Drihtnēum

What this skeleton told us: Evidence

An older man. The skeleton is eroded and fragmentary but is about 80 % complete. Tooth decay and plaque is present on the teeth, and there is some evidence of enamel thinning (enamel defects, or hypoplasia). Some tooth loss had occurred during life with healing of the tooth sockets.

Interpretation of the evidence

In Anglo-Saxon Britain, it is likely that if a man survived childhood, he could expect to live a fairly long life, at least into middle-age, provided he maintained good health and was not killed in battle. This man died at a relatively advanced age, indicating that he was well-nourished and in good general health. However, we should remember that humans are very good at adapting to challenging times! In common with many of the people buried at the Bowl Hole, dental hygiene appears to have been poor for this man, and tooth decay indicates sugar in his diet.