Bone mineral content in medieval Greenland Norse

The bone mineral content (BMC) was measured using a special dual-photon scanner in 25 mandibles with normal macroscopic and radiographic bone structure. The mandibles were excavated from two Norse sites in Greenland, which date to the first and last part of the medieval Norse settlement period, respectively. The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was a change in BMC levels between the early and the late settlement period. The results showed no difference in male BMC between the early and the late site material. A statistically significant gender difference was found, analogous to most clinical and archaeological BMC studies. The sample did not allow testing for age-related, especially female postmenopausal-related, bone loss. It is known that Eskimos generally have a very low BMC, probably the effect of a high-protein marine diet. The lack of decrease in BMC levels for the Norse could indicate that they did not increase their overall protein intake over the 500-year settlement period. Other studies (both archaeological and anthropological) point to an increased reliance on marine foodstuffs throughout the settlement period. Thus, if the Norse increased their reliance on marine foodstuffs, they probably did not do so to the extent of an almost exclusive marine diet like that of the Eskimo. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The intestines of a more than 2000 years old peat-bog man: microscopy,magnetic resonance imaging and C-dating

The intestines of Grauballe Man, who is a 2400-old late Iron Age body found in a raised bog in the central part of Jutland, Denmark, was examined by microscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. Plant roots found in the tissue were radiocarbon dated by AMS.     

Reviews

The Bryggen Papers. Main Series, vol. 1. Oslo, (1985). ISBN 82–00–07289–4. 280 pp.

Saari, Heikki: Re‐enactment: A Study in R. G. Collingwood's Philosophy of History. (Acta Academia Aboensis. Ser. A, vol. 63,2. 1984). 141 pp.

Suomen taloushistoria 3. Historiallinen tilas to (The economic history of Finland 3. Historical statistics). Ed. by Kaarina Vattula. Helsinki, (1983). ISBN 951–30–5089–0. 470 pp.

Paasivirta, Juhani, Suomi ja Eurooppa 1914–1939 (Finland and Europe 1914–1939). Helsinki, (1984). ISBN 951–26–2588–1. 548 pp.     

Restructuring of the European chocolate industry and its impact on cocoa production in West Africa

During the 1990s, both the European chocolate industry and thecocoa butter industry have become increasingly centralised.Today only a handful of companies in each segment control theproduction of intermediate goods and massmarketed brands. Thecocoa sectors of the major producing countries in West Africahave at the same time been liberalised and privatised due tothe dismantling of state marketing boards. This paper examinesthe relationship between the new raw material requirements (bothin qualitative and quantitative terms) of the processing industryin Europe and restructuring processes in the cocoa sectors ofmajor African producer countries.