An unreduced dislocated mandible in an Alaskan Eskimo: a case of altruism or adaptation?

Mandibular dislocations are rare in archaeological samples. This paper describes an unreduced dislocated mandible in an adult male skeleton from Point Hope, Alaska. The left mandibular condyle has been displaced anteriorly and two new articulations for the left coronoid process and remnant of the left condyle have formed. The left mandibular body and ramus exhibit severe atrophy, and all of the mandibular teeth have been lost antemortem. A review of historical accounts from the early contact period reveals that the Alaskan Eskimos suffered from a variety of disabilities of the musculoskeletal system. Despite these disabilities, however, many of these individuals were able to function with little or no assistance from other members of their group. The fact that this individual survived to an advanced age in the harsh arctic environment is a testament to the body's remarkable ability to compensate for and survive with physical disabilities. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Labial canine talon cusp from the Early Holocene site of Gobero,central Sahara Desert,Niger

The specimen reported here presents a rare form of dental variant—a permanent, mandibular labial canine talon cusp. This anomaly has not previously been reported in the clinical or archaeological literatures and is currently unique. The affected individual is an adult male from the Early Holocene cemetery of Gobero located in the Sahara Desert in the Republic of Niger. The age of this site (ca. 9500 bp) makes this the first archaeological case of labial talon cusp from Africa and the oldest reported talon cusp of any kind (lingual or labial, maxillary or mandibular, incisor or canine) in the world. Previous case studies, population frequency data, sexual dimorphism patterns and distribution within the dentition are discussed for labial talon cusp. The morphological aetiology of talon cusps is reviewed with respect to this specimen. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The fourth molar in a mandible found in a Jomon skeleton in Japan

A fourth molar in a mandible occurs very rarely, even in clinical surveys involving a large number of modern people. Having encountered a case with the fourth mandibular molar in a prehistoric skull in Japan, we would like to report on the macroscopic morphology of the case using X-rays, and to discuss the case with reference to literature concerning supernumerary teeth in the molar region.     

Two cases of facial involvement in probable treponemal infection from late prehistoric coastal North Carolina

This paper describes two late prehistoric burials from coastal North Carolina with cranial and postcranial lesions characteristic of treponemal infection. Each case exhibits facial lesions consistent with clinical reports of treponemal infection, but which have not previously been documented in these populations. The suite of facial lesions in one case and a mandibular lesion in the other serve to illustrate the variability inherent in treponemal infections. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A case of squamosal craniosynostosis from the 16th century southeastern United States

This paper describes a case of plagiocephaly stemming from a unilateral synostosis of the left squamosal and coronal sutures in a 16^th century calvaria from Georgia. Although cases of squamosal involvement in syndromic, multisuture synostotic cases have been found in the archaeological record, isolated squamosal involvement is quite rare. Our literature review found only 15 such cases reported, and this is the first case to be reported from the southeastern United States. Despite the fact that the bevelled nature of the squamosal suture is unique in the human body and that the cause for squamosal involvement remains unclear, to our knowledge there have been no reviews of the nosology and aetiology of synostosis with particular reference to the squamosal suture in the anthropological or clinical literature. Isolated squamosal craniosynostosis may be frequently unreported in clinical settings, and thus case studies on the condition in archaeological contexts may prove valuable for future attempts to identify the frequency and causes of squamosal involvement. This case study also highlights both the potential and challenges of using rare pathological conditions as a tool for positive identification of human remains in historical forensic cases. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soldiers Mistakenly Reported Killed in Action: Three German World War II Examples Related to Operation Dragoon in August 1944

Abstract

While researching the histories of 492 German soldiers killed in Southern France in August and September 1944, three cases of soldiers having falsely been reported as killed in action were discovered. There were different reasons for each of the misidentifications; in the first case, the precise circumstances are unclear, but may have occurred after an accidental exchange of identification tags with a fellow soldier; the second case was probably caused by a mistaken report from a witness; the third seems to have been misidentification by medical personnel unfamiliar with the bodies they were dealing with. The Wehrmacht used poorly designed identification tags, while there was no use of methods such as fingerprinting and tooth charts when identification tags were not available. Unreliable methods such as visual identification or witness testimony were deemed to be sufficient to report a soldier dead. As a consequence, false reports of death seem to have been relatively commonplace.     

Report of three fused primary human teeth in an archaeological material

Fusion of deciduous teeth can appear in several ways, usually involving two teeth but occasionally three. The frequency of this anomaly is reported to be low and few cases have been described in the scientific literature. Fused teeth in the archaeological record are rare because of the destructive taphonomic processes to which bones and teeth are subjected. Previous research in this field has only dealt with cases of two fused deciduous teeth. To our knowledge, there have been no reports of three fused teeth in the anthropological literature. The present paper presents a case of three fused primary teeth and a succedaneous supernumerary permanent tooth in a 5‐year‐old child discovered in a late medieval cemetery in northern Italy. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Recent work on Italian cinema

The end of the Cold War, the globalization of markets, and the end of Fordist models of production have all radically changed the context within which the European parties of the Left operate. This article, through an analysis of a broad range of recently published literature on New Labour in Britain and the Democratici di sinistra in Italy (and its predecessor, the PDS), examines the way these transformations have affected the two parties in recent years. Both have for some time been involved in processes of gradual adaptation of their economic and social policies. The texts analysed reveal that within the Left itself there are diverging perceptions of the value of this adaptation. In one view it represents a 'third way' between subordination to neo-liberalism and a social-democratic model now regarded as obsolete. A more critical view sees the changes as giving way to the technocratic Right.     

The Relationship Between Molar Wear and Age in an Early 19th Century AD Archaeological Human Skeletal Series of Documented Age at Death

Crown height of molar teeth was measured in a 19th century Dutch skeletal collection of known age at death. Results indicate an approximately linear relationship between crown height and age. A closer relationship between age and crown height exists for the mandibular than the maxillary molars. The mandibular molars wear at a faster rate than the maxillary molars. There is no evidence for any difference in wear rates between first, second and third molars. No effect on wear rate of ante-mortem loss of occlusal partner nor of dental caries could be detected. The rate of wear in the study material was markedly slower than that which characterizes most archaeological groups and the burials are drawn from a rather heterogeneous urban population; these factors mean that dental wear ageing would be expected to perform less well in this material than for most archaeological groups. Despite this, strong correlations were observed between molar wear and adult age at death; that this was the case despite circumstances unfavourable for its use supports the idea that dental wear is a reliable ageing technique for most archaeological skeletal material.     

An approach to ideology

Abstract

This paper deals with the problems of teaching ideology by suggesting a simplified approach to the topic. This approach rests upon an examination of debates within the geographical literature. Examples of such debates are examined, and some general principles on the nature of ideological attitudes discussed.     

A Comparison of Health between Upland and Coastal Late Prehistoric Agriculturists from the Southeast USA

During the late prehistoric period (ad 1250–1550) in the southeast USA, when native populations transitioned to living in permanent, nucleated settlements practicing maize agriculture, most experienced a decline in health. However, some research shows that not all groups experienced the decline in the same way as there were regional differences in dental caries and iron deficiency anaemia frequencies and patterns of physical activity. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if regional differences in health also existed between late prehistoric upland and coastal inhabitants from one part of the southeastern USA. Pathological lesion frequencies were calculated for 441 individuals from 23 upland archaeological sites and compared with previously published data for 340 individuals from 11 coastal sites. Significant differences in lesion frequencies were observed between upland and coastal groups. For example, upland adult men have more carious teeth among the maxillary first incisors, maxillary second molars, mandibular canines, and mandibular second molars. For women, greater caries frequencies are found among the maxillary first and third molars, mandibular first incisors, and mandibular third premolars. Upland children show higher percentages of caries for 14 tooth classes. Coastal juveniles have a greater frequency of porotic hyperostosis, and more of them exhibit an enamel hypoplasia. Periosteal lesion frequency is greater for the coastal group at the humerus, radius, femur, and tibia. Lesions indicative of degenerative joint disease are more often found on the thoracic spinal segment, sacrum and shoulder of upland men with upland women having more lesions at the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal segments, the sacrum, and the shoulder. Taken together, these results show that adults from the upland region consumed more maize and lived a more physically demanding life while coastal adults struggled more with infection. Among children, more coastal inhabitants were anaemic and more of the experienced significant growth disturbances. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The astrolabe: Its uses and derivatives

Despite the technical means available for its diffusion, the information explosion is such that a diminishing proportion of geographical literature achieves the circulation that it deserves. The problem is illustrated by reference to a single country — Finland. In the case of such a country, even assuming familiarity with its languages, access to significant publication often proves impossible save on its home ground. Examples of three types of geographical literature are reviewed — 1) literature from the past which merits wider acquaintance because of its enduring value; 2) literature from the present which, on the score of methodology or theory independently of content, deserves attention, but which — not appearing in internationally familiar outlets — is unlikely to gain recognition; 3) similar literature directly relevant to the geography of Finland in the publications of cognate disciplines. The rate of change in the geographical scene and the volume of publication generated make it increasingly difficult for the would‐be specialist in even a relatively narrow field to keep up‐to‐date and to speed the circulation of information.     

Investigation of the ‘canopy effect’ in the isotope ecology of temperate woodlands

Anomalously ¹³C-depleted carbon stable isotope values from closed forest ecosystems have been termed the ‘canopy effect’. Originally this was ascribed to recycling of depleted carbon from forest floor decomposition of organic material, although others have suggested that it is equally likely to be due to variations in leaf-level processes in response to increased shade. This depletion in the heavier carbon isotope is passed on to woodland herbivores feeding within the forest environments. A similar isotopic depletion has also been reported in the archaeological literature from more open temperate woodland settings, but no measurements have been made on the plants at the base of the food chain in order to quantify the effect. In this study we attempt this by examining the carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic values of different species of grasses from a range of open to closed habitat settings within Wytham Wood, Oxfordshire, UK. We find a strong relationship between carbon isotopic depletion of plant tissue and lowered light intensity with an up to 5‰ shift between grass grown in open and closed locations. In order to follow this up the food chain, we also report data on wool from sheep grazing in open pastures near the Wood, and on fallow deer living within the woodland, but which turn out not to show a strong canopy effect, probably related to their feeding strategies. We conclude that there is indeed a strong ‘canopy effect’ in temperate woodland, probably related to differential light levels, but that not all apparently woodland-dwelling mammals show such an effect. We also show considerable isotopic variation at the base of the food chain, which should counsel caution when attempting to interpret dietary isotopes using mixing models.     

Oral implications of labret use: a case from pre‐Columbian Chile

This paper examines the osteological evidence for a case of long‐term labret use in pre‐Columbian north Chile and the pathological conditions associated with it. The burials from the site of Solcor 3 (AD 400–900) included a complete skeleton associated with two quartz labrets. Analysis of the skeleton of this adult male revealed wear and polish on the labial surface of both mandibular canines, indicating that the labrets were worn as a pair on either side of the midline of the lower lip. In addition to these abrasion facets, there were also areas of periosteal reaction in the alveolar bone of the canines. These patterns were analysed from the perspective of the clinical dentistry literature and compared to archaeological data. It is concluded that this individual's dental health was affected by wearing labrets, although not as seriously as might be expected based on contemporary medical reports. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A case of treponematosis from pre‐Columbian Chaco Canyon,New Mexico

Although numerous cases of treponemal infection have been identified in prehispanic New World skeletal remains, none has been reported from Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Chaco Canyon was the epicentre of a broad culture system that spanned the Four Corners region of the pre‐Columbian Southwestern United States. A burial recovered from the central Great House of Chaco Canyon, Pueblo Bonito, exhibits lesions indicative of treponematosis. However, the pathological condition of this individual has heretofore been only tentatively diagnosed because the skeleton was collected from a commingled context and distributed across four separate catalogue numbers. Now reassociated, these remains exhibit a pattern of pathological changes strongly indicative of treponemal disease. This case not only adds to the growing body of literature on the clinical expression and geographic distribution of pre‐Columbian treponematosis, but also demonstrates the utility of painstaking reassociation of commingled human remains. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Applications of Mathematics to Population Geography

Three levels of application of mathematics are considered in order of increasing complexity. The first level involves measurements of processes and phenomena, the second the derivation of empirical relationships, and the third the construction of deductive models reflecting the basic mechanism of processes and phenomena. Examples of the three levels are given: Boyce's city-shape index illustrates the first; and Clark's formula for population density within cities is given as an example of the second. The second level is also illustrated by Medvedkov's procedure for forecasting the interplay of natural and mechanical movement of population, involving the use of matrix algebra. On the third level, Medvedkov constructs models of flows of pedestrians doing their shopping on their way home from work to determine an optimal distribution of retail outlets.     

Examining Gender and Community Through Critical Pedagogy

A growing body of literature in critical geography challenges authoritative approaches to the production (and consumption) of knowledge in higher education. Feminist perspectives have contributed to this literature by emphasising the multiple and often conflicting voices of subjects, including those within the classroom. This paper draws from critical and feminist pedagogy in geography to examine student engagement with gender issues in the community. The case study for this analysis is a project in which students volunteer at community organisations and construct their own knowledges of social and political issues.