Health patterns of proto‐Byzantine populations (6^th–7^th centuries AD) in south Greece: the cases of Eleutherna (Crete) and Messene (Peloponnese)

Abstract

Up to now, only scattered information exists about the history and bioarchaeology of protoByzantine Greece, since no abundant records or major excavation projects refer to this turbulent period in question, highly marked by historical, social, economic and environmental changes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of historical and environmental changes (i.e. invasions, natural disasters, such as earthquakes) on the health status of the once living populations at Eleutherna and Messene and to determine the subgroups within the population that were more at risk. The results of the anthropological and palaeopathological study revealed interesting aspects on health and disease. The observed pathological conditions suggest the differential adaptation ability of past populations to the changing environment; while the settlement of Eleutherna is abandoned during the first half of the 7 th century AD, that of Messene enjoys a prosperous life until the early 9 th century AD.

Osteocondritis disecante. Primeros resultados en restos humanos de cazadores-recolectores del Holoceno en Patagonia austral

“…En las regiones correspondientes al Norte, principalmente representadas por individuos con dietas terrestres y mixtas, la articulación más frecuentemente afectada es la fosa glenoidea del omóplato. De acuerdo con estudios previos (Bullough 2004;Edmonds y Heyworth 2014;Edmonds y Polousky 2013;Waldron 2009), esta articulación no es frecuentemente afectada por la OCD en poblaciones tanto actuales como pasadas, aunque se ha reportado en unos pocos individuos a partir de estudios bioarqueológicos (Bourbou 2003;McWirr et al 1982;Rodríguez-Martín 2000) y clínicos (Chu et al 2009;Gogus y Ozturk 2008;Shanley y Mulligan 1990).…”

“…A su vez, son escasos los estudios sobre muestras que pertenecen a poblaciones cazadoras-recolectoras. Las principales investigaciones provienen de Europa a partir de conjuntos de restos humanos históricos y las prevalencias de OCD se encuentran entre el 0,8 y el 17,3% (Bourbou 2003;Rodríguez-Martín 2000), afectando en mayor medida las articulaciones de la rodilla y del pie. En general, las frecuencias reportadas en conjuntos arqueológicos son mayores a las registradas en poblaciones actuales, aun respecto de aquellas relativas a las rodillas, los codos y los hombros en muestras conformadas por deportistas (Aichroth 1971;Cahill 1995;Takahara et al 1999).…”

A Case of Gout from Imperial Rome (1st-2nd Century AD)

“…Uric acid accumulation in the blood causes the precipitation of sodium urate crystals that constitute nodules deposited into the soft tissue, known as tophi. These collections, penetrating in the deep bone tissue, cause erosion of bone and cartilage, mostly on the articular surface and close to the margins of the joints, resulting in a destructive, chronic and disabling arthritis, often involving many joints [18,19]. Erosive damage is a late feature of chronic gout, typically occurring 15 years after onset of the disease [20].…”

“…We know little about the antiquity of gout and few cases are known from the past: three cases of Roman Age (150 AD) from Gloucester in England [22], an Egyptian mummy of Christian Age with gouty arthritis [23] and two skeletons from Greece (6th -7th century AD) described by Bourbou [19]. In more recent times, gout has afflicted many historical figures, like Ferdinando I of the Italian Renaissance family of the Medici [24] or the Roman Emperor Charles V of Spain [25].…”

Is bioarchaeology a handmaiden to history? Developing a historical bioarchaeology

“…Similar to applications of textual data in historical archaeology (Johnson, 1999, p. 29), documents can serve as the ''frame upon which to hang'' bioarchaeology's ''illustrative material'' (e.g., Belcastro et al, 2007;Bourbou, 2003;Buzon, 2006a;Owsley et al, 1994;Prowse et al, 2004;Stodder, 1994Stodder, , 1996. Biology, artifacts, and texts more frequently are tested for lack of fit, for example to judge the accuracy of bioarchaeological methods or the reality of historical or archaeological information (e.g., Buzon, 2006c;Falys et al, 2006;Hutchinson, 2002Hutchinson, , 2004Larsen, 1994Larsen, , 2001Molleson and Cox, 1993;Reeve and Adams, 1993;Saunders et al, 1995aSaunders et al, , 1995b.…”