Rib lesions in skeletons from early neolithic sites in Central Germany: On the trail of tuberculosis at the onset of agriculture

Abstract

As an infectious disease, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Paleopathological and paleomicrobiological studies indicate a long standing association of the causative agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its human host. Since the occurrence and the epidemic spread of this pathogen seem to be closely linked to social and biological factors, it is of particular interest to understand better the role of TB during periods of social and nutritional change such as the Neolithic. In this study, 118 individuals from three sites in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) dating to the Linear Pottery Culture (5400-4800 BC) were examined macroscopically to identify TB related bone lesions. In two individuals, Pott's disease was detected. In addition, periosteal reactions of varying degrees and frequency were observed mainly along the neck of the ribs in 6.5% (2/31) of subadults and 35.1% (20/57) of adults, with one site standing out markedly. Rib lesions, however, are not specific indicators of TB as they can also be caused by other diseases; so additional investigations were undertaken using histology and micro-CT scans to say more about the disease process. Supplementary molecular analyses indicate the presence of pathogens belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in individuals of all sites. Furthermore, we discuss the occurrence and spread of TB during the Neolithic with regard to nutritional aspects and possible risks of infection. The data presented provide important insights into the health status of Early Neolithic populations in Central Germany.

Old World tuberculosis: Evidence from human remains with a review of current research and future prospects

“…The earliest dated evidence is from Israel (7250-6160 BC) 12 , with early Egyptian (4500 BC) 13 , German (5400-4800 BC) 14 , Hungarian (5 th millennium BC) 15 , and Polish and Portuguese "Neolithic" data. However, most skeletal evidence comes from the Roman and later periods in Europe, and especially the early and late medieval eras (around …”

‘Til Poison Phosphorous Brought them Death’: A potentially occupationally-related disease in a post-medieval skeleton from north-east England.

“…There are many conditions that may have led to these lesions, as illustrated by the extensive bioarchaeological literature that addresses rib lesions in skeletons of people with documented causes of death (Kelley and Micozzi 1984, Roberts et al 1994, Santos and Roberts 2001 and archaeological skeletons (e.g. Molto 1990, Pfeiffer 1991, Kelley et al 1994, Sledzik and Bellantoni 1994, Roberts et al 1998, Lambert 2002, Nicklish et al 2012. While TB may be the more likely cause of rib lesions, these are not pathognomonic for TB.…”

Posibles casos de tuberculosis y brucelosis en poblados argáricos de Galera (Granada)

“…Sin embargo análisis biomoleculares recientes, aplicados en poblaciones de origen arqueológico para confirmar la presencia de tuberculosis, tuvieron resultados afirmativos. Cabe destacar que individuos neolíticos en Hungría y Alemania (Nicklisch et al 2012) mostraban formaciones de hueso nuevo en la cara visceral de las costillas, similares a las del presente estudio.…”

“…Figuran casos en Italia (Formicola et al 1987;Canci et al 1996), Polonia (Gladykowska-Rzecy 1999; Roberts y Buikstra 2003), Dinamarca (Sager et al 1972), Hungría (Spekker et al 2012;Masson et al 2015;Pósa et al 2015) y Alemania (Bartels 1907;Steinbock 1976;Nicklisch et al 2012). De la Edad del Bronce, marco cronológico de este estudio, se han publicado varios casos de tuberculosis en Italia (Canci et al 2001;Sallustio et al 2004;Lucatello 2007) y en España (Zamora 1976;Polo et al 2003).…”