Cases of hydatid disease in medieval Iceland

Eight individuals with calcified cysts preserved in the thorax and abdomen, one of which had a maximum diameter of 17–20 cm, were recovered during recent excavations at Skriðuklaustur, a medieval monastic site which also functioned as a hospital during its operation from AD 1493–1554 in Eastern Iceland. Hydatid cysts are the result of parasitic infection by Echinococci commonly in the liver and lungs of the accidental human host. Echinococcus granulosus was likely introduced to Iceland soon after the settlement period (9th century AD) and became endemic around AD1200 when dogs were introduced from Germany. It has since been eradicated in Iceland due to an extensive educational literature programme and government controls implemented since the mid‐1800s. Reviews of the palaeopathological literature mentioning calcified shell fragments indicated hydatism to be the most logical aetiology. The eight individuals in question were buried in close proximity to one another. This may indicate that this particular ailment (sullaveiki) had its own classification during the medieval period in Iceland and perhaps even a distinct treatment if not in life, at least in death. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differential diagnosis of a prehistoric biological object from the Koster (Illinois) Site

This paper details the differential diagnosis of a biological artifact recovered from a burial within the Koster Middle Archaic site in Illinois. The burial was excavated from the Middle Archaic 3, Helton Phase component (∼5800–4900 BP). The artifact was a calcified nodule of unequivocal biological origin recovered from the pelvic region of an adult (50+ years) female. Morphological and radiographic analysis of the object resulted in the consideration of 19 possible diagnoses; all but four could be eliminated. Possible interpretations of the object as a lithopaedion, calcified lymph node, amputated ovary or simple ovarian cyst are examined in detail. Of these, calcified lymph node or amputated ovary remain most probable. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Marine Quaternary dinoflagellate cysts of Australia,Papua-New Guinea,New Zealand and the Southern Ocean: a review

Dinoflagellate cysts are widespread in Australian, Papua-New Guinea, New Zealand and Southern Ocean Pleistocene and Recent marine sediments. They occur in estuaries and deltas as well as on the continental shelf and in ocean basins. They have proven invaluable in palaeoecology for the interpretation of changing temperature, salinity and distance from shore in particular. These changes have also been used to examine climate change in Quaternary sequences. A small number of First Appearance Datums (FADs) and Last Appearance Datums (LADs) within this time period allows only limited biostratigraphic definition. LADs within the Pleistocene of southern Australia include Achomosphaera ramulifera and Spiniferites rubinus. Introduction within the past 50 years of several taxa, such as Gymnodinium catenatum and Gymnodinium microreticulatum, has been attributed to ballast water import.     

A new early Paleocene dinoflagellate cyst species,Trithyrodinium partridgei: its biostratigraphic significance and palaeoecology

A palynological investigation of lower Paleocene (lower Teurian) marine sediments of the Abbotsford Formation, exposed in the Fairfield Quarry, Dunedin, New Zealand, reveals a well-preserved association of dinoflagellate cysts and miospores. Thirty-six dinoflagellate species representing 26 genera were recorded, including one new peridinioid dinoflagellate species, Trithyrodinium partridgei characterized by a three-layered wall and a distinct brown, foveolate mesophragm. Trithyrodinium partridgei has a narrow range and at Fairfield Quarry co-occurs with typical New Zealand late Danian to Selandian index species such as Glaphyrocysta perforata and Alterbidinium pentaradiatum; hence it may prove an additional useful stratigraphic marker. The terrestrial palynomorph assemblage from samples within the range of Trithyrodinium partridgei includes 36 spore-pollen species dominated by the podocarp pollen Phyllocladidites mawsonii. The presence of Nothofagidites waipawaensis and Tricolpites phillipsii confirms a Paleocene age for the assemblage. The abundance of terrestrial palynomorphs and the composition of the dinocyst assemblages suggest a marine nearshore depositional environment.     

Study of stafne's defects in Late Neolithic,Late Roman,Medieval and Modern skeletal samples from Portugal

Lingual mandibular cortical defects (Stafne's defects) are relatively uncommon in recent as well as past populations, but while this condition is often discussed in clinical reports, they are rarely the subject of anthropological research. In this paper, the prevalence of Stafne's bone defects in skeletal samples from Late Neolithic, Late Roman, Medieval and Modern Portugal is investigated (N = 704 complete mandibles and 111 incomplete mandibles). The aims of this paper are threefold: (1) to present and analyse for the first time in Portuguese osteological record prevalence data on Stafne's bone defect, (2) to analyse variations in defect prevalence between skeletal samples from a wide temporal array and (3) to verify if more tenuous lesions in which resorption of the lingual cortex was not yet extensive had the classic radiographic appearance described by Stafne in order to validate the hypothesis that lesions are present clinically in many more cases than published figures indicate. In all cases, differential diagnosis against other conditions that mimic Stafne's defects, namely odontogenic lesions, cysts and neoplasms, was done. In all samples, the evidence of Stafne's defect occurred in 12 individuals (1.7%), and males (2.84%) were more frequently affected than females (0.61%). When incomplete mandibles were considered, only one left fragment (0.90%) exhibited Stafne's defect. Accurate identification of all examples of Stafne's bone defects in antiquity is thought to represent an important contribution to elucidate which factors may be responsible for this trait's cultural, ecological, temporal and geographical patterning. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Periapical Lesions in Intentionally Modified Teeth in a Skeletal Sample of Enslaved Africans (Lagos,Portugal)

Intentional dental modifications are alterations of teeth usually performed as a ritual for aesthetic or identity purposes. However, the execution of the technique is not exempt from risk and can be related to a higher prevalence of dental pathology, more specifically through the exposure of the dental pulp and consequent periapical inflammation. With the aim of analysing the relationship between intentional dental modifications and periapical inflammation, the current study evaluated 81 skeletons (49 women, 19 men, and 13 individuals of unknown sex) of enslaved Africans from Lagos, Portugal (15th–17th centuries), of which 50 (61.7%) had intentionally modified teeth. In all, 2285 sockets and 2063 teeth were observed. Two hundred and three intentionally modified anterior teeth (27.2%) were identified. Twenty five individuals (30.9%) and 54 teeth (25 anterior and 29 posterior) showed macroscopic evidences of periapical lesions. In the anterior dentition, intentional modification was identified as the probable aetiology of 17 (68.0%) periapical lesions, mostly granulomata or cysts, but also abscesses. The association between intentional modifications of the dentition and the presence of periapical lesions was found in both the maxilla and mandible. These results suggest that this cultural practice can predispose teeth to periapical inflammation, which may cause pain and sensitivity to cold, heat, and pressure, and probably had a negative impact on the quality of life of these individuals. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.