Paleopathology

Disability and Age Expectations in Romano-British Child Burials

by William Southwell-Wright

In M. Carroll and E-J Graham (eds.). Infant Health and Death in Roman Italy and Beyond. Journal of Roman Archaeology Supplementary Series (forthcoming 2013).

A NEW EXPLANATION FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE WOES AND MIDLIFE DECLINE OF HENRY VIII

by Catrina Whitley

Co-authored with Kyra Kramer.  Published in The Historical Journal, 53 , pp 827-848.  http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0018246X10000452

Henry VIII's first two wives experienced multiple pregnancies culminating in late-term miscarriage, stillbirth, or... more Henry VIII's first two wives experienced multiple pregnancies culminating in late-term miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal mortality. After his fortieth birthday, the king's mental and physical health underwent rapid deterioration. In this article, we argue that both his reproductive troubles and his midlife pathologies can be explained if Henry VIII were positive for the Kell blood group. A Kell negative woman who has multiple pregnancies with a Kell positive male will suffer repeated miscarriages and death of Kell positive foetuses and term infants that occur subsequent to the first Kell positive pregnancy. This pattern is consistent with the pregnancies of Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Additionally, Henry VIII may have suffered from McLeod syndrome, a genetic disorder of the Kell blood group system, which is a condition that causes physical and mental impairment consistent with his ailments.

Past Perspectives: What can Archaeology offer Disability Studies?

by William Southwell-Wright

Forthcoming (2013) in K. Arndt and M. Wappett (eds.) Disability Studies: Critical Issues and Future Developments. Palgrave Macmillan.

Childhood tuberculosis: a probable case from late medieval Somerset, England

by Heidi Dawson

In press availble on-line International Journal of Paleopathology
Co-authored with Dr Kate Robson Brown

Some prevalent pathologies in ancient Egypt

by Paula Veiga

This paper deals with some of the most prevalent pathologies in ancient Egypt; which were those and how were those... more This paper deals with some of the most prevalent pathologies in ancient Egypt; which were those and how were those prevented. They were mainly caused by diet and hygiene care, or the lack of it, plagues and infestations, and how the ancient Egyptian peoples dealt with them.

Novel light on cranial surgery in ancient Rome, in: The Lancet 355, 22 January 2000, pp. 305-307

by Francesco di Gennaro

Co-authored with R. Mariani-Costantini, P. Catalano, G. di Tota and L. R. Angeletti

The microscopic (optical and SEM) examination of putrefaction fluid deposits (PFD). Potential interest in forensic anthropology

by Patrice Georges

Co-authored with "P. Charlier, F. Bouchet, I. Huynh-Charlier, R. Carlier, V. Mazel, P. Richardin, L. Brun, J. Blondiaux, G. Lorin de la Grandmaison", published in "Virchows Arch", 453, 2008.

DOI 10.1007/s00428-008-0670-1

This article describes the potential interest in physical and forensic anthropology of the microscopic analysis of... more This article describes the potential interest in physical and forensic anthropology of the microscopic analysis of residues of putrefaction fluid, a calcified deposit frequently found associated with bone rests. Its sampling and analysis seem straightforward and relatively reproducible. Samples came from archeological material (Monterenzio Vecchia, an Etruscan necropolis from the north of Italy dated between the fifth and third century B.C.; body rests of Agnès Sorel, royal mistress died in 1450 A.D.; skull and grave of French King Louis the XI and Charlotte of Savoy dated from 1483 A.D.). All samples were studied by direct optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy. Many cytological, histological, and elemental analysis were possible, producing precious data for the identification of these remains and, in some cases, the cause of death.

Reconsidering the Antiquity of Leprosy

by Ron Pinhasi

Morbidity, rickets, and long bone growth in post-medieval Britain- a cross-population analysis

by Ron Pinhasi

Background: Vitamin D deficiency rickets is associated with skeletal deformities including swollen rib junctions,... more Background: Vitamin D deficiency rickets is associated with skeletal deformities including swollen rib junctions, bowing of the legs, and the flaring and fraying of the wrist and long-bone metaphyses. There is, however, scarce information on the direct effect of rickets on skeletal growth in either present
or past populations.

Aim: The study investigated the effect of vitamin D deficiency rickets on long-bone growth in two post-medieval skeletal populations from East London (Broadgate and Christ Church Spitalfields). Subsequently, inter-population growth variations in relation to non-specific environmental stress (dental enamel defects), industrialization, urbanization and socio-economic status during infancy (birth to 3 years) and early childhood (3–7 years) were examined.

Subjects and methods: Data on long-bone diaphyseal length dimensions and stress indicators of 234 subadults from Anglo-Saxon, late medieval and post-medieval archaeological skeletal samples were analysed using both linear and non-linear growth models.

Results: Rickets had no effect on the growth curves for any of the long bones studied. However, pronounced variations in growth between the four populations were noted, mainly during infancy. The diaphyseal length of long bones of Broadgate were significantly smaller-per-age than those of Spitalfields and the other samples up to the age of 4 years, and were associated with a high prevalence of enamel defects during early infancy.
Conclusion: Socio-economic status, rather than urbanization, industrialization or rickets, was the central factor behind the observed differences in growth among the post-medieval populations. The observed
inter-population growth variations were only significant during infancy.

Paleopathology and the Origin of Agriculture in the Levant

by Ron Pinhasi

Gross Enamel Hypoplasia in Molars From Subadults in a 16th–18th Century London Graveyard

by Ron Pinhasi

A Possible Case of Hypopituitarism in Neolithic China

by Mauricio Hernandez

Early View

A human skeleton with a possible case of hypopituitarism is reported. The individual (burial M53) is from the site of... more A human skeleton with a possible case of hypopituitarism is reported. The individual (burial M53) is from the site of Guanjia, a Neolithic settlement in northern China, dated to the Late Yangshao period (6000–5500BP). On the basis of the fully erupted third permanent molars and moderate occlusal dental wear resulting in substantial exposure of dentine, the initially estimated age-at-death was placed between 26 and 33 years. However, dimensions of the postcranial skeleton fall significantly below and outside the range from contemporaneous adult populations, and along with delayed epiphyseal fusion present throughout the skeleton, the postcranial age is concordant to that of an 11- to 13-year-old child. Most long bone epiphyses display incomplete fusion or are entirely unfused, but a lack of microporosity in the metaphyseal areas near growth plates indicates a cessation of longitudinal bone growth. Because no signs of porotic hyperostosis, cribra orbitalia, periosteal lesions or linear enamel hypoplasia are observed, the restricted growth of this individual is likely caused by a growth hormone disorder and is unrelated to nutritional deficiencies or systemic infection.

A 14th-17th century osteoporotic hip fracture from the Santa Clara-a-Velha Convent in Coimbra (Portugal)

by Francisco Curate

A case of Os odontoideum in the palaeopathological record

by Francisco Curate

"Published in 'International Journal of Osteoarchaeology'"

Hip fractures in the Portuguese archaeological record

by Francisco Curate

Possibilities and Limitations of Human Bone Record in Southern Patagonia

by Fernando Santiago

Suby JA, Guichón RA, Salemme M. y Santiago F.

Restos humanos en el norte de Tierra del Fuego. Aspectos contextuales, dietarios y paleopatológicos

by Fernando Santiago

Fernando Santiago, Mónica Salemme, Jorge Suby y Ricardo Guichón

Incidence of Trachoma in Two Prehistoric Lower Illinois River Valley Populations

by Susan Dale Spencer

Co-authored with Julie K. Euber and Della Collins Cook.

Patología dental de los antiguos residentes del Alto del Rey (El Tambo, Cauca) suroeste de Colombia (ca.1200-1600 d.C)

by Miguel Delgado

Condicions de vida i treball en època romana: estudi bioarqueològic de les restes òssies humanes del Collet Est de Sant Antoni de Calonge, Girona

by Camila Oliart