Objective Documented cases of actinomycosis in archaeological skeletons are very rare, especially from Central Europe. Our contribution will help facilitate the differential diagnosis of this disease for other paleopathologists. Material This paper describes a pathological finding of the skeleton of a 40-year-old male from a burial ground in Sady-Špitálky (Czech Republic) dated to the 10th-12th century

Objective To present for the first time in the north-western Spanish osteological record prevalence data on Stafne’s bone defect, to compare the results with those reported by other studies, and to increase the dataset for future inter-population comparisons. Material In all, 143 complete adult mandibles recovered from two necropolises were analyzed (n = 118, San Juan Bautista of Guardo, Palencia province

Objective To undertake a differential diagnosis of a large mass found in the left maxillary sinus of a cranium dated to the 16th–17th-century, and to expand knowledge of the diagnosis of osseous tissue formation in osteoarchaeological studies. Material A cranium recovered from the cemetery of San Salvador de Palat de Rey church, León (Spain). Methods Macroscopic analysis, CT scanning. Results Macroscopic

Objective This paper looks to broaden the methodological possibilities for diagnosing osteomalacia in archaeological bone using micro-CT analysis. Increasing the identification of osteomalacia in paleopathology will provide support for important interpretive frameworks. Materials Nine embedded and two unembedded rib fragments were sourced from St. Martin’s Birmingham and Ancaster, UK, and Lisieux Michelet

Objective This study was designed to search for ancient parasites in abdominal content and coprolites from Bolivian mummies. Materials Twelve mummified individuals from the Andean highlands, housed at the National Museum of Archaeology (MUNARQ) in La Paz, Bolivia. Methods Microscopic analysis of rehydrated samples (coprolites and abdominal content), following Lutz's spontaneous sedimentation technique

Objective This study investigated microstructural changes of the right and left midshaft femur in an archaeological individual afflicted with left-sided hip joint ankylosis to assess whether increased cortical porosity was present as a result of leg disuse. Materials The individual is a middle-aged adult male excavated from the Metal Period (∼2000 BP) Nagsabaran, Luzon Island, Philippines. Methods

Objective Describe pathological features on internal and external aspects of the skull of an ancient grey wolf. Materials Wolf remains that were found at the southwestern settlement Area A of Gravettian site Pavlov I. Methods Visual observation and description; microcomputed tomography; porosity and fragmentation indices for internal and external skull features; histological section of the fourth upper

Objectives This study aimed to reconstruct the dietary behavior of two early medieval individuals who display gnathic malformation. Material Two skeletons affected by temporomandibular ankylosis were analyzed, one from the Great Moravian burial site of Rajhradice (9th century AD, Czech Republic), and the other from the Avar burial site of Schӧnkirchen (8th century AD, Austria). Methods Carbon and nitrogen

Objective We test the hypothesis that physiological stress increased in response to increasing social turmoil following waves of colonization and social transition. The ways local conditions, including variation in geography, environment, and levels of urbanization impact physiological stress are also explored. Materials In Albania, the historic period is a sequence of different waves of colonization

Objective The skeletal remains of a short-statured individual (T17) are described and a differential diagnosis performed to determine the etiology of the condition. Materials An individual considered pathologically short in stature was discovered in the burial site of Piazza XX Settembre, Modena (northern Italy). Methods Morphological and morphometric analyses were performed, and T17 was compared to

Objective This work describes a new method for recording nasal fracture in skeletonized individuals, suitable for use in biocultural studies of violence and fracture in past societies. Methods The method consists in recording the ‘side of fracture’, ‘side of deviation’, ‘type of fracture’, ‘other facial fractures’, and stage of ‘bone remodeling’. Results A lateral impact force to the facial area is

Objectives We aim to discuss the presence of treponemal infections in three individuals belonging to a large (∼400 individuals) Late Medieval cemetery (14th -16th century) that archaeological and documentary sources place within a Jewish context, and to discuss the role of these diseases in a biocultural perspective. Materials and methods An anthropological and paleopathological study was conducted

Objective This research is designed to evaluate the occurrence of external auditory exostoses (EAEs) in skeletal remains from the oldest known water wells in the world (Kissonerga-Mylouthkia, Cyprus, 8,200-7,200 BCE). Materials Six individuals (MNI = 6), five fragmentary temporalia, two preserved auditory canals. Methods Macroscopic and microscopic (up to x30) observation, with illumination; presence

In modern clinical medical practice, middle-ear infection is a frequently reported condition. If untreated, persistent inflammation caused by infection may lead to perforation of the mastoid process or other portions of the temporal bone. When the middle-ear abscess penetrates the surrounding bone and invades the mastoid process, it causes mastoiditis. Abnormal osseous fistulae were observed on the

This paper reviews the significant advances in isotopic investigations in Andean South America and directs scholars to explore new theoretical and analytical directions, specifically the applicability of isotope data to paleopathology. Excellent preservation and large skeletal collections of human remains make the Central Andes ideal for biogeochemical reconstructions and advancements in isotopic methods

Objective To describe the oral pathological conditions of Ohalo II H2, an Early Epipaleolithic human from southwest Asia. Materials The dentognathic skeleton of Ohalo II H2 and relevant comparative data from similar chronological and/or geographic contexts. Methods Gross and x-ray observations of oral pathological conditions and occlusal wear were made following published protocols. A differential

Objective This paper explores the potential of analyzing pathological lesions and entheseal changes in the identification of working reindeer. Methods The skeletons of 26 modern working reindeer from Siberia and Northern Finland are analyzed for pathological lesions and entheseal changes. Results Working results in elevated frequencies of pathological lesions, specifically joint disease in cervical

Objective This case-study provides a summary of skeletal lesions seen in a case of diagnosed juvenile pulmonary tuberculosis with extensive multifocal bony lesions. Materials Skeleton of a 9-year-old girl who died in the 1940s in Lisbon, Portugal. The remains of this individual are part of the Lisbon skeletal reference collection curated at the National Museum of Natural History and Science. Methods

OBJECTIVE AND MATERIALS This research evaluates the presence and chronology of tuberculosis (TB) in the northeastern highlands of Peru (CE 800-1535) through the analysis of osseous lesions from Pre-Contact Kuelap, Chachapoyas. METHODS We examined macroscopic lesion morphology and distribution from the skeletal series (MNI = 207). RESULTS We determined that skeletal evidence was highly consistent with

OBJECTIVES To highlight conditions that may cause early-onset degenerative joint disease, and to assess the possible impact of such diseases upon everyday life. MATERIAL Four adults aged under 50 years from a medieval skeletal collection of Prague (Czechia). METHODS Visual, osteometric, X-ray, and histological examinations, stable isotope analysis of bone collagen. RESULTS All four individuals showed

OBJECTIVE This case study describes a perimortem hip fracture in a documented individual from the Robert J. Terry Skeletal Collection. The purpose of this paper is to comprehend how co-occurring conditions contributed to fracture risk and to understand the effect of the injury on this individual. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 73-year-old female from the Terry Collection with a fracture of the left proximal

OBJECTIVE Actinomycosis infection of bone is rare and its diagnosis challenging. Here, we aim to identify and verify its microstructural features and the potential value for differential diagnosis. MATERIALS We investigated the dry preparation of the lumbar vertebrae and pelvic ring of a purported case of actinomycosis documented by a post-mortem examination in 1891. METHODS Macroscopic inspection

OBJECTIVE This paper reports a new case of treponemal disease in a pre-Columbian hunter-gatherer inhabiting the desert coast of South America. MATERIALS A well-preserved adult male skeleton from the "Vertedero Municipal" archaeological cemetery, located near the city of Antofagasta (Northern Chile). METHODS The skeleton was radiocarbon dated, and isotopic analyses were performed to assess diet and

In the 20 years since the publication of John Verano's foundational paper "Advances in Paleopathology of Andean South America," paleopathological and bioarchaeological investigations of human skeletal remains in the region have increased dramatically. Today, primary foci have grown to span the identification of disease, detailed reconstructions of biocultural interactions, embodied social experiences

Andean paleopathological research has significantly enhanced knowledge about the geographical distribution and evolution of tuberculosis (TB) in pre-Columbian South America. In this paper, we review the history and progress of research on ancient tuberculosis (TB) in the Andean region, focusing on the strengths and limitations of current approaches for the molecular detection of ancient pathogens,

Because 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

Over 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

This 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'

In 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

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

Skeletal and mummified remains from South America have had a significant impact on the progress of paleopathological research. In 1997, John Verano synthesized the state of paleopathological research, identifying trends and highlighting future potentials. The goal of this contribution is to consider Verano's observations on advances in soft tissue paleopathology within the context of the development

Akin to approaches encouraged by Verano (1997) in the Andes, and Ortner (2011, 2012) for general paleopathological studies, this article focuses on accurate descriptions and definitions of osteoarthritis, entheses, and long bone cross-sectional geometry. By evaluating these conditions as part of biological responses to abnormal skeletal changes and biomechanical stress, this research discusses each

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

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

Though developmental anomalies have been noted for over a century in South American paleopathology, they have received less attention than other pathological conditions. When anomalies are reported, they tend to be unusual case studies or incidental findings. Paleopathological research should also consider anomalies from a population perspective, to broaden our understanding about the frequency of

This broad literature review considers advances in the study of cranial vault modification with an emphasis on investigations of Andean skeletal remains over the last two decades. I delimit three broad categories of research, building on Verano's synthesis of the state of Andean paleopathology in 1997. These are associations with skeletal pathological conditions, classification and morphology, and

OBJECTIVE To reconstruct breastfeeding and weaning practices, metabolic stress including tuberculosis-induced wasting, and residential mobility of children in Neolithic and Metal Ages to infer their local ecologies. MATERIALS Seven permanent teeth from individuals dated to the Neolithic, Copper, Bronze, and Iron Ages buried in nearby caves in western Liguria, Italy. METHODS Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur

We set out to assemble this Special Issue of IJPP with three goals in mind: (1) to familiarize Anglophone readers with research on paleopathology conducted by Chinese scholars; (2) to enhance interest in paleopathological research among Chinese scholars, and to foster the use of differential diagnosis as the key mode of paleopathological analysis; and (3) to initiate integration of pathological analysis

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

OBJECTIVE To explore the differential diagnoses of a fused left knee joint and the subsequent impairment. MATERIALS An adult female skeleton from the Medieval cemetery of St Mary Spital (London, England). METHODS We employed digital radiography and macroscopic observation to record the changes observed throughout the skeleton. We also used the Index of Care to explore the subsequent impairment. RESULTS

OBJECTIVE To better understand the pathogenesis of DISH, identifying early or pre-DISH lesions in the spine and investigating the relationship between spinal and extra-spinal manifestations of DISH. MATERIAL 44 skeletonized individuals with DISH from the WM Bass Donated Skeletal Collection. METHODS For each vertebra, location, extension, point of origin and appearance of vertebral outgrowths were recorded

Foot-binding was a widespread custom in China for hundreds of years, though the severity and type of binding varied considerably over time and space. To examine the morphological consequences of extremely severe foot-binding, this paper uses 35 sets of bound and 33 sets of unbound foot bones, from the remains of women excavated from the Xinzhi cemetery in northern Shandong Province. Based on macroscopic

OBJECTIVE To differentially diagnose two calcified objects found with the well-preserved and nearly complete skeletal remains excavated in June 2012 by the Haáz Rezső Múzeum in Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania. MATERIAL Two objects measuring 25.55 × 18.23 mm and 17.62 × 16.38 mm found with the skeletal remains of a probable female approximately 25-35 years old at the time of death. METHODS Analysis utilized

OBJECTIVE 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). MATERIAL A total of 241 adult skeletons from the Danish medieval period were included. METHODS Linear enamel hypoplasia

This 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

OBJECTIVE Unhealed hip fractures are underrepresented in the archaeological record, suggesting that better identification criteria are required. This paper evaluates whether a sample of documented perimortem hip fractures displayed classic perimortem features and which features may facilitate better identification of such fractures in the archaeological record. MATERIALS Ten individuals from the Robert

OBJECTIVE To provide a detailed analysis and interpretation of cranial and postcranial lesions noted on an early medieval skeleton from the Italian Alps. MATERIALS Individual (SK63) was buried within the early Christian church (5th-8th centuries AD) of Säben-Sabiona in South Tyrol (Italy). METHODS The skeleton underwent macroscopic, microscopic and metric analyses. RESULTS SK63 was a 19-25 year old

OBJECTIVE To interpret traumatic cranial lesions on two individuals buried at the Neolithic necropolis of Campo de Hockey, Spain. MATERIALS Skeletal remains and grave goods associated with two individuals recovered in good condition from a single grave. METHODS Crania were macroscopically and radiographically analysed. RESULTS Of all the individuals recovered from this site, only two present perimortem

OBJECTIVE Irregular incremental lines (ILs) in the tooth cementum were previously associated with pregnancy and certain diseases. This study aims to identify irregular ILs and assess their patterns and reproducibility. MATERIALS 24 recent and 32 archaeological teeth from the nineteenth century with known birth history. METHODS Histological sections of tooth roots were microscopically assessed. The

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the etiology of skeletal changes noted in equid vertebrae from a 19th- century context near Belgrade, Serbia. MATERIALS A vertebral column consisting of 15 fused thoracic vertebrae (T2-T16), with right ribs fused to T4 and T5 and small remnants of ribs articulating with T4, T5 and T6 on the left side were accidentally recovered during industrial exploitation of sand. METHODS The

Bioarchaeological data for tuberculosis (TB) have been published very sporadically in China or the rest of East Asia. To explore the history of TB in this area, 85 skeletons excavated from the Liuwei Cemetery in Shaanxi, China (202 BC-220 AD) were macroscopically examined to record TB related bone changes. These skeletons represented inhabitants of Maolingyi, an urban area that had a high population

OBJECTIVE We assessed whether Petrus Donders (died 1887), a Dutch priest who for 27 years cared for people with leprosy in the leprosarium Batavia, Suriname, had evidence of Mycobacterium (M.) leprae infection. A positive finding of M. leprae ancient (a)DNA would contribute to the origin of leprosy in Suriname. MATERIALS Skeletal remains of Father Petrus Donders; two additional skeletons excavated

OBJECTIVE This project investigates two cases of skeletal dysplasia from archaeological excavations of the New Kingdom Period (c. 1400-1050 BCE) portion of the Tombos cemetery in Sudan. MATERIALS Fair to well-preserved skeletal remains of two individuals, one adult and one juvenile, are examined here. METHODS All available skeletal elements were analyzed macroscopically. A differential diagnosis was

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to develop and provide recommendations for computed tomography (CT) examinations of human mummies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Based on theoretical considerations and examples, recommendations for use are provided for scanning and image reconstruction parameters. Four examples are presented to illustrate the effect of different CT parameters on image quality. RESULTS

OBJECTIVE To document sacral spina bifida occulta (SSB0) prevalence in a population sample from the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, and address methodological issues in recording and quantifying SSBO variations. MATERIALS 442 adult sacra from two temporally disjunct samples from the same deme traversing the 3rd intermediate (TIP) and the Roman Periods. METHODS Sacra were scored for SSBO, excluding the sacral

OBJECTIVE Provide a frame of reference for the recognition and interpretation of bezoars recovered from archeological and paleontological sites. MATERIALS 49 bezoars from extant guanaco (Lama guanicoe) were analyzed and compared with five objects previously identified as bezoars, recovered from Holocene archeological sites of the Argentine Pampas. METHODS Size, shape, weight, external and internal

OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to provide new insights into growth patterns and health of Mousterian hunter-gatherers dated to ca. 90-100 kyrs B.P. from the Qafzeh site. MATERIALS An almost complete skeleton, including the mandible from the Qafzeh site (Qafzeh 9). METHODS Micro-CT and medical imaging techniques are used to explore inaccessible inner structures and to assess the etiology of identified

We carried out a differential diagnosis of a large frontoparietal lesion on a human skull from a Late Bronze Age archaeological site located on the Central Plain of China, dating to between 771 and 476 BC. The head of this individual was covered in cinnabar, a mercury-based pigment that later was used for medicinal purposes in China. The lesion was well-circumscribed and involved the outer and inner

OBJECTIVE To investigate the types of intestinal parasites that infected people living in Islamic period southern Iberia (al-Andalus), and compare with other regions of Europe. MATERIALS Four cesspits from 10th-11th century CE Córdoba (Spain), and two from 12th-13th century Mértola (Portugal). METHODS Sediment from each cesspit was analyzed using digital light microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent