Early Life Stress and Weaning Dynamics in Wallacea: Evidence from Dental Enamel Hypoplasia in a 7,200‑Year‑Old Individual from Leang Panninge

Erwin Mansyur Ugu Saraka1*, Akin Duli1,2, Fakhri3, and Khadijah Thahir Muda1

This study investigates early life stress and adolescent health in Wallacea through the analysis of dental enamel hypoplasia (DEH) in a 7,200-year-old female hunter-gatherer from Leang Panninge. This individual, widely known as Bessé, represents the first ancient human genome recovered from Wallacea and died at approximately 17–18 years of age. The burial is characterised by a flexed position with a north–south orientation and reveals a unique genetic profile, including Denisovan-related ancestry and affinities with present-day Papuan and Indigenous Australian populations. While previous studies have focused on her genetic and population history significance, limited attention has been given to her biological health and developmental stress. This research employs macroscopic observation, morphometric analysis, and microscopic (histological) examination to identify and interpret enamel defects. The timing of stress episodes is reconstructed based on the position of lesions along the crown formation sequence. The results indicate two primary types of hypoplasia: series of pits and linear enamel hypoplasia. The distribution and frequency of linear defects suggest recurrent episodes of systemic physiological stress, with a pronounced cluster between 2 and 3 years of age, strongly indicative of weaning-related stress. Additional stress episodes identified between 5 and 6 years suggest prolonged exposure to environmental and nutritional challenges. These findings highlight the biological vulnerability of early Holocene hunter-gatherers in Wallacea and underscore the importance of integrating bioarchaeological evidence with broader discussions of human adaptation in island Southeast Asia.