Viking teeth offer a glimpse into the lives of these ancient Scandinavians, revealing details about their diets, daily activities, and social structures. These dental remains act as enduring records, allowing researchers to reconstruct aspects of Viking existence that written sources often omit.
Viking Dental Health and Diet
Viking dental health exhibited a mix of robust wear and common ailments, reflecting their diet and lifestyle. Coarse foods, such as stone-ground grains, tough meats, and fibrous root vegetables, led to significant tooth wear, a common finding in their remains. Despite this wear, severe decay was less prevalent than in later historical periods.
Vikings still experienced dental issues like cavities, gum disease, and abscesses. Studies show that nearly half of individuals had one or more cavities, largely due to a diet rich in starchy foods like bread, porridge, honey, and fruits. While their diet included meat, fish, dairy, and vegetables, starchy carbohydrates and fermented drinks like beer and mead contributed to dental caries over time. They also used toothpicks for hygiene.
Unusual Dental Modifications
Beyond natural wear and common ailments, some Viking teeth display intentional modifications. Horizontal grooves or filing marks have been found on the front teeth of certain Viking men. These markings, often skillfully executed, vary in number and pattern, suggesting a deliberate alteration rather than accidental damage.
The purpose of these modifications remains a subject of ongoing study, but several theories exist. They may have served as status symbols, tribal markers, or a form of intimidation. Recent research suggests these filed teeth identified members of specific groups, such as merchant guilds. The largest concentration of individuals with these modified teeth has been found on the island of Gotland, primarily in areas associated with trade.
What Viking Teeth Reveal
Viking teeth serve as “time capsules,” offering insights into ancient societies. Wear patterns on teeth can help estimate an individual’s age at death, providing demographic data for archaeological populations. The degree of tooth wear increases with age, with first molars showing the most significant wear.
Scientists can also use isotopic analysis, such as strontium isotopes, to trace an individual’s geographic origin and movement patterns throughout their life. As teeth form, they incorporate the strontium signature of the environment where an individual grew up; comparing this to local baselines can indicate if someone was local or moved from another region. Additionally, teeth can show occupational clues, specific wear patterns or chipping from being used as tools for tasks like softening leather or holding objects, providing evidence of daily crafts and labor.