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Insights on patterns of developmental disturbances from the analysis of linear enamel hypoplasia in a Neolithic sample from Liguria (northwestern Italy)
ConclusionLEH may reflect life-history in the local ecology of Neolithic Liguria, where several individuals with osteoarticular tuberculosis have been recorded. Disease burden may have triggered developmental disturbances around the time of weaning. Age at first defect was negatively correlated with age at death and positively with the total number of defects, suggesting that early stress may have affected survivorship.SignificanceThe study contributes to the reconstruction of ecological pressures among Neolithic people of Liguria, and informs on environmental challenges during the Neolithic adaptive expansion.LimitationsT...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - January 1, 2020 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Advances in regional paleopathology of the Southern Coast of the Central Andes
Publication date: Available online 19 December 2019Source: International Journal of PaleopathologyAuthor(s): Elsa Tomasto-CagigaoAbstractBecause of a rich cultural history and excellent preservation of archaeological materials the south coast of the Central Andes is a region where many anthropological questions can be explored, using the latest methods and techniques. Over the last 20 years, multidisciplinary paleopathological studies have revealed interesting and unanticipated perspectives regarding the lives and cultures of the peoples who inhabited this region in pre-Hispanic times. This paper presents a panorama of the...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - December 21, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Growing up different in Neolithic China: A contextualised case study and differential diagnosis of a young adult with skeletal dysplasia
Publication date: March 2020Source: International Journal of Paleopathology, Volume 28Author(s): Siân E. Halcrow, Melanie J. Miller, Anne Marie E. Snoddy, Wenquan Fan, Kate PechenkinaAbstractThis paper presents a case study of a young adult from the late Neolithic Yangshao cultural period site (∼3300–2900 years BC) of Guanjia (关家) located in Henan Province on the Central Plains of China, who has evidence for skeletal dysplasia characterised by proportional stunting of the long bones and a small axial skeleton, generalised osteopenia, and non-fusion of epiphyses. We provide a detailed differential diagnosis of skel...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - December 14, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Bilateral congenital radioulnar synostosis in an Early Horizon subadult burial from the site of Atalla, Peru
ConclusionsBurial treatment of Individual 1 does not provide any indication that CRUS was afforded an exceptional social significance.Contribution to PaleopathologyThis example of CRUS is notable as it represents the second published archaeological case of CRUS from Peru and the earliest reported case globally.Limitations of this StudyThe osteological sample currently available from this site is limited.Suggestions for Future ResearchIncreased fieldwork in this region is recommended to further clarify the distribution and social significance of CRUS in the prehistoric Andes.ResumenObjetivoEste estudio se llevó a cabo para...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - December 12, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Editorial Board
Publication date: December 2019Source: International Journal of Paleopathology, Volume 27Author(s): (Source: International Journal of Paleopathology)
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - November 22, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Looking back, looking forward: Paleopathology in Andean South America
Publication date: Available online 15 November 2019Source: International Journal of PaleopathologyAuthor(s): John W. VeranoAbstractOver the past twenty years, the field of Andean paleopathology has advanced significantly thanks to a new generation of scholars who have been attracted to this region and whose innovative research has expanded our knowledge substantially. The papers in this special issue demonstrate how the field of Andean paleopathology has diversified and grown to become what is today a truly interdisciplinary enterprise involving archaeology, ethnohistory, biological anthropology, geochemistry, medical imag...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - November 16, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Exploring oral paleopathology in the Central Andes: A review
Publication date: Available online 9 November 2019Source: International Journal of PaleopathologyAuthor(s): Celeste Marie GagnonAbstractThis targeted review of oral paleopathology in the Central Andes explores research that focuses on a set of interrelated, multifactorial processes: dental caries, macrowear, alveolar abscess, antemortem tooth loss (AMTL), periodontal disease, and the presence of dental calculus. These conditions help characterize oral health because they result from the culturally mediated interaction of individuals’ oral cavity with their external environment. To better understand how osteologists worki...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - November 10, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Temporal changes in childhood health during the medieval Little Ice Age in Denmark
This study examines the evidence of three skeletal markers of childhood health that leave permanent observable changes in the adult skeleton during two climate events, the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA) that occurred in the medieval period (1050–1536 CE).MaterialA total of 241 adult skeletons from the Danish medieval period were included.MethodsLinear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) was examined macroscopically. Harris lines (HL) and infectious middle ear disease (IMED) were examined from CT imaging. The skeletons were segregated by the mortuary pattern of arm position that coincidentally changes between...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - October 30, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Patterns of trauma across Andean South America: New discoveries and advances in interpretation
Publication date: Available online 23 October 2019Source: International Journal of PaleopathologyAuthor(s): Melissa S. Murphy, Sara L. JuengstAbstractIn his review article John W. Verano covered trauma, warfare, trophy taking, and human sacrifice, but his discussion mostly focused on the results of studies of museum or private collections and the recent discovery of the mass human sacrifice from Huaca de la Luna. Due to the renewed interest in the paleopathology of South America, a trend which Verano observed, these types of investigations have grown exponentially in the past twenty years since his initial publication. Her...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - October 24, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Skeletal evidence for violent trauma from the bronze age Qijia culture (2,300-1,500 BCE), Gansu Province, China
Publication date: December 2019Source: International Journal of Paleopathology, Volume 27Author(s): Jenna M. Dittmar, Elizabeth Berger, Xiaoya Zhan, Ruilin Mao, Hui Wang, Hui-Yuan YehAbstractThis research explores how social and environmental factors may have contributed to conflict during the early Bronze Age in Northwest China by analyzing violent trauma on human skeletal remains from a cemetery of the Qijia culture (2300-1500 BCE). The Qijia culture existed during a period of dramatic social, technological, and environmental change, though minimal research has been conducted on how these factors may have contributed to ...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - October 11, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Perimortem fracture manifestations and mortality after hip fracture in a documented skeletal series
ConclusionsThis study underscores the importance of examining fracture margins for evidence of hinging. Eburnation may be added to the list of potential perimortem fracture identification criteria.SignificanceIdentifying perimortem trauma unequivocally remains challenging. Using collections with documented perimortem fractures aids in determining which criteria are most likely to appear in archaeological human bone.LimitationsThe fracture location patterning (70% intertrochanteric) may be the result of sample selection.Suggestions for future researchFurther intensive comparative investigation with the Hamann-Todd Collectio...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - October 5, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Paleopathology and children in the Andes: Local/situated biologies and future directions
Publication date: Available online 1 October 2019Source: International Journal of PaleopathologyAuthor(s): Deborah E. Blom, Kelly J. KnudsonAbstractIn 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 societ...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - October 2, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Perimortem sharp force trauma in an individual from the early medieval cemetery of Säben-Sabiona in South Tyrol, Italy
ConclusionsThe trauma pattern observed indicates that different bladed weapons were used and interpersonal violence rather than a large-scale conflict led to the death of SK63.SignificanceThe present findings provide novel information on violent interpersonal interactions in early medieval Säben-Sabiona, Italy.LimitationsThe sequence of the inflicted injuries was not reconstructed.Suggestions for Further ResearchFuture interdisciplinary investigations (i.e., 3D imaging and reconstructions) will provide a better understanding of the possible types of weapons used to inflict injuries, the required forces to create the lesio...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - September 25, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Possible interpersonal violence in the Neolithic necropolis of Campo de Hockey (San Fernando, Cádiz, Spain)
ConclusionsThe individuals present signs of interpersonal violence. In both cases, the injuries are perimortem and may have contributed to the deaths of the individuals.SignificanceThe identification of interpersonal violence in the two individuals buried in the tomb, alongside the archaeological context of the burials, provides unique insight into Neolithic burial practices in the Iberian Peninsula and the role that paleopathology can play in the recognition of social complexity.LimitationsThe skeletal remains of the two individuals were fragmented, rendering the identification of perimortem lesions difficult.Suggestions ...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - September 24, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research

Measuring incremental line width and appearance in the tooth cementum of recent and archaeological human teeth to identify irregularities: First insights using a standardized protocol
ConclusionsIrregular width and appearance in ILs were identified successfully with within-section reproducibility. The moderate reproducibility across sections needs to be addressed in further studies by more systematic sampling of sections.SignificanceThe proposed protocol identifies irregularities in a reproducible manner and may suggest that irregular ILs could be used in paleopathology to identify pregnancies and diseases.LimitationsThe correlation between the identified irregular ILs and known pregnancies has not been assessed as part of this study.Suggestions for further researchThe identified irregular ILs need to b...
Source: International Journal of Paleopathology - September 22, 2019 Category: Pathology Source Type: research