Research Article
Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) in an Ancient Population of Dor and Its Relation to the Aetiology of MIH
Harel Sharon,
Zilberman Uri*
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 1, June 2025
Pages:
1-6
Received:
13 October 2024
Accepted:
30 October 2024
Published:
24 January 2025
Abstract: Background: The prevalence of MIH in modern population is increasing during the last decades. Most of the etiology factors today are based on perinatal health disorders. In order to understand if the hypomineralization of the enamel in MIH/HSPM is a novel developmental disorder, we compared the prevalence of modern population to archeological population with a high rate of mortality of young children. Objectives: To analyze the prevalence of MIH/HSPM in ancient population of Dor, Israel (16th-19th centuries). Materials: We examined 104 skulls out of 157 skeletons excavated, which had at least one permanent and/or one primary second molars for MIH/HSPM. Methods: All skulls were examined under a white light and skulls with MIH/SPMH were photographed. The skulls with suspected MIH/SPMH underwent CT analyses. Results: Three skulls out of the 104 skulls examined showed distinct enamel developmental defects on primary or permanent molars: one with MIH, one with HSPM and one with hypoplasia of second primary molars. Conclusions: Very low percentages of MIH/HSPM were found in Dor population, in comparison with modern prevalence of MIH in Israel, almost 18% of childrens 6-16 years old. Significance: In modern Israeli population with minimal perinatal health problems the prevalence of MIH/HSPM is very high and increasing. Based on the very low prevalence of MIH/HSPM in Dor population and the poor health situation of the children, we can conclude that the proposed aetiology of hypomineralization based on health or developmental problems during early childhood in modern population is questionable. Suggestion for further research: In modern populations the research should be directed to epigenetic factors in affected families.
Abstract: Background: The prevalence of MIH in modern population is increasing during the last decades. Most of the etiology factors today are based on perinatal health disorders. In order to understand if the hypomineralization of the enamel in MIH/HSPM is a novel developmental disorder, we compared the prevalence of modern population to archeological popul...
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Research Article
Amalgamation and Alluvial Gold Mining at Ancient Sardis, Türkiye
William Earl Brooks*
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 1, June 2025
Pages:
7-20
Received:
21 January 2025
Accepted:
11 February 2025
Published:
24 February 2025
Abstract: Even though gold was widely used in the ancient world there are few studies of the mining technology used to obtain the precious metal. Ancient Sardis is one of the most well-known of these ancient gold occurrences. At Sardis and elsewhere in the ancient world, gold was washed from alluvial occurrences using gravity methods combined with mercury (amalgamation), a method that is still used today in small-scale alluvial gold mines worldwide. The ‘Present is the Key to the Past’ allows us to examine modern gold mining in order to evaluate ancient methods. Given, that industrial amounts of gold are produced in only two ways, either by cyanide, which was first used in the 1880s in the US, or ages-old gravity separation/amalgamation, then amalgamation must be re-examined as the gold mining technology used to produce alluvial gold at ancient Sardis. Regional geology, geoarchaeology, and the evaluation of: 1) the availability of cinnabar, the ore of mercury; 2) an ancient mercury retort near Konya; 3) ancient use of cinnabar as a funeral pigment and as a source of mercury that was used for gilding and amalgamation; 4) the fine-grained alluvial gold at Sardis; and 5) the mercury content of Sardis’ alluvial gold (11,615 ppm Hg) and end-product gold, a Byzantine coin (<1 ppm Hg) are consistent with the conclusion that mercury amalgamation was the mining technology that supplied gold, as electrum, to ancient Sardis’ craftsmen.
Abstract: Even though gold was widely used in the ancient world there are few studies of the mining technology used to obtain the precious metal. Ancient Sardis is one of the most well-known of these ancient gold occurrences. At Sardis and elsewhere in the ancient world, gold was washed from alluvial occurrences using gravity methods combined with mercury (a...
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