Search results for "Paleopathology"
showing 10 items of 14 documents
Cribra orbitalia as a potential indicator of childhood stress: Evidence from paleopathology, stable C, N, and O isotopes, and trace element concentra…
2016
Cribra orbitalia (CO), or porotic hyperostosis (PH) of the orbital roof, is one of the most common pathological conditions found in archaeological subadult skeletal remains. Reaching frequencies higher than 50% in many prehistoric samples, CO has been generally attributed to a variety of factors including malnutrition (e.g., megaloblastic anemia) and parasitism. In this study, we tested the relationship between CO, trace element concentrations, and stable isotope values (δ13C, δ15N, δ18O) in subadult skeletons from a 17th to 18th century cemetery in the historic town of Jēkabpils, Latvia. A total of 28 subadults were examined, seven of which (25%) showed evidence of CO. Bioarchaeological ev…
The utility of 3D medical imaging techniques for obtaining a reliable differential diagnosis of metastatic cancer in an Iron Age skull.
2018
Abstract In this report we present a case of neoplastic disease affecting an Iron Age skull that provides some of the earliest evidence of metastatic cancer (MC) in Western Europe. The cranium comes from the indigenous site of Baucina (Palermo, Sicily) and was recovered in a multiple burial context dated to the 6th–5th centuries BCE. The skull was attributed to an adult female and was characterized by numerous perforating lytic lesions. CT and 3D imaging analyses were crucial for obtaining a diagnosis of MC. Based on the morphology of the lytic lesions and the biological profile of our specimen, we can tentatively suggest breast carcinoma as the primary origin of the clinical manifestations…
Rib lesions in skeletons from early neolithic sites in Central Germany: On the trail of tuberculosis at the onset of agriculture
2012
As an infectious disease, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Paleopathological and paleomicrobiological studies indicate a long standing association of the causative agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its human host. Since the occurrence and the epidemic spread of this pathogen seem to be closely linked to social and biological factors, it is of particular interest to understand better the role of TB during periods of social and nutritional change such as the Neolithic. In this study, 118 individuals from three sites in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) dating to the Linear Pottery Culture (5400-4800 BC) were examined macroscopically to identify TB related bone lesions…
Degenerative alterations of the spine in an Early Mediaeval population from Mannheim-Seckenheim, Germany
2012
Abstract Palaeopathological and palaeoepidemiological analyses of human skeletal remains are some of the most important bases for the reconstruction of life of past populations. The assessment of frequency and degree of pathological alterations contributes to conclusions of a population's health status, labour conditions, and environmental influences. Degenerative diseases of the spine are among the most common lesions observed in archaeological human remains. The large number of excavated Early Mediaeval cemeteries in Germany enables the comparison of contemporary populations increasing the reliability of conclusions regarding their living conditions. In this study, 112 adult individuals w…
The Eulau eulogy: Bioarchaeological interpretation of lethal violence in Corded Ware multiple burials from Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
2009
The Corded Ware is one of the major archaeological traditions of Late Neolithic Europe. Its burial customs are characterized by single graves but multiple burials also occur. We present a detailed study of antemortem and perimortem trauma in a group of Corded Ware skeletons from four multiple graves and give the most probable interpretation of the site, based upon all available bioarchaeological evidence. The pattern of observed injuries in male, female, and subadult skeletons, including cranial trauma, arrow wounds, and fractures of the forearm and hands points towards a violent event that resulted in the death of all individuals, most probably a raid. In contrast to comparable Neolithic r…
Osteological evidence for the Battles of Zürich, 1799: a glimpse into soldiery of the past
2003
Institute of Anthropology, University of Mainz, GermanyABSTRACT Four human skeletons probably could be attributed to people killed during the Battles ofZu¨rich in 1799. Cranial and postcranial gunshot wounds are consistent with those made byblack powder weapons using lead balls as ammunition. Additional finds include a probablecase of Scheuermann’s Disease and a pipe smoker’s facet. Copyright 2003 John Wiley S Switzerland; gunshot wounds; Scheuermann’s disease; pipesmoking; palaeopathology
State-of-the-art imaging in palaeopathology: the value of multislice computed tomography in visualizing doubtful cranial lesions
2002
Non-invasive imaging techniques are of great value in palaeopathology. Computed tomography (CT) is widely established to visualize changes in human remains that occurred both pre and post mortem. Since 1999 an advanced form of helical CT—so called Multislice-CT (MSCT)—has become available for clinical purposes. We now present for the first time three historic cranial lesions of doubtful aetiology visualized by MSCT. Both original images and virtual reconstructions of the specimens are of high quality. In combination with peri-lesional bone density measurements these images allow an improved assessment of aetiology. The cases presented are diagnosed by MSCT as being of intra vitam nature in …
An insight into cancer palaeobiology: does the Mesozoic neoplasm support tissue organization field theory of tumorigenesis?
2022
Abstract Background Neoplasms are common across the animal kingdom and seem to be a feature plesiomorphic for metazoans, related with an increase in somatic complexity. The fossil record of cancer complements our knowledge of the origin of neoplasms and vulnerability of various vertebrate taxa. Here, we document the first undoubted record of primary malignant bone tumour in a Mesozoic non-amniote. The diagnosed osteosarcoma developed in the vertebral intercentrum of a temnospondyl amphibian, Metoposaurus krasiejowensis from the Krasiejów locality, southern Poland. Results A wide array of data collected from gross anatomy, histology, and microstructure of the affected intercentrum reveals th…
Cranial deformations in an Iron Age population from Münsingen-Rain, Switzerland
2008
The aim of this paper is an examination of cranial fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and deformations in the prehistoric population of Munsingen-Rain (La Tene period, Switzerland). The material consists of 76 skulls. Three cases of craniosynostosis, one scaphocephalic skull with complete obliteration of the sagittal suture and two plagiocephalic skulls were identified. CT scans showed that premature closure of the frontosphenoidal suture caused these plagiocephalies. For three asymmetrically deformed skulls, differential diagnosis indicates torticollis (wry neck). Another four skulls exhibit strongly developed asymmetries of the cranium and mandible, but an aetiological diagnosis was not possible.…
The face of conflict: Significant sharp force trauma to the mid-facial skeleton in an individual of probable 16th–17th century date excavated from By…
2016
A variety of injuries have always been associated with violence, consequences of which people had to deal with. In this paper we present a complex of craniofacial and dental injuries resulted from sharp force trauma. The basis of our study was historical skeletal material excavated from archeological site in Byczyna (11th–17th century), Poland. An individual whose skeleton was exhumed from the grave No. 610 exhibited healed, oblique trauma of the left maxilla, damage to the crowns of right central and lateral incisors and concomitant luxation of the right maxillary central incisor. We describe the mechanism of this trauma and complications that resulted from damage to the masticatory appara…