SOCIO-CULTURAL CHANGES REFLECTED ON THE ORAL HEALTH OF GEORGIA’S POPULATION DURING THE MIDDLE AND LATE BRONZE AGE (PRELIMINARY DATA)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the transition from a nomadic (pastoral) to a sedentary (agricultural) lifestyle on the oral health of ancient populations in  Georgia. Oral health serves as a key indicator of dietary patterns, which are intrinsically linked to economic and subsistence practices.
Throughout human history, major shifts in subsistence strategies-such as the adoption of farming and the increased consumption of domesticated crops-have altered the microbial ecology of the oral cavity (microbiome). These changes often
increased susceptibility to oral diseases, including dental caries (cavities) and periodontal pathologies.