the ancient cemeteries with a large number of ancient populations. In this cemetery, there are signs of war and infectious diseases on the bones, which can be clearly seen. We have specially mentioned the abscess as the cause of oral infection from Sagezabad cemetery.

Conclusion: Oral infection existed in Iran since 2000 BC. Of course, this infection was common in ancient times and even Paleolithic period, like Homo Heidelbergensis.