Int J Paleopathol. 2021 Dec;35:81-89. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2021.10.003. Epub 2021 Oct 29.
Cribriotic lesions in archaeological human skeletal remains. Prevalence, co-occurrence, and association in medieval and early modern Netherlands.
International journal of paleopathology
Rachel Schats
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Leiden University, Faculty of Archaeology, Laboratory for Human Osteoarchaeology, Einsteinweg 2, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 34757296
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2021.10.003
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This paper studies the prevalence, co-occurrence, and association of cribra orbitalia, cribra humeri, and cribra femora to contribute to the complex debate on cribriotic lesions and their relationship with one another.
MATERIALS: 179 adults and 53 non-adults from the medieval/early modern Netherlands (800-1600 CE) for whom all three lesions could be observed are included in this study.
METHODS: Presence or absence of cribriotic lesions was studied macroscopically. Prevalence, co-occurrence, and association of lesions and their link to sex and age-at-death were assessed.
RESULTS: A clear link between prevalence of the lesions and age-at-death is found. Co-occurrence and association of all three lesions is uncommon. There is a significant moderate correlation for cribra humeri-femora in non-adults.
CONCLUSIONS: Lesion prevalence is connected to age-at-death. However, while a similar age distribution and associations between pairs of lesions are noted, due to limited co-occurrence of the three lesions, the presence of a 'cribrous syndrome' cannot supported.
SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study investigating the prevalence, co-occurrence and association of cribra orbitalia, cribra humeri, and cribra femora in non-adults and adults contributing to discussions about the nature and the much-debated aetiology of these commonly encountered skeletal lesions.
LIMITATIONS: The number of non-adults in this study is limited, potentially obscuring meaningful patterns, as the cribrous lesions are significantly more common in younger individuals.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: More research into the prevalence of the post-cranial lesions and their co-occurrence as well as into bone growth and remodelling is warranted.
Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Age-related patterns; Anaemia; Cribra femora; Cribra humeri; Cribra orbitalia
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