Leprosy in a skeleton from the 7th century necropolis of Vicenne‐Campochiaro (Molise,Italy)

Analysis of the skeleton from tomb 144 of the early medieval necropolis of Vicenne‐Campochiaro in Central Italy revealed several features indicative of leprosy. The skeleton belongs to a male estimated to be between 20 and 25 years of age at death. The distal halves of the 1st and 2nd left metatarsals present acro‐osteolysis and both legs show severe subperiosteal bone reaction. The facial skeleton shows changes compatible with a chronic inflammatory process, possibly due to an infectious disease. The anatomical distribution of the lesions and their association with other skeletal lesions seems to be compatible with a near‐lepromatous form of leprosy. A differential diagnosis is made, and the skeletal traits pathognomonic of leprosy are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Possible rheumatoid arthritis found in the human skeleton collected from the tomb of Joseon Dynasty,Korea, dating back to the 1700s AD

We report a possible rheumatoid arthritis (RA) case found in a Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) tomb encapsulated by a lime‐soil mixture barrier (LSMB). The tomb is thought to have been constructed during the 1700s AD (1760 AD by carbon dating). In our anthropological examination, joint destruction, erosion or fusion (signs of polyarthritis) were identified mainly in the peripheral skeleton. Especially in both sides of the wrist bones, severe destruction/joint fusion possibly caused by polyarthritis was observed. A similar polyarthritis pattern also was seen in the right foot bones, even though we failed to confirm this symmetry due to the missing left foot bones. Despite these findings, signs suggestive of polyarthritis are very rarely seen in axial bones, even though bony fusions are found in the atlanto‐occipital joint or thoracic vertebrae (TV) 9–10. By the osteological signs observed in this case, the individual, a female, might have been suffering from a very late stage of RA and died in her 40s, even though other forms of chronic arthritis could not be ruled out completely. Though the current case could not provide evidence to decisively settle the debates on the antiquity of RA, our report could be a stepping stone for forthcoming studies on RA cases found in East Asian countries. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differential diagnosis of cartilaginous dysplasia and probable Osgood–Schlatter's disease in a Mississippian individual from East Tennessee

This paper details the differential diagnosis of an adult female skeleton displaying features consistent with a cartilaginous dysplasia and Osgood–Schlatter's disease. This burial was excavated in 1940 from a Mississippian platform mound at the DeArmond site (40RE12) in Roane County, Tennessee as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) archaeological investigations. The right humerus and left femur of this individual display traits consistent with achondroplasia, such as shortened length and normal width. However, the rest of the long bones display typical morphology. The affected humerus and femur are 82 mm and 58 mm shorter than their counterparts, respectively. This makes for obvious asymmetry. A review of the various cartilaginous dysplasias was undertaken to identify those conditions concordant with the differential manifestation of the long bone asymmetry. Morphological and radiographic analyses were used to rule out possible diagnoses. The most likely candidate is enchondromatosis out of the presented conditions, as it most commonly affects the long bones, does not affect every bone in the skeleton, and is asymmetrical in its manifestation. In addition to the cartilaginous dysplasia, both anterior proximal tibial metaphyses of this individual display defects that are roughly triangular with pitted, irregular floors. Osgood–Schlatter's disease is caused by repeated trauma to the tibial tuberosity during childhood. This individual would have walked with an obvious limp, and perhaps the added biomechanical stress on both quadriceps muscles as a result caused the injuries and resultant defects to its attachment points. Evidence of these conditions in an adult indicates that the Mississippian people in this community offered some sort of social support to differently‐abled individuals. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A case of Madelung's deformity in a skeleton from Nuragic Sardinia

The case reported here refers to the skeletal remains of a mature adult male found in a collective grave known as ‘Giant's tomb’ located near Donori (Sardinia) and dating to the end of the Bronze Age. The skeleton showed bilateral shortening of the forearm associated to radial bowing, marked deformations at the radio‐ulnar distal joints and subsequent posterior dislocation of both ulnae. The whole alterations fit well with a diagnosis of Madelung's deformity, a rare form of mesomelic dysplasia. At present, this case is the most ancient evidence of Madelung's deformity. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comment on the Analysis of Two Skeletons from Terqa,Syria

Recently, a report on two human skeletons from an Early Bronze Age tomb excavated at Tell Ashara, Syria has been published in International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. One individual was identified as a warrior following these criteria: (i) size and robustness of bones, (ii) cut marks on the humerus, (iii) reduction of the ulnar styloid process, both interpreted as healed weapon‐related trauma, (iv) well‐developed muscle insertions, and (v) degenerative joint disease. Actually, none of these five criteria support the conclusion because of the following reasons: (i) not necessarily all tall and robust men become warriors, (ii) the post mortem origin of cut marks on the humerus is more likely than sharp force trauma, (iii) there are several possible causes of the unusual ulnar styloid shape other than weapon‐related trauma, (iv) the interpretation of musculoskeletal stress markers and (v) degenerative joint disease lacked control for age, sex and body size. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anthropological analysis of the osteological material from an ancient tomb (Early Bronze Age) from the middle Euphrates valley,Terqa (Syria)

Terqa, situated on the right bank of the Middle Euphrates, is known to have been a site already in the third and second millennium BC. Excavations which take place in this region aim to provide answers for numerous significant issues connected with the origins of human civilisation. In 2008 season we found a tomb dated 2650–2450 BC, consisting of two chambers with stone domes. The smaller chamber contained many luxury grave goods. The other one was bigger and contained human skeletons. The first skeleton belonged to a man, 45/50 years old. It is extremely heavy and large. On the right humerus, near the proximal edge, we found two cuts. The healed edges of the wound suggest that the man from Terqa survived after the wound was inflicted. Many muscular attachments were clearly marked on the bones and bone robustness was far above the average, which may suggest that the skeleton belonged to a warrior. These observations correspond to the fact that the bronze part of a belt together with bronze weapon‐blades was found on the right side of the hip. The second skeleton, which belonged to a female who was about 40/44 years old, was found in an anatomical position. The chamber also contained an almost complete skeleton of a sheep. The morphology of the forearm of the female suggested strenuous activity. From this skeleton was successfully isolated HVR1 fragment. The main mutation indicated that the analysed mtDNA belonged to haplogroup K. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fractures of the lower limbs and their secondary skeletal adaptations: a 20th century example of pre‐modern healing

This study focuses on an old male skeleton, which shows severe fractures of the right femur and of the left tibia and fibula. The skeleton, complete and in a good condition of preservation, comes from a Sardinian osteological collection (from the beginning of 1900 AD) with known age, sex and life‐activity. The features of the fractures and pattern of joint disease, enthesis development and enthesopathies have been studied in order to ascertain a possible cause for these traumatic events, the functional implications for postural and locomotory behavior and, finally, the eventual evidence of medical treatment. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ancient DNA typing shows that a Bronze Age mummy is a composite of different skeletons

Excavations at Cladh Hallan, a Bronze Age-Iron Age settlement on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland, revealed the skeletons of two adults, a sub-adult and a child buried beneath the foundations of three roundhouses. Osteological and isotopic evidence has shown that the male adult skeleton is a composite made up of parts of at least three different individuals. To test the hypothesis that the female skeleton was also a composite we examined ancient DNA from four of its components: the skull, mandible, right humerus and right femur. Seven polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were attempted, these covering positions 15,996–16,420, 16–132 and 232–368 of the mitochondrial DNA hypervariable I and II regions. Three PCRs were successful for each sample and a total of 55 sequences were obtained from the cloned products. After exclusion of possible contaminating sequences, the remaining 34 were compared. It was concluded that the mandible, humerus and femur come from different individuals. Insufficient data were obtained to draw conclusions regarding the origin of the skull. The presence of two composite skeletons at Cladh Hallan indicates that the merging of identities may have been a deliberate act, perhaps designed to amalgamate different ancestries into a single lineage.     

江苏徐州市翠屏山西汉刘治墓发掘简报

2003年,在江苏徐州市翠屏山清理一座竖穴墓道洞室墓,系在山体上开凿而成。在墓的外围有石砌的两重墓垣。在墓道底部椁室内有一棺,棺内葬一人。洞室有双扇石门,室内用漆木板装饰,葬具为两重棺,置于漆木棺床上,棺内葬一人。出土遗物以陶器为主。墓葬年代为西汉早期,墓主刘治可能为楚国王室成员。     

Scapular stress fracture: a palaeopathological case consistent with crutch use

This report describes a defect on the right scapula of a 50 to 60 year old male slave who had been buried extra‐muros in the Le Colombier cemetery of Vaison‐la‐Romaine (5^th to 6^th century AD) in Vaucluse, France. This injury can only be described as a stress fracture, most likely associated with heavy and persistent use of the humerus in abduction. Other bony defects on the skeleton included early signs of ossification of the glenohumeral joint, slight vertebral discopathy, and osteoarthrosis on the right hip. A relationship between scapular stress fractures and walking devices has been described in the current medical literature, and taking this in consideration, possible aetiologies for this scapular defect include either consistent use of a crutch or routine physical labour. Little information is available on either stress fractures or assisted walking devices in antiquity; therefore this information is a valuable contribution to palaeopathology. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

内蒙古乌审旗郭家梁村北魏墓葬发掘简报

1992年9月至10月内蒙古自治区文物考古研究所会同鄂尔多斯博物馆、乌审旗文物管理所,对内蒙古乌审旗郭家梁村周围墓葬进行抢救性发掘。共计发掘5座墓葬,其中4座为北魏墓葬,墓葬均为带有墓道土洞墓。小型墓葬由墓道、甬道、墓室组成,大型墓葬由墓道、过洞、天井、甬道和墓室组成。随葬品数量不多,以陶器为主,还有铜器、铁器、料珠、泥钱等。对比墓葬形制和随葬品,这批发掘的四座墓葬是北魏占领大夏国首都统万城后遗留的墓葬。     

Pre-Columbian congenital syphilis from the late antiquity in France

Today, exactly 500 years after the discovery of America, there is still a lot of controversy about the history of syphilis in Europe, especially about the Columbian and pre-Columbian hypotheses. This paper presents evidence for the presence of venereal treponematosis in the late Antiquity in France. The case that we examined comes from the necropolis of Costebelle (3rd-5th centuries AD; Hyères, Var, France). Grave no. 1 contained the well-preserved skeleton of a relatively old woman with the skeletal remains of an approximately 7-month-old fetus in her pelvic cavity. The osseous lesions of the fetal remains can be described in four groups: periosteal appositions on the skull vault (frontal and parietal); signs of periostitis on the long bones (bilateral cortical irregularities, predominantly on the left side, which affect first of all tibiae, femora, fibulae, radii and humeri, particularly in the metaphyseal region); some infraperiosteal detachment reminiscent of an infraperiosteal haematoma surrounding the distal extremity of the left forearm and the left hand; and finally, the irregular lesions of the humeral distal and proximal tibial metaphyses reminded us radiologically of Wimberger's signs. The most probable diagnosis of all the lesions mentioned above is that of a precocious congenital syphilis. This case consists of an argument against the epidemiological theories about the migration of Treponema pallidum from the New World back to the Old World starting at the end of the 15th century.     

关于商代青铜面具的几个问题

本文对商代青铜面具的起源、文化内涵、传播等问题进行了探讨。认为青铜面具起源于石器时代,青铜面具的源地在北方,青铜面具的使用与巫术有关,墓葬中的青铜面具反映了死者的身份等级。     

Humerus Varus in a Subadult Skeleton from the Medieval Graveyard of La Madeleine (Orléans,France)

The skeleton of a subadult individual from the medieval graveyard of La Madeleine (Orléans, France) exhibits varus deformity of its right humerus. The affected bone is shortened, the diaphysis is angulated and the head is grossly deformed. The skeleton is otherwise normal. Several diagnoses are debated, including mucopolysaccharidoses, thalassemia, infection and trauma, the latter being preferred. The severity of the bone changes suggests that the growth disturbance occurred early in the life of the individual. We therefore suppose that the causative trauma occurred at the time of birth or during the early postnatal period. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

河南邓州市穰东汉墓发掘简报

198 9年 8月 ,为配合焦枝铁路复线工程 ,河南省文物研究所派员对邓州市穰东镇的一座汉墓进行了发掘 ,清理出土了一批陶器。该墓年代为西汉中期或稍偏晚。     

辽宁阜新县辽代平原公主墓与梯子庙4号墓

平原公主墓为砖筑双室墓,由墓道、墓门、前室、左右耳室和主室等组成,在墓门门洞的正上方和墓道两侧墙壁上绘有壁画。出土有瓷器、金银器、铁器、铜器、玻璃器、墓志等遗物,年代下限为兴宗末年。梯子庙4号墓为砖筑单室墓,由墓道、墓门和主室组成,出有陶器、瓷器、铜器、铁器等遗物,年代为辽代中期。     

Biological Homogeneity and Familial Segregation in the Iron Age Population of Alfedena (Abruzzo,Italy), Based on Cranial Discrete Traits Analysis

The Iron Age necropolis of Alfedena has been well-known since the last century. In this study 10 non-continuous traits of the cranial skeleton are examined in a series of 94 adult individuals (54 males and 40 females). The division of the Alfedena necropolis into tomb circles has permitted the investigation of the possible existence of familial segregation. Our analysis has shown us that the individuals inhumated in the different tomb circles have a common genetic substrate probably attributable to the strong endogamy present in this population.     

Intervertebral chondrocalcinosis: an exercise in differential diagnosis in palaeopathology

Intervertebral chondrocalcinosis (calcification of intervertebral discs and associated structures) may arise from a variety of causes. This work presents a discussion of intervertebral chondrocalcinosis and the identification of its most probable cause in skeletal remains, using as a case study a skeleton of an elderly male from medieval Ipswich, UK. The skeleton is examined using gross observation and radiography, and the intervertebral calcifications are subject to chemical analysis. In addition to intervertebral chondrocalcinosis (which has resulted in ankylosis of lumbo‐sacral segments), lesions identified include chondrocalcinosis at some synovial joints, various soft tissue calcified bodies, and severe osteoarthritis particularly at the gleno‐humeral joints. Interpretation of the results of the chemical analysis of the calcified deposits is complicated by diagenesis, but they are most consistent with apatite and/or whitlockite. Arriving at a most probable cause of the lesions in this case is difficult, but it is tentatively suggested that ochronosis may be the best diagnostic option. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

隋元威夫妇墓发掘简报

2010年1月,陕西省考古研究院和咸阳市文物考古研究所对位于咸阳市底张镇布里村的隋元威夫妇墓进行了发掘。该墓为斜坡墓道、三天井的单室土洞墓,呈"甲"字形。墓内出土有陶器、瓷器、铁器、贝壳、铜镜、铜钱、墓志等。元威隋开皇十年死于寿州,开皇十一年葬于小陵原,隋仁寿五年和夫人于氏合葬于咸阳洪渎川。