SEM-EDX Analysis of the Dental Plaque of the Knight Bayard (1473?-1524) Permits to Study his Diet Habits and Dental Cares

Author(s): Gerard Lucotte, Thierry Thomasset

We have studied by SEM-EDX analysis the dental plaque of one of Bayard’s molar (1473?-1524), a famous French knight who lived at the end of the Middle Age period. Scanning electron microscopic studies permit us to establish that he ate leeks, asparagus, dried green garden peas and sorrel ; the cereal was mainly stocks of rye flour ; the meat was chicken, and the fish as herring and tench. The sugar came from chestnut tree honey. His drinking water was infested by very numerous diatoms. The established Bayard dental cares consisted of the abrasion of dental plaque, mainly, with various sorts of pumice stones.

Bayard knight, dental plaque, SEM-EDX studies, diet and drink, dental cares

1. Jacquart J. “Bayard”. Fayard Ed (Paris, France), 1987.
2. Lucotte G, Bouin Wilkinson A. Y-chromosomal profile and mitochondrial DNA of the chevalier Bayard. Open Journal of Genetics, 2017, 7 : 50-61.
3. Gleize Y, Castex D, Duday H, Chapoulie R. Analyse préliminaire et discussion sur la nature d’un depot dentaire très particulier. Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d’Anthropologie de Paris, 2005, 17 : 5-12.
4. Charlier P, Huynh-Charlier I, Munoz O, Billard M, Brun L, Lorin de la Grandmaison G. The microscopic examination of dental calculus deposits. Potential interest in forensic anthropology of a bio-archaeological method. Legal Medicine, 2010, 12 : 163-171.
5. Piperno DR. “Phytoliths : a comprehensive guide for the archaeologists and paleoecologists “. Alta Mira Press (Lanham, MD, USA), 2006.
6. Lazzati AMB, Levrini L, Rampazzi L, Dossi C, Castelletti L, Licata M, Corti C. The diet of three medieval individuals from Caravate (Varese) . Combined results of ICP-MS analysis of trace elements and phytobith analysis conducted on their dental calculus. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2016, 26 : 670-681.
7. Power RC, Salazar-Garcia DC, Wittig RM, Henry AG. Assessing use and suitability of scanning electron microscopy in the analysis of micro remains in dental calculus. Journal of Archaeological Science, 2014, 49 : 160-169.
8. Henry AG, Piperno DR. using plant microfossils from dental calculus to recover human diet : a case study from Tell al-Raqa’i, Syria. Journal of Archaeological Science, 2008, 35 : 1943-1950.
9. Heneen WK, Brismar K. Scanning electron microscopy of mature grains of rye, wheat and triticale with emphasis of grain shrivelling. Hereditas, 1987, 107 :147-162.
10. Solari A, Olivera D, Gordillo I, Bosch P, Fetter G, Lara VH, Novelo O. Cooked bones? Method and practice for identifying bones treated at low temperature. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2015, 25 : 426-440.
11. Miculescu F, Ciocan LT, Miculescu M, Ernuteanu A. Effect of heating process on micro structure level of cortical bone prepared for compositional analysis. Digest Journal of Nanomaterials and Biostructures, 2011, 6 : 225-233.
12. Yin T, Park JW, Xiong S. Physicochemical properties of nano fish bone prepared by wet media milling. Food Science and Technology, 2015, 64 : 367-373.
13. Braglinière J, Le Louarn H. Caractéristiques scalimétriques des principales espèces de poissons d’eau douce de France. Bulletin Français de Pêche et de Pisciculture, 1987, 306 :1-39.
14. Hesse M, Halbritter H, Zetter R, Weber M, Buchner R, Frosch-Radivo A, Ulrich S. “Pollen Terminology : an illustrated handbook”. Springer Ed. (Wien, New York), 2009.
15. Seckbach J, Kociolek JP. “The diatom world”. Springer Ed. (London, New York), 2011.
16. Dudgeon JV, Tromp M, Diet, geography and drinking water in Polynesia : microfossil research from archaeological human dental calculus, Rapa Nui (Easter Island). International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2014, 24 : 54-63.
17. De Reviers B. “Biologie et phylogénie des algues”, tome 2. Belin Ed. (Paris), 2003.
18. Power RC, Salazar-Garcia DC, Straus LG, Gonzalez Morales MR, Henry AG. Microremains from El Miron Cave human dental calculus suggest a mixed plant-animal subsistence economy during the Magdalenian in Northern Iberica. Journal of Archaeological Science, 2015, 60 : 39-46.
19. Sengupta P, Saikia PC, Borthakur, PC. SEM-EDX characterization of an iron-rich kaolinite clay. Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 67 : 812-818.
20. Welton JE. “SEM petrology atlas”. AAPG Ed (Tulsa OK USA), 2003.
21. Dachary M, Deniel C, Plassard F, Boivin P, Devidal JL. Textural and geochemical analysis of a pumice polisher with grooves from the Magddalenian site of Duruthy (Sorde, Landes, France). Paléo, 2012, 23 : 315-322.
22. Laurioux B. “Manger au Moyen-Age” . Library Hachette Ed. (Paris, France), collection Pluriel, 2002.
23. Fakhoury M, Blanc L. “Les étapes gourmandes du chevalier Bayard”. Le Signet du Dauphin Ed. (Lumbin, France), 2017.
24. Gauthier A. “Alimentations médiévales Ve-XVIe siècle.” Ellipses Ed (Paris, France), 2009.
25. Lott JNA, Spitzer E. X-ray analysis studies of elements stored in protein body globoid crystals of Triticum grains. Plant Physiology , 1980 : 494-501.
26. Jane J, Kasemsuwan T, Leas S, Zobel H, Robyt JF. Anthology of starch granule morphology by scanning electron microscopy. Starch / Stärke, 1994, 46 : 121-129.
27. Yang X, Perry L. Identification of ancient starch grains from the tribe Triticeae in the North China Plain. Journal of Archeological Science, 2014, 40 : 3170-3177.
28. Yiu SH. Food microscopy and the nutritional quality of cereal foods. Food Structure, 1993, 12 : 123-133.
29. Growther A, Haslam M, Oakden N, Walde D, Mercader J. Documenting contamination in ancient starch laboratories. Journal of Archeological Science, 2014, 49 : 90-104.
30. Dronzek BL, Hwang P, Bushuk W. Scanning electron microscopy of starch from sprouted wheat. American Association of Cereal Chemists, 2012, 295 : 232-239.
31. Birlouez E. “A la table du Moyen-Âge”. Ouest France Ed. (Rennes, France), 2013.
32. Pitte JR. “Terres de Castanide : hommes et paysages du châtaignier de l’Antiquité à nos jours”. Fayard Ed. (Paris), 1986.
33. Ludes B, Coste M. “Diatomées et medicine légale.” Lavoisier Ed. (Paris, France), 1996.
34. Moulinier-Brogi L. Hygiène et cosmétique de la bouche au Moyen Âge. In “Dents, dentistes et art dentaire”. L’Harmattan Ed. (Paris), 2012.
35. Gutiérrez-Rodilla BM. Pourquoi se brosser les dents? Soins dentaires au XVIe et XVII e siècles. In “Dents, dentistes et art dentaire”. L’Harmattan Ed. (Paris) , 2012.
36. Delumeau J. “La peur en Occident”. Fayard Ed. (Paris), 1978.
37. Baron P. Les observations cliniques de Pierre Fauchard dans le Traité des Dents (1728). Quelle modernité? In “Dents, dentistes et art dentaire.” L’Harmattan Ed. (Paris, France), 2012.