Skeletal evidence for hyperparathyroidism in a 19th century child with rickets

The skeletal remains of a child aged 2.5–3.5 years, recovered during archaeological excavations at the churchyard of St Martin's Church, Birmingham, UK, were examined using gross observation, radiography and scanning electron microscopy. Lesions suggestive of the presence of rickets and of secondary hyperparathyroidism were found. This appears to be a first report of secondary hyperparathyroidism in response to rickets in a palaeopathological specimen. The potential of microscopic examination of bone for interpreting disease processes is emphasised. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surveying Coastal Archaeological Sites Damaged by Hurricane Sandy in Rhode Island,USA

Supported by the U.S. National Park Service's Historic Preservation Fund program, the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission administered surveys of coastal archaeological sites damaged by 2012's Hurricane Sandy in Rhode Island, USA. This project documented the transformative effects of Hurricane Sandy on coastal archaeological sites, evaluated the eligibility of many of those sites for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and provided new insights into ancient Native American coastal occupation. Notable project limitations include incomplete property access, bureaucratic delays, and a Tribal collaboration that fell short. Because preserving most of these erosion-prone sites through shoreline stabilization is unlikely, management efforts will consider preemptive archaeological salvage excavations. This case study may prove useful to archaeologists worldwide who are managing coastal sites threatened by rising sea levels and storms of increasing intensity and frequency.     

Skeletal manifestations of vitamin D deficiency osteomalacia in documented historical collections

The frequency with which changes related to vitamin D deficiency are recorded in juvenile bone from archaeological contexts makes it clear that conditions conducive to such deficiency were fairly widespread at a number of points in the past. Although changes will take longer to be manifest in the adult skeleton than in juveniles, and may not be as obvious, the scarcity of reported cases suggests that it is likely that cases of osteomalacia are being overlooked in archaeological human bone. Vitamin D is probably better described as a hormone, rather than a vitamin, and the production of vitamin D within the body following exposure to sunlight allows adequate mineralisation of bone to take place. Lack of exposure to sunlight, which can be caused by a range of factors, is probably one of the main causes of vitamin D deficiency. The result of such a deficiency is a general weakening of the skeleton. The range of skeletal changes recorded across different bones of the skeleton in two documented historical pathology collections (the Galler collection, Basel, and the collection of the Federal Museum for Pathological Anatomy, Vienna), are discussed for scapulae, vertebrae, ribs, sterna, pelves and femora. The likelihood of each feature being preserved in archaeological skeletal material is considered. Although the changes associated with osteomalacia may lead to fragmentation of the skeleton, the presence of characteristic changes on bones from across the skeleton should make the condition identifiable using macroscopic examination, even where the skeleton is not well preserved. The identification of cases of osteomalacia in archaeological skeletal material is potentially significant because of the socio‐cultural information that can be implied from diagnosis of the condition. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A procedural guide to metacarpal radiogrammetry in archaeology

The technique of metacarpal radiogrammetry was devised in 1960 as a clinical method to aid in the identification of thinned cortical bone, which may help in diagnosis of osteoporosis. Through taking measurements from radiographs, calculations of the amount of cortical bone can be made. The technique is relatively simple and is not destructive. This paper examines the value of the application of this technique to archaeological remains. A standardized methodology of bone assessment is incorporated to enhance the comparability of future research. Statistical tests demonstrate that the technique is robust, as the position of the bone on the film, radiographic enlargement and use of either the left or right metacarpal will not affect the results obtained. However, differences in film type and measurement position can introduce unacceptable variance into the results. Therefore, guidance is given on future applications of the technique. The technique does have value as a widely available, non‐destructive technique for assessing cortical bone loss and the probable prevalence of osteoporosis in archaeological collections. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation and interpretation of residual rickets deformities in adults

Recent research has considerably improved the recognition and recording of rickets and osteomalacia in archaeological human bone, but the recognition and recording of residual deformities of rickets present in adults is still limited. The aim of this study was to assist with differential diagnosis of residual rickets deformities and determine which of the deformities that are characteristic of rickets could be identified in the adult skeleton. Long bone deformities were investigated, with research focusing on deformities of the leg bones. One hundred and thirty‐five adults from the historic cemetery of St Martin's, Birmingham, where vitamin D deficiency was known to have been widespread, were analysed. Deformities of leg bones were three times as frequent as arm bone deformities, and deformity of both the femur and tibia was the most frequently recorded combination of leg bones. Medial bending of the tibiae and anterior bending of femora, both at the proximal end, were the most frequently recorded types of deformities. A review of a range of conditions that can cause bowing deformities, and comparison of bowing recorded in children with rickets and the present cases, concluded that the most likely cause of the deformities recorded was residual changes linked to rickets. In this community, bowing deformities linked to rickets were quite common amongst adults and probably did not have adverse social consequences, but further studies are required to determine whether this attitude to deformity was more widespread. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.