Sex differences in linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) in early modern Japan

• OYAMADA JOICHI

  Department of Oral Anatomy and Dental Anthropology, Unit of Basic Medical Sciences, Course of Medical and Dental Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki

• KITAGAWA YOSHIKAZU

  Department of Oral Anatomy and Dental Anthropology, Unit of Basic Medical Sciences, Course of Medical and Dental Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki

• KATO KATSUTOMO

  Department of Physical Therapy, Unit of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Course of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki

• MATSUSHITA TAKAYUKI

  The Doigahama Site Anthropological Museum, Shimonoseki

• TSURUMOTO TOSHIYUKI

  Department of Macroscopic Morphology, Unit of Basic Medical Sciences, Course of Medical and Dental Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki

• MANABE YOSHITAKA

  Department of Oral Anatomy and Dental Anthropology, Unit of Basic Medical Sciences, Course of Medical and Dental Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki

Abstract

In Japan’s early modern period (1603–1867), also known as the Edo period, females were considered inferior to males. It is therefore plausible that boys were raised more solicitously than girls, and that girls were subject to various kinds of deprivation in early childhood. We compared the prevalence of linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) in the dentition of the skeletal remains of early modern Japanese samurai and commoners interred in an urban location (a castle town). Significant sex differences were found in the prevalence of LEH in both groups. As there is evidence that LEH prevalence reflects stress levels in early childhood, the significant differences between the sexes provide material evidence for the hypothesis that male offspring were given preferential treatment among both samurai and commoners in Edo period urban society.

Journal

• Anthropological Science

  Anthropological Science 120 (2), 97-101, 2012

  The Anthropological Society of Nippon

Keywords

• LEH
• enamel hypoplasia
• early modern age
• samurai
• commoners

Details

• CRID: 1390001204314086144
• NII Article ID: 10031057107
• NII Book ID: AA11307827
• DOI: 10.1537/ase.110715
• ISSN: 13488570
• ISSN: 09187960
• NDL BIB ID: 023894363
• Web Site: http://id.ndl.go.jp/bib/023894363
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I023894363
• Web Site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ase/120/2/120_110715/_pdf
• Web Site: https://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2013306631
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • NDL
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed