More than urns: A multi-method pipeline for analyzing cremation burials

Burial rites of archaeological populations are frequently interpreted based on cremated remains of the human body and the urn they were deposited in. In comparison to inhumations, information about the deceased is much more limited and dependent on fragmentation, selection of body regions, taphonomic processes, and excavation techniques. So far, little attention has been paid to the context in which urns are buried. In this study, we combined archaeological techniques with anthropology, computed tomography, archaeobotany, zooarchaeology, geochemistry and isotopic approaches and conducted a detailed analysis on a case study of two Late Bronze Age urns from St. Pölten, Austria (c. 1430 and 1260 cal. BCE). The urns were recovered en-bloc and CT-scanned before the micro-excavation. Osteological and strontium isotope analysis revealed that the cremated remains comprised a young adult female and a child that died at the age of 10-12 years. Both individuals had been subject to physiological stress and were likely local. Animal bones burnt at different temperatures suggested different depositional pathways into the urn and pit as part of the pyre, food offerings, and unintentional settlement debris. Eight wild plant and five crop plant species appeared as part of the local landscape, as food offerings and fire accelerants. Sediment chemistry suggests that pyre remains were deposited around the urns during burial. Multi-element geochemistry, archaeobotany, and zooarchaeology provide insights into the Late Bronze Age environment, the process of cremation, the gathering of bones and final funerary deposition.

Cell-type and subcellular compartment-specific APEX2 proximity labeling reveals activity-dependent nuclear proteome dynamics in the striatum

The vertebrate brain consists of diverse neuronal types, classified by distinct anatomy and function, along with divergent transcriptomes and proteomes. Defining the cell-type specific neuroproteomes is important for understanding the development and functional organization of neural circuits. This task remains challenging in complex tissue, due to suboptimal protein isolation techniques that often result in loss of cell-type specific information and incomplete capture of subcellular compartments. Here, we develop a genetically targeted proximity labeling approach to identify cell-type specific subcellular proteomes in the mouse brain, confirmed by imaging, electron microscopy, and mass spectrometry. We virally express subcellular-localized APEX2 to map the proteome of direct and indirect pathway spiny projection neurons in the striatum. The workflow provides sufficient depth to uncover changes in the proteome of striatal neurons following chemogenetic activation of Gα_q-coupled signaling cascades. This method enables flexible, cell-type specific quantitative profiling of subcellular proteome snapshots in the mouse brain.

Mapping neuronal proteomes with genetic, subcellular, and temporal specificity is a challenging task. This study uncovers proteome dynamics in two classes of striatal spiny projection neurons in the mouse brain using a genetically targeted APEX2-based proximity labeling approach.

Feeding Babies at the Beginnings of Urbanization in Central Europe

Small ceramic vessels with spouts, from which liquid can be poured, became popular during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Central Europe (c. 1200–600 BC). Such feeding vessels represent a functional type and are highly variable in size, shape and decoration. Found both on settlements and within graves, their association with child burials suggest they might have been used to feed babies and small children. Combined lipid and isotope analysis was performed on 24 of these feeding vessels, with seven delivering interpretable results. Feeding vessels associated with child burials tend to deliver a ruminant milk signal, whereas other vessels were used to process ruminant and non-ruminant adipose fats. Here, we highlight the potential significance of feeding vessels as indicators of changing childcare practices during times of population increase, settlement nucleation and mobility, possibly involving out-sourcing the feeding of babies and small children to persons other than the mother.

Child murder in the Early Bronze Age: proteomic sex identification of a cold case from Schleinbach, Austria

The identification of sex-specific peptides in human tooth enamel by nanoflow liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) represents a quantum leap for the study of childhood and social relations more generally. Determining sex-related differences in prehistoric child rearing and mortality has been hampered by the insufficient accuracy in determining the biological sex of juveniles. We conducted mass spectrometric analysis to identify sex-specific peptides in the dental enamel of a child from a settlement pit of the Early Bronze Age settlement of Schleinbach, Austria (c. 1950-1850 bc). Four perimortal impression fractures on the skull of a 5-6-year-old child indicate an intentional killing, with a co-buried loom weight as possible murder weapon. Proteomic analysis, conducted for the first time on prehistoric teeth in Austria, determined the child's sex as male. While we cannot conclusively determine whether the child was the victim of conflicts between village groups or was slain by members of his own community, we suggest that contextual evidence points to the latter. A possible trigger of violence was the follow-on effects of an uncontrolled middle ear infection revealed by an osteological analysis. The boy from Schleinbach highlights the potential for further investigation of gender-biased violence, infanticide and child murder based on the recently developed method of proteomic sex identification.

A Landscape in Transitions: Guletta, a Multiperiod Settlement along the Mazaro River in Western Sicily

The Prospecting Boundaries project explores the Mazaro river corridor from a landscape archaeological perspective, using integrated prospection techniques to recover traces of past human activity and environmental contexts. One key research area is Guletta, a zone of dense multiperiod activity situated on the rocky plain above the river. In this paper, we detail results from recent work at Guletta, which has revealed numerous previously undocumented archaeological settlement features that appear to have been built in successive phases. Artifact analysis from corresponding surface survey indicates a mixture of locally produced and imported materials dating from the Middle Bronze to Archaic periods. Using these new results together with existing archaeological and environmental information, we present an initial interpretation of the occupation sequence of the settlement and explore the concept of Guletta as a connecting point between emerging indigenous, colonial, coastal, and interior interdependencies and interests in later pre- and protohistory.

A simple method of meniscus repair

Current understanding of knee meniscus pathology and the known consequences of meniscal loss dictate preservation of tissues wherever feasible. Surgical approaches to meniscal repair include open and combined arthroscopic-open or arthroscopic-percutaneous procedures. A variety of needles, guides, sutures, and retractors have been marketed. Over a 2 year period, we used these techniques in the repair of 19 medial and 5 lateral meniscus tears, with no known retears and no complications. We used an 18-gauge, 6-inch spinal needle and a strand of number one nonabsorbable suture.

A new evaluation of gross pathologic changes and concepts of rheumatoid articular cartilage degeneration

Fifty-one knees in 32 ambulatory patients with rheumatoid arthritis were examined arthroscopically, enabling direct observation of the pattern of gross degeneration at the joint line and synovial chondral junction. Four distinct stages of pannus ingrowth and meniscal degeneration were observed, which correlated with the extent of articular destruction. Significant direct pannus invasion of articular cartilage was not observed in any stage in the ambulatory mobile rheumatoid knee. Stage I is comprised of synovial hypertrophy. Stage II shows invasive pannus affecting meniscal surfaces. Stage III exhibits meniscal tearing and production of abrasive debris. Stage IV is end-stage loss of meniscus and denudation of articular surfaces. Articular cartilage destruction was not observed in patients without visible meniscal degeneration or pannus ingrowth but was observed in knees without roentgenographic erosion or joint space narrowing. A new evaluation of articular degeneration in the ambulatory mobile rheumatoid knee is based on mechanical destruction by torn menisci and free debris observed by arthroscopy.

The effect of alignment on results in arthroscopic debridement of the degenerative knee

Fifty-two patients with severe degenerative joint disease of the knees were treated by arthroscopic debridement. The results of arthroscopic debridement on normally aligned degenerative knees are encouraging. A combination of arthroscopic debridement and high tibial osteotomy could be an appealing alternative to total knee arthroplasty in the young patients. Patients with varus angular deformity in the degenerative knee had a poor result and should be excluded from consideration for arthroscopic debridement.

Treatment of proximal-third femur fractures with pins and thigh plaster

Thirty patients with proximal third femur fractures were treated with pins-in-thigh plaster. Patients were divided into two groups: (1) acute (pins-in-plaster applied within one month after injury); and (2) late (pins-in-plaster applied later than one month ater injury). Patients in the acute group had application of pins-in-plaster inserted at an average of nine days after injury, and were treated in plaster for 9.4 weeks with union occurring at 10.7 weeks. Patients in the late group had application of pins-in-plaster an average of 13.3 weeks after injury, treatment in plaster for 7.7 weeks, and union at 21 weeks. Subtrochanteric fractures healed as rapidly as other areas of the femur when braced early. Twenty-five fractures demonstrated less than 2 cm of shortening and less than 10 degrees of varus. There were no nonunions. One patient developed a deep wound infection. Antibiotics were required in seven patients because of pin tract drainage, which ceased once the pins were removed. This method is indicated in active patients with comminuted or open fractures but neither in the elderly or senile patients, or in intertrochanteric-subtrochanteric fractures.