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Vlok M, Oxenham M, Domett K, Trinh HH, Minh TT, Nguyen MH, Matsumura H, Buckley H. High prevalence of adult and nonadult scurvy in an early agricultural transition site from Mainland Southeast Asia was associated with decreased survivorship. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 185:e25011. [PMID: 39152997 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.25011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The osteological paradox recognizes that the presence of lesions is not always directly related with increased mortality. When combined with the clinical, historical, and epidemiological literature on scurvy, survivorship analysis, a form of statistical analysis to assess the relationship between the presence of diseases in the archeological record and survival, helps determine the overall burden of the disease both in terms of morbidity and mortality. This article explores the relationship between scurvy and survivorship in 26 adults from Man Bac, a Neolithic site from northern Vietnam together with prepublished evidence of scurvy in the nonadult population (n = 44). METHODS Diagnosis of scurvy included differential diagnosis combined with the Snoddy, A. M. E., Buckley, H. R., Elliott, G. E., Standen, V. G., Arriaza, B. T., & Halcrow, S. E. (2018). Macroscopic features of scurvy in human skeletal remains: A literature synthesis and diagnostic guide. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 167(4), 876-895. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23699 threshold criteria and the Brickley, M. B., & Morgan, B. (2023). Assessing diagnostic certainty for scurvy and rickets in human skeletal remains. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 181, 637-645 diagnostic certainty approaches. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were produced to assess the relationship between the presence of probable scurvy and age-at-death. RESULTS The prevalence of probable scurvy in adults (35%) was considerably lower than reported for the nonadults (80%). Almost all lesions observed in the adults were in a mixed stage of healing. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated no difference in survivorship between infants and children (<15 years) with or without probable scurvy, whereas a meaningful difference was observed for the adults and adolescents (15+ years). CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate that scurvy considerably decreased survivorship to older age categories. The degree of lesion remodeling, however, indicates that scurvy was not necessarily the direct cause of death but contributed to an overall disease burden that was ultimately fatal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melandri Vlok
- School of Health Sciences, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Languages and Cultures, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Marc Oxenham
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Department of Archaeology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland
| | - Kate Domett
- College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hiep Hoang Trinh
- Institute of Archaeology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Tran Thi Minh
- Institute of Archaeology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Mai Huong Nguyen
- Institute of Archaeology, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | - Hallie Buckley
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Gomes RAMP, Santos AL, Catarino L. Using portable X-ray fluorescence elemental analysis to explore porous skeletal lesions: Interplay of sex, age at death, and cause of death. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 184:e24954. [PMID: 38747122 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Search for possible associations between bone elemental concentration and the presence of porous skeletal lesions (PSLs), considering the sex, age, and cause of death (COD) of the individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS The sample comprised 107 non-adult individuals (56 females, 51 males) aged 0-20 (x̄ = 13.2, SD = 5.8) from the Coimbra and Lisbon Identified Skeletal Collections. Cribra cranii, orbitalia, humeralis, and femoralis were recorded as present/absent, and elemental concentrations were assessed by portable x-ray fluorescence (pXRF). A multivariate statistical approach was applied. RESULTS Well-preserved skeletons with minimal diagenesis showed no sex-related elemental variations or PSL associations. In contrast, age-at-death correlated with elevated Ca, P, Sr, and Pb levels. Cribra cranii increased with age while other cribra declined post-adolescence. Higher concentrations of Fe and lower of S were linked to cribra cranii. Respiratory infections as COD increased the odds of expressing cribra femoralis (OR = 5.25, CI = 1.25-15.14), cribra cranii (OR = 2.91, CI = 0.97-8.69), and cribra orbitalia (OR = 2.76, CI = 1.06-7.24). DISCUSSION Feasible pXRF results and low cribra intraobserver error assure replicability. Elevated Ca, P, and Sr in older individuals may relate to skeletal growth, while increased Pb suggests bioaccumulation. Cribra's increase with age reflects different rates of marrow conversion and bone remodeling. Higher Fe and lower S in individuals with cribra cranii possibly reflects poor nutrition, early alcohol use, and sideroblastic anemia, aligning with 19th-20th-century Portugal's living conditions. Respiratory infections increased cribra expression, revealing intricate interplays among inflammation, anemia(s), marrow expansion, and diet. This research highlights a complex scenario and blazes a new path for cribra interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo A M P Gomes
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Carrera de Antropología, University of Concepción, Barrio Universitário S/N, Concepción, Chile
| | - Ana Luisa Santos
- Department of Life Sciences, Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Lidia Catarino
- Department of Earth Sciences, Geosciences Center (CGeo), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Srienc-Ściesiek MT, Richards N, Ladstätter S, Kirchengast S. Evidence of non-adult vitamin C deficiency in three early medieval sites in the Jaun/Podjuna Valley, Carinthia, Austria. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2024; 45:18-29. [PMID: 38520801 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to determine and discuss the prevalence of non-adult scurvy cases from the early medieval Jaun/Podjuna Valley in southern Austria. MATERIALS 86 non-adult individuals were assessed from three early medieval sites. METHODS Morphological characteristics associated with suggestive and probable scurvy were observed macroscopically and under 20-40x magnification. RESULTS A significant relationship between the prevalence of scurvy and age group was observed. Perinates (46%, 6/13) and children (27.5%, 8/28) showed a high prevalence of skeletal features indicating a diagnosis of scurvy, while no cases of scurvy were observed in adolescents and adults. CONCLUSIONS In this Alpine region, scurvy occurred frequently in infants and children. Seasonal fluctuations of diet are discussed as factors triggering scurvy. SIGNIFICANCE This study sheds new light on the prevalence of scurvy in the Alpine region and how the region developed after the fall of the Roman Noricum. It also models ways in which multiple lines of evidence can contribute to the diagnostic process. LIMITATIONS Poor preservation posed a challenge to identifying probable cases of scurvy. Likewise, non-adult remains are difficult to diagnose due to their developing nature and it is not always possible to distinguish between normal bone growth and pathological growth. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Future applications of biomolecular studies will help illustrate changes in diet that may have contributed to vitamin deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena T Srienc-Ściesiek
- Austrian Archaeological Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Franz-Klein Gasse 1, Vienna 1190, Austria; Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Djerassipl. 1, Vienna 1030, Austria.
| | - Nina Richards
- Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Bäckerstraße 13, Vienna 1010, Austria
| | - Sabine Ladstätter
- Austrian Archaeological Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Franz-Klein Gasse 1, Vienna 1190, Austria
| | - Sylvia Kirchengast
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Djerassipl. 1, Vienna 1030, Austria
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Eggington J, Pitt R, Hodson C. A macroscopic assessment of porosity and new bone formation on the inferior pars basilaris: Normal growth or an indicator of scurvy? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2024; 45:62-72. [PMID: 38781795 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This research aims to determine the aetiology of porosity and subperiosteal new bone formation on the inferior surface of the pars basilaris. MATERIALS A total of 199 non-adult individuals aged 36 weeks gestation to 3.5 years, from a total of 12 archaeological sites throughout the UK, including Iron Age (n=43), Roman (n=12), and post-medieval (n=145) sites, with a preserved pars basilaris. METHODS The pars basilaris was divided into six segments, with porosity (micro and macro) and subperiosteal new bone formation recorded on the inferior surface in scorbutic and non-scorbutic individuals. Scurvy was diagnosed using criteria from the palaeopathological literature that was developed using a biological approach. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in microporosity between scorbutic and non-scorbutic individuals in four out of the six segments analysed. There was a significant negative correlation between age and microporosity in non-scorbutic and scorbutic individuals. A significant difference in subperiosteal new bone formation was observed between scorbutic and non-scorbutic individuals. CONCLUSIONS Microporosity on the inferior pars basilaris should not be considered among the suite of lesions included in the macroscopic assessment of scurvy in non-adult skeletal remains (less than 3.5 years). SIGNIFICANCE This study highlights the risk of over diagnosing scurvy in past populations. LIMITATIONS It is difficult to distinguish between physiological (normal) and pathological (abnormal) bone changes in the skeleton of individuals less than one year of age. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Future research should focus on the analysis of individuals over 3.5 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Eggington
- Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, UK; School of History, Archaeology and Religion, Cardiff University, UK.
| | - Rebecca Pitt
- Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, UK
| | - Claire Hodson
- Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, UK; Department of Archaeology, Durham University, UK
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Gomes RAMP, Catarino L, Santos AL. The Role of Fe, S, P, Ca, and Sr in Porous Skeletal Lesions: A Study on Non-adult Individuals Using pXRF. Biol Trace Elem Res 2024:10.1007/s12011-024-04187-4. [PMID: 38691307 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04187-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Portable X-ray fluorescence is a new tool in the study of human bone. This research aims to investigate if variations in bone elemental concentrations are related with porous skeletal lesions (PSLs). One hundred well-preserved non-adult skeletons aged 0-11 years were selected from the archaeological site Convent of São Domingos, Lisbon (18th-19th century). Measuring a standard reference material and calculating the technical error of measurement assured elemental data reliability. Moreover, measuring soil samples excluded possible contamination of bones with elements from the soil, except for Pb. Additionally, the Ca/P ratio indicates maintenance of bone integrity. Cribra cranii, orbitalia, humeralis, and femoralis were recorded as present/absent, and the estimated intra-/inter-observer errors were low. The multivariate analysis found higher odds of having cribra orbitalia (OR = 1.76; CI = 0.97-3.20) and cribra femoralis (OR = 1.42; CI = 0.73-2.74) in individuals with lower Fe and higher S. Furthermore, higher levels of P, Ca, and Sr increased the odds of individuals developing cribra femoralis (OR = 2.30; CI = 1.23-4.29). Age also correlated with increased odds of exhibiting cribra orbitalia (OR = 1.86; CI = 0.94-3.68), cribra femoralis (OR = 6.97; CI = 2.78-17.45), and cribra humeralis (OR = 8.32; CI = 2.71-25.60). These findings suggest a shared etiology for these three cribras, contrasting with the higher Fe levels in individuals with cribra cranii. Lower Fe and higher S levels in individuals with cribra suggest a complex etiology, possibly involving conditions like megaloblastic or chronic disease anemia(s). Age-related elemental changes support the hypothesis that age influences cribra frequencies. This study highlights PSL complexity and opens new avenues for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo A M P Gomes
- Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua Do Arco da Traição, 3000-056, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Carrera de Antropologia, University of Concepción, Barrio Universitário S/N, Concepción, Chile.
| | - Lidia Catarino
- Geosciences Center, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima - Pólo II, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Luisa Santos
- Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua Do Arco da Traição, 3000-056, Coimbra, Portugal
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Wang T, Dittmar JM, Inskip SA, Cessford C, Mitchell PD. Investigating the association between intestinal parasite infection and cribra orbitalia in the medieval population of Cambridge, UK. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2024; 44:20-26. [PMID: 38039702 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cribra orbitalia is believed to be a skeletal indicator of chronic anaemia, scurvy, rickets or related metabolic diseases. It has been suggested that it may be used as a proxy indicator for intestinal parasite infection, as parasites often cause anaemia today. Our aim is to investigate this association in the medieval population of Cambridge, UK. MATERIALS Individuals excavated from the cemeteries of the Augustinian friary and All Saints by the Castle parish church, and aged from 7 to adulthood. METHODS We undertook parasite analysis of the pelvic sediment and control samples of 46 burials with intact orbital roofs. RESULTS Human roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) and/or whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) were identified in the pelvic sediment of 22 individuals, and cribra orbitalia noted in 11 individuals. Barnards test showed no association between parasite infection and cribra orbitalia (p = .882). CONCLUSION We found no association between infection and cribra orbitalia infection in this medieval adult population, calling into question this hypothesis, at least for adults. SIGNIFICANCE High or low cribra orbitalia prevalence in adults should not be used to infer rates of intestinal parasite infection. LIMITATIONS The individuals in the study were over the age of 7, with no younger children. It is possible that only parasites which cause marked anaemia (such as hookworm, schistosomiasis or malaria) may cause cribra orbitalia, while less marked anaemia from roundworm and whipworm may not do so. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Repeating this study in younger children, when most cribra orbitalia appears to form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Wang
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, The Henry Wellcome Building, Cambridge CB2 1QH, UK
| | | | - Sarah A Inskip
- School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Craig Cessford
- Cambridge Archaeological Unit, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Piers D Mitchell
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, The Henry Wellcome Building, Cambridge CB2 1QH, UK.
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Brickley MB. Perspectives on anemia: Factors confounding understanding of past occurrence. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2024; 44:90-104. [PMID: 38181478 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2023.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This paper reviews factors confounding the understanding of the past occurrence of anemia. Using the evidence gathered, a framework is presented of ways forward to enable greater confidence in diagnosing acquired anemia in paleopathology, facilitating insights into longer-term perspectives on this globally relevant condition. RESULTS To date, porotic lesions have been central to paleopathological investigations of anemia. The fact that porotic bone lesions are omnipresent and have multiple causes but are likely to have a relatively low, age-related frequency in individuals with anemia, a condition that will have been common in past communities, is confounding. METHODS Establishing frameworks that move away from porotic lesions is proposed to facilitate higher levels of more accurate anemia diagnoses in paleopathology. SIGNIFICANCE Acceptance of the fundamental principle that anemia may be better considered as a condition requiring metric evaluation of bone structures, supplemented by careful consideration of lesions, will advance understanding of acquired anemia in past communities. Such an approach would provide a clear basis for further consideration of congenital conditions causing anemia, such as sickle-cell disease and thalassemia. LIMITATIONS This paper simply opens the conversation on the better diagnosis of anemia in paleopathology; it starts the iterative process of achieving some consensus and progress on diagnosing anemia in paleopathology. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Engagement with ideas presented, sharing data and development of metric parameters will assist in identifying the effects of marrow hyperplasia on bone, enabling more robust work on the important topic of anemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan B Brickley
- McMaster University, Department of Anthropology, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L9, Canada.
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Simonit R, Maudet S, Giuffra V, Riccomi G. Infantile scurvy as a consequence of agricultural intensification in the 1st millennium BCE Etruria Campana. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21396. [PMID: 38049537 PMCID: PMC10696072 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48455-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The 1st millennium BCE in Italy was a time of agricultural intensification of staple cereal production which shaped sociocultural, political, and economic spheres of pre-Roman groups. The lifeways and foodways of the Etruscans, the greatest civilization in western Europe before Roman hegemony, are traditionally inferred from secondary written sources, funerary archaeology, archaeobotany, and zooarchaeology. However, no direct data extrapolated from the study of human skeletal remains are available to evaluate the extent to which agricultural intensification and decreased dietary diversity impacted health and the expression of skeletal indicators of metabolic disease. Macroscopic and radiological analyses were conducted on an archaeological skeletal sample of non-adults (n = 29) recovered from Pontecagnano (southern Italy) dating to the Orientalizing period (730-580 BCE). This allowed us to identify five cases of scorbutic non-adults and to assign diagnostic values to skeletal lesions of scurvy that have not been previously described in the literature. The onset of scurvy in the examined sample is related to the increased reliance of Etruscans on crops lacking vitamin C in this period of agricultural intensification. The skeletal expression of scurvy varied among the non-adults, with differences in location and disease severity; these were interpreted considering the age-at-death of the individuals coupled with feeding behaviors and interindividual variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachele Simonit
- Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Giuffra
- Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Riccomi
- Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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Wei X, Cooper DML. The various meanings and uses of bone "remodeling" in biological anthropology: A review. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2023; 182:318-329. [PMID: 37515465 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In modern bone biology, the term "remodeling" generally refers to internal bone turnover that creates secondary osteons. However, it is also widely used by skeletal biologists, including biological anthropologists as a catch-all term to refer to different skeletal changes. In this review, we investigated how "remodeling" is used across topics on skeletal biology in biological anthropology to demonstrate potential problems with such pervasive use of a generalized term. METHODS Using PubMed and Google Scholar, we selected and reviewed 205 articles that use the term remodeling to describe skeletal processes and have anthropological implications. Nine edited volumes were also reviewed as examples of collaborative work by different experts to demonstrate the diverse and extensive use of the term remodeling. RESULTS Four general meanings of bone "remodeling" were identified, namely, internal turnover, functional adaptation, fracture repair, and growth remodeling. Additionally, remodeling is also used to refer to a broad array of pathological skeletal changes. DISCUSSION Although we initially identified four general meanings of bone remodeling, they are not mutually exclusive and often occur in combination. The term "remodeling" has become an extensively used catch-all term to refer to different processes and outcomes of skeletal changes, which inevitably lead to misunderstanding and a loss of information. Such ambiguity and confusion are potentially problematic as the field of biological anthropology becomes increasingly multidisciplinary. Therefore, we advocate for precise, context-specific definitions and explanations of bone remodeling as it continues to be used across disciplines within and beyond biological anthropology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Wei
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - David M L Cooper
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Vlok M. Technical note: The use and misuse of threshold diagnostic criteria in paleopathology. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2023; 181:326-335. [PMID: 36866523 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Weighted threshold diagnostic criteria approaches have emerged for diseases that involve skeletal/bony tissue that are readily diagnosed in the field of paleopathology such as Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy), Vitamin D deficiency (rickets) and treponemal disease. These criteria differ from traditional differential diagnosis in that they involve standardized inclusion criteria based on the lesion's specificity to the disease. Here I discuss the limitations and benefits of threshold criteria. I argue that while these criteria will benefit from further revision such as inclusion of lesion severity, and the incorporation of exclusion criteria, threshold diagnostic approaches have considerable value in the future of diagnosis in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melandri Vlok
- Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Reineke RC, Soler A, Beatrice J. Towards a forensic anthropology of structural vulnerability. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2023; 6:100332. [PMID: 37249968 PMCID: PMC10209806 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2023.100332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Anthropologists have theorized structural vulnerability as a way to understand forms of violence that disenfranchise certain parts of a population, leading to poorer health outcomes and increased risk of death. Recently, forensic anthropologists have used these theories to better understand the ways in which individual decedents in forensic contexts may be linked collectively through structural conditions. A recent example is the proposal of a "structural vulnerability profile." Based on research and casework done in the context of migrant deaths along the US-Mexico border, we caution against the use of a "profile," which suggests a categorical approach that could lead to negative unintended consequences in the future. Instead, we argue for continued development of practices that allow for observation, documentation, and interdisciplinary discussion of evidence of structural violence revealed during a death investigation. Specifically, we argue for an approach that grounds such observations within a particular social and historical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin C. Reineke
- The Southwest Center, University of Arizona, 1401 E. First St., P.O. Box 210185, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0185, USA
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210030, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0030, USA
| | - Angela Soler
- Forensic Anthropology Unit, Office of Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, 421 E 26th St, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Jared Beatrice
- The College of New Jersey, Social Sciences Building Room 317, P.O. Box 7718, 2000 Pennington Rd., Ewing, NJ, 08628, USA
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Garnett EM, Lewis ME. The potential for over diagnosis of Paget's disease of bone using macroscopic analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2022; 38:55-63. [PMID: 35816770 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explores the validity of Paget's disease of bone (PDB) reported in unpublished skeletal reports, based on macroscopic analysis alone. MATERIALS The high prevalence of 'suspected' Paget's disease (10.7%) in an early modern sample from St John's the Evangelist Church in Redhill, Surrey is reassessed. METHODS Signs of PDB were examined in 53 well-preserved adults aged 35 + years using macroscopic, radiographic and histological techniques. RESULTS Macroscopic features of PDB were identified in 8 individuals (15%), with 5 individuals later rejected using radiography. Two individuals showed classic radiographic features of PDB, with a third presenting possible features in radiography (5.7%). These three cases were confirmed by histological analysis. CONCLUSIONS PDB should not be suggested as a single diagnosis in cases of bone hypertrophy without confirmation using radiography. SIGNIFICANCE The growing popularity of 'big data' projects and limited collections access means that unpublished cases of PDB are often included in large scale analyses, impacting our understanding of the evolution of this disease. Using macroscopic analysis alone leads to overdiagnosis. Histological analysis is unnecessary when radiographic features are present, but provides a useful diagnostic step in long bones in advanced cases of PBD. LIMITATIONS The radiographic sample in this study was limited to three individuals. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH The conclusion that radiography alone can be used to identify PDB in archaeological cases merits further research on a larger number of cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Garnett
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - M E Lewis
- Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6UR, United Kingdom
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Health effects of European colonization: An investigation of skeletal remains from 19th to early 20th century migrant settlers in South Australia. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265878. [PMID: 35385495 PMCID: PMC8985932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The British colony of South Australia, established in 1836, offered a fresh start to migrants hoping for a better life. A cohort of settlers buried in a section of St Mary’s Anglican Church Cemetery (1847–1927) allocated for government funded burials was investigated to determine their health, with a focus on skeletal manifestations associated with metabolic deficiencies. Findings of St Mary’s sample were compared with those published for contemporary skeletal samples from two British cemeteries, St Martin’s, Birmingham, and St Peter’s, Wolverhampton, to explore similarities and differences. To investigate the changing economic background of the St Mary’s cohort, which may have influenced the location of their burial within the cemetery, the number and demographic profile of government funded burials and those in privately funded leased plots were compared. The study sample consisted of the skeletal remains of 65 individuals (20 adults, 45 subadults) from St Mary’s Cemetery ‘free ground’ section. The bones and teeth of individuals in this cohort showed evidence of pathological manifestations, including areas of abnormal porosity in bone cortices in 9 adults and 12 subadults and flaring of metaphyses (one subadult) and costochondral junctions of the ribs (one subadult). Porous lesions of orbital roof bones (Types 3 to 4) were seen on three subadults. Macroscopic examination of teeth identified enamel hypoplastic defects and micro-CT scans showed areas of interglobular dentine. Comparison of St Mary’s findings with the British samples revealed that prevalences of manifestations associated with vitamin C deficiency were higher at St Mary’s and manifestations associated with vitamin D deficiency were lower respectively. The location of burial pattern at St Mary’s Cemetery, from the mid-1840s to1860s, showed differences in the economic status of migrants. This pattern changed from the 1870s, which reflected improvements in the local economy and the economic recovery of the colony.
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Zdilla MJ, Nestor NS, Rothschild BM, Lambert HW. Cribra orbitalia is correlated with the meningo-orbital foramen and is vascular and developmental in nature. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 305:1629-1671. [PMID: 34741429 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cribra orbitalia is a phenomenon with interdisciplinary interest. However, the etiology of cribra orbitalia remains unclear. Recently, the appearance of cribra orbitalia was identified as vascular in nature. This study assessed the relationship between anatomical variation of vasculature, as determined by the presence of meningo-orbital foramina, and the presence of cribra orbitalia in 178 orbits. Cribra orbitalia was identified in 27.5% (49:178) of orbits (22.7%, 35:154 adult orbits and 58.3%, 14:24 subadult orbits) and meningo-orbital foramina were identified in 65.8% (100:152) of orbits. Among the 150 total intact adult orbits (i.e., orbital roof and posterior orbits both intact), cribra orbitalia was found in 35 (23.3%). Of these 35 occurrences of cribra orbitalia, 32 (91.4%) had the concurrent finding of a meningo-orbital foramen. However, in the absence of the meningo-orbital foramen, cribra orbitalia was only found in three sides out of the total sample of intact orbits (3:150; 2.0%). Fisher's exact test revealed that the presence of cribra orbitalia and the meningo-orbital foramen were statistically dependent variables (p = .0002). Visual evidence corroborated statistical findings-vascular impressions joined cribra orbitalia to meningo-orbital foramina. This study identifies that individuals who possess a meningo-orbital foramen are anatomically predisposed to developing cribra orbitalia. Conversely, cribra orbitalia is unlikely to occur in an individual who does not possess a meningo-orbital foramen. Thus, the antecedent of cribra orbitalia is both vascular and developmental in nature. This report represents an important advancement in the understanding of cribra orbitalia-there is an anatomical predisposition to the development of cribra orbitalia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Zdilla
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Laboratory Medicine (PALM), West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Nicholas S Nestor
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Laboratory Medicine (PALM), West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | | | - H Wayne Lambert
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Laboratory Medicine (PALM), West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
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Beatrice JS, Soler A, Reineke RC, Martínez DE. Skeletal evidence of structural violence among undocumented migrants from Mexico and Central America. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 176:584-605. [PMID: 34409584 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We examine the prevalence and sociodemographic risk factors of skeletal indicators of stress in forensic samples of undocumented migrants from Mexico and Central America. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cranial and dental remains of 319 migrants recovered in the Arizona and Texas borderlands were assessed for porotic hyperostosis (PH), cribra orbitalia (CO), and linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH). Logistic regression models for each condition were estimated to test for associations with biological sex, age, recovery location, and whether individuals were identified. Additional models estimated for a subsample of identified migrants included region of origin, residential context, and community indigeneity. RESULTS The full sample shows moderate crude prevalence of CO (9.6%) and LEH (34.1%), and a high prevalence of PH (49.6%). Significantly higher odds of PH are associated with being male (2.16 times higher), unidentified (1.89 times higher), and recovered in Arizona (3.76 times higher). Among identified migrants, we fail to find associations significant at the p < 0.05 level between skeletal stress and all sociodemographic variables except age. DISCUSSION The factors associated with PH may be related to influences on decisions to migrate and diversity among migrant sending regions. The skeletal evidence for early life stress is generally consistent with common public health concerns among impoverished communities in the region. The lesions themselves are viewed as embodied risk of physiological disturbance when resource access is structured by higher-level social, economic, and political forces. Forensic anthropologists would benefit from increased sensitivity to embodied structural violence among the vulnerable individuals and communities they serve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared S Beatrice
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, New Jersey, USA
| | - Angela Soler
- Forensic Anthropology Unit, Office of Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robin C Reineke
- The Southwest Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Daniel E Martínez
- School of Sociology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Perry MA, Edwards E. Differential diagnosis of metabolic disease in a commingled sample from 19th century Hisban, Jordan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2021; 33:220-233. [PMID: 34004547 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This research attempts a differential diagnosis of skeletal lesions in a commingled sample from Hisban, Jordan, focusing on non-adults in the assemblage. MATERIALS 2,883 well-preserved skeletal elements and 9 relatively complete skulls representing an MNI of 32 non-adults (<18 years old). METHODS All skeletal elements were observed macroscopically and pathophysiological processes underlying any lesions or other anomalies were assessed, followed by a comparative approach to rule out potential diagnoses. RESULTS The skeletal lesions observed were caused by inflammation due to chronic hemorrhaging, marrow hyperplasia due to an increase in hemopoiesis, rapid bone growth, and the impact of biomechanical strain on poorly mineralized elements. Rickets, scurvy, and acquired anemias best fit this pattern of lesions, although inflammation from other sources such as trauma or infection could not be definitively ruled out. CONCLUSIONS The in utero and postnatal environments at Hisban were conducive to the development of vitamin C and D deficiencies from birth until 2 years of age. The analysis of commingled remains requires an ontological shift in the importance of the individual to the population in paleopathology. SIGNIFICANCE This investigation demonstrates the efficacy of a combined biological and comparative approach in differential diagnosis in complicated commingled collections. In addition, it emphasizes the importance of the mother-infant dyad in understanding metabolic disease. LIMITATIONS Histological and radiographic analyses were not included in this diagnostic study due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Isotopic analysis to investigate childhood diet and histological and radiographic analyses to assess survival of deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A Perry
- Department of Anthropology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA.
| | - Emily Edwards
- Department of Anthropology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA
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McCool WC, Anderson AS, Kennett DJ. Using a multimethod life history approach to navigate the osteological paradox: A case study from Prehispanic Nasca, Peru. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 175:816-833. [PMID: 33782949 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We leverage recent bioarchaeological approaches and life history theory to address the implications of the osteological paradox in a study population. The goal of this article is to evaluate morbidity and mortality patterns as well as variability in the risk of disease and death during the Late Intermediate period (LIP; 950-1450 C.E.) in the Nasca highlands of Peru. We demonstrate how the concurrent use of multiple analytical techniques and life history theory can engage the osteological paradox and provide salient insights into the study of stress, frailty, and resilience in past populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Crania from LIP burial contexts in the Nasca highlands were examined for cribra orbitalia (n = 325) and porotic hyperostosis (n = 270). All age groups and both sexes are represented in the sample. Survivor/nonsurvivor analysis assessed demographic differences in lesion frequency and severity. Hazard models were generated to assess differences in survivorship. The relationship between dietary diversity and heterogeneity in morbidity was assessed using stable δ15 N and δ13 C isotope values for bone collagen and carbonate. One hundred and twenty-four crania were directly AMS radiocarbon dated, allowing for a diachronic analysis of morbidity and mortality. RESULTS The frequency and expression of both orbital and vault lesions increases significantly during the LIP. Survivor/nonsurvivor analysis indicates cranial lesions co-vary with frailty rather than robusticity or longevity. Hazard models show (1) decreasing survivorship with the transition into the LIP, (2) significantly lower adult life expectancy for females compared to males, and (3) individuals with cranial lesions have lower survivorship across the life course. Stable isotope results show very little dietary diversity. Mortality risk and frequency of pathological skeletal lesions were highest during Phase III (1300-1450 C.E.) of the LIP. CONCLUSION Results provide compelling evidence of increasing physiological stress and mortality in the Nasca highlands during the LIP, but also reveal substantial heterogeneity in frailty and the risk of death. Certain members of society experienced a heavier disease burden and higher mortality compared to their contemporaries. Elevated levels of disease and lethal trauma among females account for some of the sex differences in survivorship but cannot explain the large degree of female-biased mortality. We hypothesize that parental investment in males or increased female fertility rates may explain these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weston C McCool
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Amy S Anderson
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Douglas J Kennett
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
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Veselka B, Brickley MB, Waters-Rist AL. A joint medico-historical and paleopathological perspective on vitamin D deficiency prevalence in post-Medieval Netherlands. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2021; 32:41-49. [PMID: 33276206 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2020.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE By applying a joint medico-historical and paleopathological perspective, this paper aims to improve our understanding of factors influencing past vitamin D deficiency in ten Dutch 17th to 19th-century communities of varying socioeconomic status and settlement type. MATERIALS Vitamin D deficiency is evaluated in 733 individuals of both sexes and all age groups: Silvolde (n = 16), Rotterdam (n = 23), Rhenen (n = 24), Noordwijkerhout (n = 27), Gouda1and 2 (n = 40; n = 59), Roosendaal (n = 51), Den Haag (n = 93), Hattem (n = 113), and Beemster (n = 287). METHODS Rickets and residual rickets are macroscopically assessed using established criteria. Hypotheses formulated based on medico-historical texts are investigated via multivariate statistical analysis of vitamin D deficiency prevalence. RESULTS Vitamin D deficiency prevalence ranges from 13.7 % (7/51) in Roosendaal to 48.1 % (13/27) in Noordwijkerhout, with an onset of < 4 years, and higher rates in cities, conforming to medico-historical texts. Patterns of child labor are likely key. In contrast, socioeconomic status did not statistically significantly influence vitamin D deficiency prevalence rates. CONCLUSION Systematically collected paleopathological data enabled evaluation of medico-historical texts and provided insights into the role that socioeconomic status and settlement type played on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. SIGNIFICANCE Combining medico-historical texts and large-scale paleopathological data enables disease patterning to be embedded in a comprehensive biocultural perspective. LIMITATIONS Comparisons may be limited by the small sample size of high socioeconomic status nonadults and some of the collections. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH Analysis of more individuals and sites would improve our understanding of disease patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Veselka
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Art, Sciences, and Archaeology, Maritime Cultures Research Institute, Belgium; Leiden University, Faculty of Archaeology, Human Osteology Laboratory, the Netherlands.
| | - Megan B Brickley
- McMaster University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Anthropology, Canada
| | - Andrea L Waters-Rist
- Leiden University, Faculty of Archaeology, Human Osteology Laboratory, the Netherlands; The University of Western Ontario, Social Science Centre, Department of Anthropology, Canada
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Mays SA. A dual process model for paleopathological diagnosis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2020; 31:89-96. [PMID: 33132164 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This paper aims to provide an explicit theoretical model for the cognitive processes involved in paleopathological diagnosis. METHODS The approach adopted is a dual process model (DPM). DPMs recognize that cognition is a result of both Type 1 (intuitive) and Type 2 (analytical) processes. DPMs have been influential for understanding decision-making in a range of fields, including diagnosis in clinical medicine. Analogies are drawn between diagnosis in a clinical and a paleopathological setting. RESULTS In clinical medicine, both Type 1 and Type 2 processes play a part in diagnosis. In paleopathology the role of Type 1 processes has been unacknowledged. However, like clinical diagnosis, paleopathological diagnosis is inherently a result of a combination of both Type 1 and Type 2 processes. A model is presented by which Type 1 processes can be explicitly incorporated into a scientific approach to diagnosis from skeletal remains, and in which diagnosis is formalized as a process of hypothesis testing. SIGNIFICANCE Accurately modelling our diagnostic processes allows us to understand the biases and limitations in our work and potentially helps us to improve our procedures, including how we impart diagnostic skills in pedagogical settings. LIMITATIONS This work provides a theoretical model for paleopathological diagnosis. However, such models are by their nature dynamic and developing rather than static entities; it is hoped that this work stimulates further debate and discussion in this important area.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Mays
- Investigative Science, Historic England, UK; Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton, UK; School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh, UK.
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Estalrrich A, González-Rabanal B, Marín-Arroyo AB, Maeso CV, González Morales MR. Osteolytic lesions on the os petrosum of a Bronze Age individual from La Llana cave (Northern Spain) compatible with a possible case of otitis media. A multifaceted methodological approach. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2020; 31:97-102. [PMID: 33130351 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2020.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To encourage the use of different methodological approaches for the identification of paleopathological lesions and to evaluate osteolytic lesions found on a temporal bone from La Llana cave (Spain). MATERIALS Cranial remains recovered from from La Llana cave (Spain) dated to the Bronze Age, 3300 ± 25 BP (1631-1509 cal BC). METHODS The cranium underwent macroscopic, microscopic and computed tomography scan examinations. RESULTS The Tegmen tympani of the left temporal bone is present but is missing on the right. Both cochleae are intact. Both the right and left temporal bones display osteolytic lesions, with the left Tegmen tympani displaying deep and profuse pits on the endocranial surface, exposing the ear channel. CONCLUSIONS The lesions are compatible with otitis media (atticitis). By using different methods of analysis, the presence and effects of infection were identified. SIGNIFICANCE This systematically described case contributes to our understanding of disease in the past and describes otitis-related lesions in archeological contexts for comparative purposes. LIMITATIONS The fragmentary and damaged cranial remains rendered evaluation difficult and diagnosis tentative. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH The use of different approaches to diagnose otitis media in archeological skeletal collections is recommended to improve the knowledge of health status and lifestyle of past populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almudena Estalrrich
- Grupo de I+D+i EVOADAPTA (Evolución Humana y Adaptaciones Económicas y Ecológicas durante la Prehistoria), Dpto. Ciencias Históricas, Universidad de Cantabria, Av/Los Castros 44, 39005, Santander, Spain.
| | - Borja González-Rabanal
- Grupo de I+D+i EVOADAPTA (Evolución Humana y Adaptaciones Económicas y Ecológicas durante la Prehistoria), Dpto. Ciencias Históricas, Universidad de Cantabria, Av/Los Castros 44, 39005, Santander, Spain.
| | - Ana B Marín-Arroyo
- Grupo de I+D+i EVOADAPTA (Evolución Humana y Adaptaciones Económicas y Ecológicas durante la Prehistoria), Dpto. Ciencias Históricas, Universidad de Cantabria, Av/Los Castros 44, 39005, Santander, Spain.
| | - Cristina Vega Maeso
- Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Internacional Isabel I de Castilla, C/ Fernán González, nº 76, 09003, Burgos. Spain.
| | - M R González Morales
- Instituto Internacional de Investigaciones Prehistóricas de Cantabria (Universidad de Cantabria, Banco Santander, Gobierno de Cantabria), Avda. de los Castros 52, 39005, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
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Blom DE, Knudson KJ. Paleopathology and children in the Andes: Local/situated biologies and future directions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2020; 29:65-75. [PMID: 31585823 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2019.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the decades since Verano (1997) published his foundational piece on Andean paleopathology, scholars have recognized the importance of the bioarchaeology of childhood. Yet, scholarship on ancient childhood in the Andes deemphasizes paleopathology. Nonadult paleopathological data are often employed in large-scale, biocultural studies focused on environmental or political adaptations; however, they can also elucidate children's individual lived experiences and roles in society. To generate culturally-meaningful paleopathological data, we must take a contextualized approach to our analyses and interpretations. Disparate use of chronological age in published datasets makes synthesis across studies problematic, and ethnohistorical and ethnographic data on Andean children demonstrate that developmental age categories, rather than chronological age ranges, are most appropriate. Further, paleopathological data can best inform our investigations when they are combined with related datasets such as those on sex, diet, activity, and mobility. With that in mind, we use the theoretical framework of "local biologies" (and the related "situated biologies"), where biology is viewed as heavily contingent on culturally-specific beliefs and practices and local physical, sociocultural, and political environments (Lock, 1993, 2001; Niewöhner and Lock, 2018). Local biologies approaches can enrich social bioarchaeology and paleopathology to by specifically situating children and their experiences within the ancient Andean world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah E Blom
- University of Vermont, Department of Anthropology, United States.
| | - Kelly J Knudson
- Arizona State University, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, United States
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Koontz Scaffidi B. Spatial paleopathology: A geographic approach to the etiology of cribrotic lesions in the prehistoric Andes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2020; 29:102-116. [PMID: 31378563 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The ubiquity of cribra orbitalia in skeletal samples has led to rigorous debate over their etiology, with most concluding that nutrition, physiological stressors, and environmental disease vectors synergistically contribute to lesion development. To parse the relative contributions of these etiological factors in the prehistoric Andes, this spatial paleopathological meta-analysis investigates the relationship between population-wide prehistoric Andean cribra orbitalia rates and geographic, climatic, and hydrological variables. METHODS Crude prevalence patterns of cribra orbitalia from 61 archaeological sites were plotted and analyzed with geostatistical methods to explore spatial patterns in the distribution of anemia-associated lesions. Multiple linear regression modeling was performed on 19 spatial variables suspected to contribute to various forms of anemia that result in cribrotic lesions. RESULTS Spatially-clustered high cribra orbitalia rates exist around the Central Peruvian coast, but are paradoxically low on the Ecuadorian coast. Multiple regression shows that elevation, temperature, and precipitation were not predictive of lesion rates. Multiple regression models show that aridity and seasonal variability in freshwater supply, together, explained a third of the variation in lesion rates. CONCLUSION While cribra orbitalia has long been tied to coastal proximity, these results suggest environmental constraints such as the need for water storage could have promoted malnutrition and pathogenic infection more than mere coastal proximity. LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY This analysis is limited by the paucity of data from highland sites and by the assumption that burials are local to the excavation site. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH Future studies will integrate isotopic and remotely-sensed data into models to explore links between water security, nutrition, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Koontz Scaffidi
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, 900 Cady Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287-2402, United States.
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Klaus HD. Metabolic diseases in Andean paleopathology: Retrospect and prospect. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2020; 29:54-64. [PMID: 31377145 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
John Verano's 1997 synthesis of Andean paleopathology guided two decades of research and was instrumental in establishing modern Andean paleopathology. This paper reviews the current state and new directions in the study of skeletal metabolic disorders in the Central Andean archaeological record. Key historical, ecological, methodological, and contextual issues intersect with the study of metabolic bone diseases in Andean paleopathology. This paper further examines known temporal and spatial distribution of these disorders, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the record of linear enamel hypoplasias, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, scurvy, and rickets. Many other metabolic bone diseases have yet to be documented such as pellagra, hypophosphatasia, osteomalacia, and mucopolysaccharidosis among others. This work closes with considerations in the search for these undocumented diseases, but such an effort is only one part of new wave of advancements just on the horizon. The study of metabolic diseases in Andean paleopathology can lead the development of more sophisticated approaches to data collection, analysis, and interpretation - especially regarding theoretical interpretations from various bodies of social theory to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis, life history approaches, and phenotypic adaptive plasticity and constraint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haagen D Klaus
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, United States; Museo Nacional Sicán, Peru; Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnografía Hans Heinrich Brüning de Lambayeque, Peru.
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Snoddy AME, Beaumont J, Buckley HR, Colombo A, Halcrow SE, Kinaston RL, Vlok M. Sensationalism and speaking to the public: Scientific rigour and interdisciplinary collaborations in palaeopathology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2020; 28:88-91. [PMID: 32028057 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2020.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In this brief communication we discuss issues concerning scientific rigour in palaeopathological publications, particularly studies published in clinical or general science journals, that employ skeletal analysis to elucidate the lives and deaths of historical figures or interpret "mysterious" assemblages or burials. We highlight the relationship between poor methodological rigour and lack of interdisciplinary communication, and discuss how this can result in scientifically weak, sensational narratives being presented to the public. CONCLUSIONS Although most high profile publications involving analysis of archaeological human remains are methodologically sound and well interpreted, others have suffered from poor scientific rigour stemming from an apparent lack of awareness of anthropological methods and ethics. When these publications are highlighted by the press, sensationalistic narratives are perpetuated which may reflect poorly on our discipline and give the public unrealistic expectations about our work. SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH We suggest that best practice in high-profile paleopathological research include recruitment of a range of authors and reviewers from clinical sciences, anthropology, and the humanities, consideration of the ethical issues surrounding retrospective diagnosis, and transparency with the press in regards to the limitations inherent in this kind of work.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Beaumont
- University of Bradford, School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences, United Kingdom
| | | | - Antony Colombo
- Chaire d'anthropologie biologique Paul Broca, EPHE-PSL University, Paris, France; UMR 5199 PACEA, University of Bordeaux, CNRS, MCC, LabEx Sciences archéologiques de Bordeaux, n°ANR-10-LABX-52, bât. B8, allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, CS50023, F-33615 Pessac, France
| | | | | | - Melandri Vlok
- University of Otago, Department of Anatomy, New Zealand
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Newman SL, Gowland RL, Caffell AC. North and south: A comprehensive analysis of non‐adult growth and health in the industrial revolution (AD 18th–19th C), England. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2019; 169:104-121. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie L. Newman
- Department of ArchaeologyDurham University Durham United Kingdom
- Department of ArchaeologyUniversity of Sheffield Sheffield United Kingdom
| | | | - Anwen C. Caffell
- Department of ArchaeologyDurham University Durham United Kingdom
- York Osteoarchaeology Ltd York United Kingdom
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Pfeiffer S, Harrington L, Lombard M. The people behind the samples: Biographical features of Past Hunter-Gatherers from KwaZulu-Natal who yielded aDNA. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2019; 24:158-164. [PMID: 30399480 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Skeletons sampled for ancient human DNA analysis are sometimes complete enough to provide information about the lives of the people they represent. We focus on three Later Stone Age skeletons, ca. 2000 B.P., from coastal KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, whose ancient genomes have been sequenced (Schlebusch et al., 2017). METHODS Bioarchaeological approaches are integrated with aDNA information. RESULTS All skeletons are male. Dental development shows that the boy, with prominent cribra orbitalia, died at age 6-7 years. Two men show cranial and spinal trauma, extensive tooth wear, plus mild cribra orbitalia in one. CONCLUSIONS Dental wear and trauma of the adults are consistent with hunter-gatherer lives. Even partial aDNA evidence contributes to sex determination. Parasitic infection such as schistosomiasis is the best-fit cause for the child's anemia in this case. CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE The convergence of genomic and bioarchaeological approaches expands our knowledge of the past lives of a boy and two men whose lives as hunter-gatherers included episodes of trauma and disease. LIMITATIONS The skeletons are incomplete, in variable condition, and from poorly characterized local cultural contexts. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Thorough osteobiographic analysis should accompany paleogenomic investigations. Such disciplinary collaboration enriches our understanding of the human past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Pfeiffer
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, 19 Russell Street, Toronto, M5S 2S2, Canada; Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, D.C., USA.
| | - Lesley Harrington
- Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, 13-15 H.M. Tory Building, Edmonton, T6G 2H4, Canada
| | - Marlize Lombard
- Centre for Anthropological Research, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa
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Larentis O, Tonina E, Iorio S, Gorini I, Licata M. Osteological evidence of metabolic diseases from a post medieval North Italy archaeological site. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019; 33:2735-2742. [PMID: 30563375 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2018.1560405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal lesions related to metabolic diseases in children have been systematically investigated in paleopathological literature only in recent years. This work presents an infant pathological specimen from the post-medieval cemetery of the St. Mary's Nativity church (15th-18th centuries, Segno, Trento, Trentino, Northeast Italy). The bones belonged to an individual of 9 ± 3 months of age, estimated upon an assessment of the stage of dental eruption. Metabolic diseases were diagnosed with paleopathological criteria according to previous literature. Differential diagnosis of the osteological evidence indicates a disease that might be caused by the lack of vitamin D or C. Comorbidity of vitamin C and D deficiency has been widely studied in clinical literature, particularly in children between 3 months and 5 years of age. The study of ancient osteoarchaeological materials allows us to improve our knowledge on diseases' effects on bone development in children and, in this case, it represents additional evidence of the presence of metabolic diseases in a rural contest of the Italian post-medieval period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Larentis
- Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Enrica Tonina
- B. Bagolini Laboratory, Department of Humanities, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Silvia Iorio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of History of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
| | - Ilaria Gorini
- Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Marta Licata
- Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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Brickley MB, Mays S, George M, Prowse TL. Analysis of patterning in the occurrence of skeletal lesions used as indicators of vitamin D deficiency in subadult and adult skeletal remains. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2018; 23:43-53. [PMID: 30573165 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2018.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Paleopathological investigations of conditions linked to vitamin D deficiency have increased in the last twenty years, and a suite of skeletal lesions has been established to aid in the diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency disease in subadults and adults. This paper analyzes the occurrence of these lesions in a large skeletal series comprising 3541 Roman period individuals (1st-6th century AD). Sixteen lesions reported in rickets in subadults, and 13 associated with residual rickets and osteomalacia in adults, were analyzed. Among subadults, there were clear associations among post-cranial lesions. Porotic cranial changes were associated with each other, but not with post-cranial lesions. A range of conditions could have produced the cranial lesions. There was a general paucity of correlations between indicators found in adults, and the difficulty in recording bending deformities was clear. Pseudofractures appear to provide a useful means of investigating osteomalacia in adults. In general, a simple algorithmic approach using presence or absence of lesions is unlikely to provide an adequate means of diagnosing vitamin D deficiency in paleopathology. Knowledge and consideration of the underlying physiological mechanisms involved in lesion formation, combined with individual judgement, will be required to differentially diagnose cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan B Brickley
- Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, L8S 4L9, Canada.
| | - Simon Mays
- Historic England, Fort Cumberland Rd, Portsmouth, PO4 9LD, United Kingdom.
| | - Michele George
- Department of Classics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, L8S 4L9, Canada.
| | - Tracy L Prowse
- Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, L8S 4L9, Canada.
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Snoddy AME, Buckley HR, Elliott GE, Standen VG, Arriaza BT, Halcrow SE. Macroscopic features of scurvy in human skeletal remains: A literature synthesis and diagnostic guide. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 167:876-895. [PMID: 30298514 PMCID: PMC6282809 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The past two decades have seen a proliferation in bioarchaeological literature on the identification of scurvy, a disease caused by chronic vitamin C deficiency, in ancient human remains. This condition is one of the few nutritional deficiencies that can result in diagnostic osseous lesions. Scurvy is associated with low dietary diversity and its identification in human skeletal remains can provide important contextual information on subsistence strategy, resource allocation, and human-environmental interactions in past populations. A large and robust methodological body of work on the paleopathology of scurvy exists. However, the diagnostic criteria for this disease employed by bioarchaeologists have not always been uniform. Here we draw from previous research on the skeletal manifestations of scurvy in adult and juvenile human skeletal remains and propose a weighted diagnostic system for its identification that takes into account the pathophysiology of the disease, soft tissue anatomy, and clinical research. Using a sample of individuals from the prehistoric Atacama Desert in Northern Chile, we also provide a practical example of how diagnostic value might be assigned to skeletal lesions of the disease that have not been previously described in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hallie R Buckley
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Gail E Elliott
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.,Department of Anatomy, Ross University School of Medicine, Portsmouth, Dominica
| | - Vivien G Standen
- Departmento de Antropología, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
| | | | - Siân E Halcrow
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
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30
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Brickley MB. Cribra orbitalia
and porotic hyperostosis: A biological approach to diagnosis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 167:896-902. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Megan B. Brickley
- Department of Anthropology; McMaster University; Hamilton Ontario Canada
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31
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Bourbou C. Life and death at the "The Land of Three Lakes": Revisiting the non-adults from Roman Aventicum, Switzerland (1st-3rd century CE). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2018; 22:121-134. [PMID: 30075328 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2018.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The study of Roman childhood has been the focus of research primarily using documentary and archaeological evidence, while relatively few non-adult skeletal assemblages have been analyzed. This paper presents the study of 93 non-adult individuals from four cemeteries in the Roman (1st-3rd c. CE) civitas capital of Aventicum (Avenches), Switzerland. The results of the analysis offer a new bioarchaeological perspective on mortality and disease patterns during childhood in Roman Switzerland, adding to the discussion regarding living conditions in the urban centers at the periphery of the Roman Empire. This study also highlights the importance of studying perinates in archaeological populations, since the current research inform us about the experiences of mothers and their offspring in Aventicum. The mortality and disease patterns of the perinates, representing 71% of the total non-adult sample (66/93), suggest that pregnancy and the time around birth were extremely challenging at Aventicum. It is argued that environmental constraints, e.g. the risk of infectious diseases such as malaria and natural phenomena such as recurring floods resulting in resources scarcity, could have considerably affected the mother-fetus pair in this urban settlement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chryssi Bourbou
- University of Fribourg, Institut du monde antique et byzantin, Rue P. Aeby 16, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland; Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania, Sourmeli 24, 73132, Chania, Greece.
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Mays S. How should we diagnose disease in palaeopathology? Some epistemological considerations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2018; 20:12-19. [PMID: 29496211 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This paper analyses some of the epistemological frameworks that underpin diagnosis in palaeopathology. Currently, the dominant approach is comparative: relationships between skeletal lesions and disease in a reference group in which there is independent evidence of the diseases present in individuals are used to identify disease in unknown archaeological skeletons on the basis of the lesions present. This is essentially a reference sample - target sample approach, analogous to that used to develop methodology in other areas of biological anthropology (e.g. age estimation in palaeodemography). As well as considerable strengths, this approach also has significant weaknesses. Many of these arise from the nature of the reference material (mainly pathology museum and other skeletal collections, and published collations of medical imaging data) used to develop diagnostic criteria. There may also be a tendency toward over-emphasis on pattern-matching between reference and target material, and an under-emphasis on developing our understanding of the biology of bone lesions. Despite its shortcomings, the comparative approach is likely to remain the foundation of most palaeopathological work, but we should increasingly augment it with other diagnostic approaches, especially those grounded in the pathophysiology of bony responses to disease.
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Zhang H, Merrett DC, Jing Z, Tang J, He Y, Yue H, Yue Z, Yang DY. Osteoarchaeological Studies of Human Systemic Stress of Early Urbanization in Late Shang at Anyang, China. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151854. [PMID: 27050400 PMCID: PMC4822842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Through the analysis of human skeletal remains and mortuary practice in Yinxu, this study investigates the impact of early urbanization on the commoners during the Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1250-1046 B.C.). A total of 347 individuals examined in this study represent non-elites who were recovered from two different burial contexts (formally buried in lineage cemeteries and randomly scattered in refuse pits). Frequencies of enamel hypoplasia (childhood stress), cribra orbitalia (childhood stress and frailty) and osteoperiostitis (adult stress) were examined to assess systemic stress exposure. Our results reveal that there was no significant difference in the frequency of enamel hypoplasia between two burial groups and between sexes, suggesting these urban commoners experienced similar stresses during childhood, but significantly elevated levels of cribra orbitalia and osteoperiostitis were observed in the refuse pit female cohort. Theoretically, urbanization would have resulted in increased population density in the urban centre, declining sanitary conditions, and increased risk of resource shortage. Biologically, children would be more vulnerable to such physiological disturbance; as a result, high percentages of enamel hypoplasia (80.9% overall) and cribra orbitalia (30.3% overall) are observed in Yin commoners. Adults continued to suffer from stress, resulting in high frequencies of osteoperiostitis (40.0% total adults); in particular, in the refuse pit females who may also reflect a compound impact of gender inequality. Our data show that the non-elite urban population in the capital city of Late Shang Dynasty had experienced extensive stress exposure due to early urbanization with further social stratification only worsening the situation, and eventually contributing to collapse of the Shang Dynasty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- SFU-JLU Joint Centre for Bioarchaeological Research, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail: (HZ); (DY); (ZJ)
| | - Deborah C. Merrett
- Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- SFU-JLU Joint Centre for Bioarchaeological Research, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Zhichun Jing
- Department of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail: (HZ); (DY); (ZJ)
| | - Jigen Tang
- Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuling He
- Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongbin Yue
- Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhanwei Yue
- Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dongya Y. Yang
- Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- SFU-JLU Joint Centre for Bioarchaeological Research, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail: (HZ); (DY); (ZJ)
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