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5. PALEOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SKELETAL REMAINS FROM A 10TH-12TH CENTURY AD CEMETERY FROM HUNGARY

PALEOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SKELETAL REMAINS FROM A 10TH-12TH CENTURY AD CEMETERY FROM HUNGARY

Spekker Olga, Pálfi György, Bereczki Zsolt, Molnár Erika

Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary

Spekker Olga, e-mail: olga.spekker@gmail.com.

Abstract

The aim of our study is to present results of the paleopathological investigation of a 10th-12th century AD cemetery from South-East Hungary. The examination of the skeletal remains of 59 individuals was performed using standard macromorphological methods of bioarchaeology. Before the paleopathological analysis of the series, sex and age at death of individuals and state of preservation of the observable skeletal elements were also recorded. In spite of the poor state of preservation, the examined osteoarchaeological series showed a wide range of paleopathological alterations: skeletal traces of degenerative articular changes, traumas and infectious diseases were observed. This presentation focuses on infectious lesions. On the basis of the detected alterations (rib lesions, superficial vertebral changes / hypervascularisation, endocranial alterations and potential stress indicators or infection markers, such as cribra orbitalia and long bone periostitis) the diagnosis of probable early-stage TB was supposed in five cases. Although a positive correlation seems to exist between these alterations and TB, they are not always pathognomonic to tuberculosis. In order to confirm the assumed diagnosis, further biomolecular investigations are planned. A mature female individual showed signs of severe destruction of the right maxilla most probably as a result of periodontal inflammation. The same skeleton revealed skeletal evidence of symbolic trephination on the middle of the sagittal suture. It cannot be excluded that this intervention was made for medicoritual purposes. Our results contribute to improving the knowledge on health status in historic populations of Hungary at the time of political and cultural transition from Eastern traditions to feudalism and Christianity. The support of the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund, OTKA NN 78696 and OTKA N° 78555 is greatly acknowledged.

Keywords

paleopathology, Hungary, 10th-12th century AD, tuberculosis, periodontal inflammation, symbolic trephination

Цит.: Spekker Olga, Pálfi György, Bereczki Zsolt, Molnár Erika PALEOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SKELETAL REMAINS FROM A 10TH-12TH CENTURY AD CEMETERY FROM HUNGARY // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2014; 3/2014; с. 110-110