Anthropological description of skeletons from graves no. 123, 124 ...

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This picture of extreme stress on the upper limbs can be reasonably explained by the fracture of the arch of second lumbar vertebra (see below) which undoubtedly determined the complete flaccid paralysis of both lower limbs. The woman survived the severe trauma but could not walk any more, not even on crutches, therefore we can presume that she moved on a kind of low wheeled cart, driving it by arms, possibly holding a facility tool with her hands. On the other hand, muscle enthesopaties are observable also on femurs (iliopsoas, adductor magnus, gluteus maximus, vastus medialis) and tibiae (soleus), leading to suppose alternative hypotheses of a sort of polyenthesopathy syndrome or an intense overall activity, previous the accident. The second lumbar vertebra shows a total fracture (arch and body): the complete fracture of the arch at the peduncles, and consequent dislocation of the arch, which arranged itself obliquely, with the superior side turned backward and the inferior side forward, till leaning against the body and even burying itself in it (Fig. 128.20: superior side; Fig. 128.21: inferior side; Fig. 128.22: right side). In this way the neural channel appears completely obliterated in the lower part, indicating a very severe damage of the spinal marrow, with certain and irreversible paralysis of both lower limbs (paraplegia). The fracture of the body (discosomatic fracture) by compression is associated, as the wedge shape (Fig. 128.22) and the imprint of the underlying vertebra on the anterior part of the lower side of the body (Fig. 128.21) show. Fig. 128.28 Fig. 128.29 Fig. 128.30 This kind of lesion is usually due to an indirect trauma, such as a fall on own feet or behind. The vertebral colunm on the whole is affected by arthritis degeneration, mostly in consequence of the fracture of the second lumbar vertebra. The cervical segment shows severe arthritis: degenerated atlas-dens joint; scalloped and lowered bodies, especially C5and C6; some extended, irregular and porous intervertebral facets; some sclerotic, porous body and torn-edged plates (Fig. 128.24, 128.25, 128.26, 128.27). The thoracic segment appears much less affected, showing somewhat asymmetric bodies, with concave lateral surface (fishlike) only. The lumbar segment is seriously affected , with porosity of the plates, marginal 18
osteophytosis and lowered bodies (except L1, almost normal and L5, with porous upper plate only) (Fig. 128.28, 128.29, 128.30). Degenerative arthritis signs are detectable on occipital condyles, temporo-mandibular joints, elbow, carpus, metacarpus. Hand bones have a “swollen” look and lytic lesions: holes, erosions, pits (Fig. 128.31, 128.32), as other individuals of the group (see individuals N.129 ; N.130; N.143; N.145). Other observations: Os acromiale absent, bilaterally. Metopism: initial and final short segments. Presence of torus palatinus. Presence of some small button osteomas (benign tumors) on the skull vault (Fig. 128.33). Presence of preauricular sulcus, bilaterally. Platymeria. Bilateral asymmetry is detectable in the humerus lengths (right mm 306, left mm 295). Fig. 128.31 Fig. 128.32 Fig. 128.33 Grave 129 Sex: Male (morphological diagnosis, on the basis of the most discriminant cranial and hip bone features). Age at death: old: Advanced dental wear, exceeding the maximum degree of the Lovejoy scale; even, the whole crown is worn in almost all the maxillary teeth (Fig. 129.4, 129.5, 129.6). Cranial sutures are open except the lateral segments of the coronal. Auricular surface is porotic, with irregular edges and moderate traces of retroauricular activity (phase 7). Fig. 129.1 Fig. 129.2 Fig. 129.3 19
Page 1 and 2: Elsa Pacciani Anthropological descr
Page 3 and 4: Table of contents INTRODUCTION ....
Page 5 and 6: A restricted selection of measureme
Page 7 and 8: Occupational stress indicators and
Page 9 and 10: Grave 125 Only lower limbs are pres
Page 11 and 12: Grave 126 Fig. 126.1 Fig. 126.2 Sex
Page 13 and 14: Fig. 126.9 Fig. 126.10 Fig. 126.11
Page 15 and 16: Grave 128 Fig. 128.1 Fig. 128.2 Sex
Page 17: Fig. 128.12 Fig. 128.13 Fig. 128.14
Page 21 and 22: Fig. 129.7 Fig. 129.8 Fig. 129.9 Fi
Page 23 and 24: Grave 130 Fig. 130.1 Fig. 130.2 Fig
Page 33 and 34: Femurs are platimeric; tibiae are p
Page 35 and 36: Occupational stress indicators and
Page 37 and 38: Grave 135 Sex: Male: cranial morpho
Page 39 and 40: Shovel shape: right and left upper
Page 47 and 48: Fig. 145.8 Fig. 145.9 Fig. 145.10 F
Page 51 and 52: Some anthropometric measurements in
Page 53: Skýrslur Skriðuklaustursrannsókn

Anthropological description of skeletons from graves no. 123, 124 ...

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