New research using microscopic analysis of teeth has uncovered striking evidence of high physiological stress in children at the archaeological site of Hisban in Jordan (figure 1). The findings point to a strong link between childhood health and maternal well-being in the past.

At Hisban, researchers identified unusually high mortality rates among children under the age of two. Many of these young individuals showed signs of conditions such as scurvy and rickets—diseases often associated with poor nutrition, chronic infection, and poor maternal health. The authors suggest that these patterns may reflect broader political and economic changes in the region, including influences from the Ottoman Empire.

To investigate this further, the study examined microstructural markers of stress preserved in teeth. Teeth form in early life and record developmental disruptions in remarkable detail. One key feature studied was accentuated enamel lines—darkened, widened growth lines in the enamel, the hard outer surface of the tooth. These lines form when enamel production is interrupted, often due to physiological stress during infancy or childhood.

Figure 1: Location of Hisban and the room that contained the Late Ottoman burials (black square on inset) (figure from Cockerille et al. 2026)

They also analysed interglobular dentin, a defect found within the dentin—the inner layer of the tooth. This condition occurs when mineralisation is incomplete, leaving small unmineralised areas. Interglobular dentin is often linked to vitamin D deficiency and is commonly associated with rickets, although it is not exclusively diagnostic of the disease.

Because teeth develop in stages, these features can be matched to specific periods in early life. This allows bioarchaeologists to pinpoint when stress events occurred and better understand the timing and possible causes of health disruptions.

Accentuated enamel lines were found in all individuals studied, with notable peaks occurring at around 10 weeks of age and again between 15 and 24 weeks. In addition, more than 60% of individuals showed interglobular dentin defects, which formed from the prenatal period through to about eight years of age.

Taken together, these findings suggest a population experiencing significant and repeated stress during early life. The authors argue that these patterns likely reflect a complex interplay of factors, including poor maternal health, nutritional deficiencies, and disease. The study highlights how closely maternal and infant health were linked—and how broader social and environmental pressures may have shaped this interaction.

Cockerille, K., A.Propst, B.Kahlon, D.Temple, and M.Perry. 2026. “Microstructural Evidence for Early Childhood Stress in a Community in Transition at Hisban, Jordan.” American Journal of Biological Anthropology190, no. 2: e70292. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.70292.