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13
VII/1/2016
INTERDISCIPLINARIA ARCHAEOLOGICA
NATURAL SCIENCES IN ARCHAEOLOGY
homepage: http://www.iansa.eu
Paleopathological, Trichological and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human
Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
Lenka Vargová
a
, Ladislava Horáčková
a
, Marcela Horáková
b*
, Hana Eliášová
c
, Eva Myšková
d
,
Oleg Ditrich
d
a
Division of Medical Antropology, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 3, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
b
Labrys, o.p.s., Hloubětínská 16/11, 198 00 Praha 9, Czech Republic
c
Institute of Criminalistics Prague, Bartolomějská 347/14, 110 00 Praha, Staré Město, Czech Republic
d
University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, Department of Parasitology, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
1. Introduction
The analysed human skeletal remains, classifed into the
Vinařice cultural group of Germanic populations of the early
stage of the Migration Period (5
th
century) come from the
Prague-Zličín area. The frst fndings about Vinařice graves
were published in the 19
th
century (Svoboda 1965). During
the following periods, isolated graves as well as small family
graveyards of ten to thirty graves were uncovered in various
locations (Droberjar 2002); however, only fundamental
archaeological methods were used to analyse the majority
of them. No paleoanthropological nor health status research
was performed.
In central Europe, the Prague-Zličín Vinařice burial
ground with its 173 graves is the largest uncovered burial site
which has survived from this slightly researched period. The
burial site was excavated in the form of a rescue excavation
due to a projected construction in the years 2005 to 2008
(for detailed information about the excavation see Vávra
et al.
2009; 2012; Vávra 2016). In addition to archaeological
studies (Vávra
et al.
2009; 2012), basic anthropological
research of the human skeletal remains also took place (sex,
age, preservation, body stature, Víšková
et al.
2012). Other
Volume VII ● Issue 1/2016 ● Peges 13–32
*Corresponding author. E-mail: horakova@labrys.cz
ARTICLE INFO:
Article history:
Received: 11
th
December 2015
Accepted: 26
th
October 2016
Key words:
Migration Period
Vinařice cultural group
paleopathology
internal frontal hyperostosis
biparietal thinning
calcaneonavicular coalition
trichology
paleoparasitology
aDNA
molecular methods
ABSTRACT
The study deals with the paleopathological analysis of human skeletal remains found in 173 Vinařice-
cultural-group graves at Prague-Zličín from the early stage of the Migration Period (5
th
century).
Because the osteological collection was fragmentary, skeletal remains of only 113 individuals
were analysed (26 men, 33 women, 19 children, and 6 adolescents; the sex of 29 adults remained
unspecifed). Paleopathological diagnoses were grounded in macroscopic and X-ray examinations.
Most frequently, skeletal remains showed progressive degenerative processes such as spondylosis
(49.1%, evaluated cases n=53) and arthrosis (37.7%, evaluated cases n=69). Traces of healed traumas
were detected in 8.8% (n=113) of all the preserved individuals. Demonstrations of infammatory
symptoms were observed in 16.8%, (n=113) of the cases, out of which were two suspected cases of
tuberculosis. Regarding neoplastic diseases, only two benign tumours (skull osteomas) were diagnosed
(3.9%, evaluated cases n=51). Internal frontal hyperostosis, biparietal thinning, and calcaneonavicular
coalition were detected only sporadically.
Cribra orbitalia
was detected in the eye sockets of 7.1%
(n=28) of the evaluated cases. Trichological analyses dealt with 203 samples, most of them were of
recent or animal origin; only in four cases ancient human hair was found. To date the samples from
graves No. 4, 11, 100–173 have been analysed and results of this analysis are presented in this study.
Destruction of historical hair shafts was manifested by ragged and cracked cuticle scales, absence of
cuticle scales, longitudinal loosened shafts and especially transversal fragmentation of hair shafts.
Hair also showed marked damage owing to keratinophilic organisms. No human ectoparasites were
found. Paleoparasitological analyses dealt with 30 samples from grave fllings; specifcally from
pelvic (n=16), head (n=1) and thoracic (n=13) area. Despite the very sensitive molecular methods we
employed, no signs of parasitological DNA were found.
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IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 13–32
Lenka Vargová, Ladislava Horáčková, Marcela Horáková, Hana Eliášová, Eva Myšková, Oleg Ditrich: Paleopathological, Trichological
and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
14
work was by Kubálek and Malá (2011) but this focused only
on a female face reconstruction of grave no. 78. These two
studies are thus insufcient to provide an overall view of the
health status of the Vinařice people.
Comparative materials, such as are available, are the
similarly dated skeletal collections (5
th
century AD) from
Munich-Perlach (Zintl, von Heyking 2016) and Horb-Altheim
(Obertová 2008), which are also precisely anthropologically
evaluated. These collections are smaller than the Prague-
Zličín population, but are better preserved and provide quite
good data sets. Independently, a detailed dental remains and
microwear analysis was undertaken on the Prague-Zličín
skeletal material (Jarošová 2016), providing substantial
information about caries intensity, dental losses, enamel
hypoplasia or dietary habits.
Because of the fragmentary information concerning
diseases of the Vinařice cultural group, this study is focused on
a very detailed examination and medical description of each
paleopathological fnding of skeletal material. This approach
is unique for our country and given time period. For this
reason we also employed trichological and parasitological
analyses that would help us to study the health status. There
was no specifc information concerning the occurrence of
gastrointestinal or ectoparasites, so any information we
might obtain would be a substantial contribution. The main
goal of the trichological examination was to determine
whether any historical human/animal hair occurred and, if
so, to describe the structure of the human hair and perform a
taxonomic determination of the animal hair. We also focused
on the presence of human ectoparasites.
In this study we have aimed to answer the following
main questions: What can we say about the health status
of the Vinařice people? Can we observe some sex or age
diferences between male and female morbidity? Is it
possible to fnd ancient human hairs in the grave fllings? Is
it possible to recognise human ectoparasites
e.g.
head louse?
Are the molecular methods able to capture DNA of intestinal
parasites in the grave fllings?
2. Materials
2.1 Palaeopathological analyses
During archaeological excavations of the Prague-Zličín burial
site, 173 graves (with 176 burials) were uncovered, revealing
completely or partially decomposed skeletons. Thus, the
osteological complex was mostly fragmentary, enabling the
evaluation of the skeletal remains of only 113 individuals
(26 men, 33 women, 19 children, and 6 adolescents; the sex
of 29 adults could not be estimated). The paleopathological
study resulted from the anthropological analysis was
published in the work of Víšková (Víšková
et al.
2012;
Vávra
et al.
2012, Table 1).
2.2 Trichological analyses sampling
Some organic material was macroscopically observed in
the head parts of grave infllings in graves No. 4 and 11.
These two samples of this material were directly taken
for trichological analyses. All other samples / material for
trichological analyses were obtained after grave infllings
fotation (334 samples). Material from every inflling layer
was sampled: there were therefore more samples than graves
(336 trichological samples from a total of 173 graves).
2.3 Parasitological analyses sampling
Graves for parasitological analyses were selected at random,
each sample being taken from a diferent grave. In total,
30 samples were taken, 16 samples from the pelvic area,
13 samples from thoracic area, and 1 sample from the head
area.
For detailed information on which graves were sampled
for analyses, please see the summary table included in this
IANSA issue (Vávra 2016).
3. Methods
3.1 Paleopathological methods
The usual medical diagnostic and evaluating methods
and approaches were used, such as anamnesis, unbiased
examination, working diagnosis, diferential diagnosis and
fnal diagnosis.
However, due to the nature of the paleomaterial,
the application of some of these methods was limited.
Personal anamnesis was therefore replaced by the
standard paleoanthropological analysis of skeletons using
anthropometric and morphoscopic methods. This enabled the
estimation of biological age and gender, of body physique
(based on skeleton robustness), as well as the variability of
measurements.
We searched for disease marks in a personal anamnesis
/ paleoanthropological analysis. We also used non-specifc
stress marks on bones, such as Harris lines (Horáčková
et al.
2004),
cribra orbitalia
(Møller-Christensen
et al.
Table 1.
Basic demographic data of the Prague-Zličín population.
Sex/age
0–0.5 yr0.5–6 yrs7–14 yrs15–19 yrs20–30 yrs30–40 yrs40–50 yrs50–60 yrs
Adults
60+ yrs
Summ
Infans IInfans IIInfans IIIJuvenisAdultus IAdultus IIMaturus IMaturus IISenilis
Subadult 145 6 25
Male 3 1 3 9 7 3 26
Female
1 2 4 713 4 2 33
Indeterminated 8 8 3 5 5 29
Summ0146111318251610 113
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IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 31–32
Lenka Vargová, Ladislava Horáčková, Marcela Horáková, Hana Eliášová, Eva Myšková, Oleg Ditrich: Paleopathological, Trichological
and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
15
1963; Hengen 1971; Horáčková
et al.
2004), tooth enamel
or dentin hypoplasia (Strouhal 2004). All these non-specifc
marks can inform about the changes occuring in bones after
some diseases that could not be identifed exactly.
We did not analyse familial diseases due to the anonymous
character of the studied material; the buried population was
therefore analysed as a whole.
The analyses started with standard paleoanthropological
research followed by detailed macroscopic research. Based
on that, we then evaluated if the discovered morphological
changes in the bones represented some common variability
deviations, or if they represented some disease. We described
the exact position of all pathological nidi on the skeleton:
their number, size, margins and general nature, and also
photodocumented them.
We focused on the distribution of these changes as some
of the diseases are characterized by unifocal nidi and some
by numerous locations of lesions over the skeleton.
We evaluated the paleopathological fndings mainly in
accordance to the methodological criteria of Steinbock
(1976), Ortner and Putschar (1985), Vyhnánek
et al.
(1998),
Aufderheide and Rodríguez-Martín (1998), Ortner (2003)
and Horáčková
et al.
(2004).
Bones were evaluated by naked eye, magnifying glass
and also by microscope. In some cases where the fnding
was sufciently typical, we have been able to determine
the diagnosis after just a basic evaluation. In other cases,
macroscopic evaluation was able to select a suspected
case (
i.e.
to determine a working diagnosis) suitable
for determination by other fnancially-more-demanding
methods and thus determine a fnal diagnosis (
i.e.
diferential
diagnostics).
One such method was radiological examination, its use
being necessary in cases of trauma, infammation and so on.
X-Ray images were evaluated following the methodology of
Vyhnánek
et al.
(1998).
Some pathological lesions were compared with similar
contemporary medical fndings (some of them in Smrčka
et al.
2009) or with recent skeletal material (deposited in
Pathologisch – Anatomisches Bundesmuseum in Wien) of
known diagnosis determined by the most recent clinical
methods.
3.2 Trichological methods
Hairs were separated from the macro-remains material under
the stereomicroscope. Firstly, coarse impurities (especially
minute pebbles) were removed from the samples stored
in plastic test-tubes. Subsequently, impurities stuck on
the surface of the selected samples were displaced using
weak detergent solution; samples were then rinsed with
distilled water and ethanol (Baumgartner, Hill 1993).
Initial examination of hairs and other material was by
stereomicroscope, macroscopic characteristics such as
length and form being recorded. Selected material was also
mounted in the medium of parafn oil (refractive index
1.457). Specimens were examined using a compound light
microscope Olympus BX 51 (transmitted light and polarized
light) with magnifcation 200 – 400x. Microscopic photo
documentation was taken with the use of a stereo microscope
Olympus SZH 10.
Firstly the origin of material was determined,
e.g.
human
or animal, animal fbres, plant fbres, artifcial fbres,
feathers or plant tissues (Teerink 2003; Appleyard 1978).
Microscopic characteristics of human hair were documented:
diameter; colour; presence; damage and pattern of cuticle;
cortex characteristics – cellular texture; size and distribution
of pigment granules; medulla pattern; characteristics of
proximal part (
e.g.
root absent – form of the end; root present
– determination of development stage – anagen, catagen,
telogen, Ogler, Fox 1999); characteristics of distal tip; and
hair features obtained through environmental conditions
or by artifcial treatments (
e.g.
structural damage due to
taphonomic factors, insect bites, mould attacks, bleaching,
dying...) (Chang
et al.
2005; Brothwell 2005).
Mapping of the hair surface (present or absent cuticle
scales, outer cuticle margins) and analyses of the surface
impurities were realized by means of a scanning electron
microscope. Hair samples were fxed on adhesive carbon
targets and sputtered by gold in a SC500 device. Imaging
documentation was taken using a scanning electron
microscope Tescan Vega 5136XM in connection with an
energy dispersive microanalyzer with characteristic radiation
X-Link ISIS Series 300. Settings of the scanning electron
microscope Tescan Vega 5136 XM were: accelerating
voltage 20 kV; Probe Current (PC): 5–8; operating distance
(WD): 10–25 mm; detector: BSED; heating: MIDDLE; Scan
Mode RESOLUTION; Scan speed: 0–8; magnifcation 70–
5000×.
3.3 Parasitological methods
Determining the origin of intestinal parasites in
archaeological material is often problematical. The only
reliable connection to the host is the fnding of the parasite
directly in the human or animal remains. In this study soil
samples from graves were worked on using highly sensitive
methods, a combination of both microscopic and molecular
methods. In the case of the paleoparasitological study
we decided to combine classical parasitological methods
(microscopy), methods for pollen analysis (chemical and
mechanical maceration), and molecular analyses (DNA
isolation, PCR) – every sample being elaborated by each
method. This procedure was used in order to compare results
originating from diferent sample-preparation methods and
thus increase the probability of detecting a parasite.
Parasitological soil samples were rehydrated in a solution
of 0.5% trisodium phosphate (Callen, Cameron 1960) and
then treated with two techniques: 1, sedimentation – AMS
III concentration technique; and 2, fotation– Sheather sugar
solution. Moreover, samples were prepared as for pollen
analysis (Faegri, Iversen 1989). These samples prepared
with three diferent techniques, and another 24 samples from
the pollen part of the research, were observed using the light
microscope (Olympus BX 51) at magnifcation 200× and
400×.
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IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 13–32
Lenka Vargová, Ladislava Horáčková, Marcela Horáková, Hana Eliášová, Eva Myšková, Oleg Ditrich: Paleopathological, Trichological
and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
16
The next step was the isolation of DNA and the following
PCR techniques specifc for Cryptosporidia, microsporidia,
Trichuris sp. and Ascaris sp.
Nested PCR protocols were used to amplify the ITS region of
the rRNA gene of E. bieneusi and Encephalitozoon (Buckholt
et al.
2002; Didier
et al.
1995; Katzwinkel- Wladarsch
et al.
1996). A nested PCR protocol for Giardia described by
Sulaiman
et al.
(2003) was used to amplify the TPI fragment.
The amplifcation of a partial sequence of the SSU rRNA gene
described by Jiang
et al.
(2005) was used for Cryptosporidium
parasites. Single PCR amplifcation was carried out for
amplifcation of the SSU rRNA gene of Trichuris (Oh
et al.
2010) and for Ascaris sp. was used a primer set fanking the
cytochrome b fragment described by Loreille
et al.
(2001).
For the primary step of the nested PCR protocol, the
PCR mixture contained 1×PCR bufer, 3 mM MgCl
2
, 0.2
mM each deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP), 1 U Taq
polymerase, bovine serum albumin (BSA) (10 μg/ml), and
200 nM of each primer. For the secondary step of PCR,
the PCR mixture was identical, except BSA was excluded.
For every step of the nested PCR (standard procedure) for
Cryptosporidium, Giardia and microsporidia, 35 cycles
were run, each consisting of 94 °C for 45 sec, annealing
temperature specifc for each targeted genus, 72 °C for 60 s.
Initial incubation at 94 °C for 3 min and fnal extension at
72 °C for 7 min/10 min were included. Negative inhibition
controls were included in each run. PCR products were
visualized on a 1% agarose gel containing 0.2 g/ml ethidium
bromide, isolated from the gel with the use of QIAquick
Gel Extraction Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) and directly
sequenced on an ABI 3730XL sequence analyzer (Applied
Biosystems, Foster City, California).
4. Results
4.1 Paleopathology
Joint diseases are among the most common fndings on
the skeletal remains of inhabitants from various historical
periods. Most frequent are degenerative joint changes
that may be localised on the spine (spondylosis and
spondylarthrosis) and on large limb joints (arthrosis). In
similar fashion, traces of a combination of destructive and
productive processes were the most frequently discovered
during the examination of the pathological changes of the
Prague-Zličín human skeletal remains.
4.1.1 Degenerative changes
Only 53 skeletons were examined for spondylosis and
spondylarthrosis because no vertebrae of the other individuals
Table 2.
Occurrence of spondylosis. Explanation: f – female, m – male; J – juvenis, A I – adultus I (20–30 years), A II – adultus II (30–40 years),
M I – maturus I (40–50 years), M II – matures II (50–60 years), S – senilis (more than 60 years); C – cervical vertebrae, T – thoracic vertebrae, L – lumbar
vertebrae, S – sacral vertebrae.
Grave NoSexAge category
Localization (vertebrae)
Observation
528/17
fM IC
erosion of surfaces
530/19
fM IC
erosion of surfaces, eburnation, osteophytes 4mm,
535/24
fA IIT, L
erosion of surfaces, Schmorl’s nodes
529/25
fM IS
osteophytes up to 1 mm
543/33
?J – A I
C
Schmorl’s nodes
572/54
f
A II – M I
C
osteophytes up to 1 mm
590/62
m
M I – M II
C
erosion of surfaces
591/63
mM IT, L, S
erosion of surfaces,
asymmetry,
osteophytes 7 mm
721/71
mM I C, T, L, S
erosion of surfaces,
osteophytes 2–5 mm
721/77
mM IC, T, L, S
erosion of surfaces,
osteophytes 5 mm, Schmorl’s nodes
722/78
f
M I – M II
C, T, L, S
erosion of surfaces,
osteophytes 2,2 mm, Schmorl’s nodes
778/95
f
M I – M II
L
erosion of surfaces,
osteophytes 5 mm, Schmorl’s nodes, eburnation
784/100
?
A IC
osteophytes up to 1 mm
798/110
fM IC, T, L
erosion of surfaces
818/121a
fM IL
osteophytes 3–4 mm
1505/127
fA IL
erosion of surfaces
1509/131
mM IIL
erosion of surfaces
1559/145
m
M I – M II
C
osteophytes 2–3 mm, eburnation
1570/151
fM IT, L
osteophytes 4–7 mm
1573/154
m
A II – M I
T, L
osteophytes 3–4 mm, Schmorl’s nodes
1593/159
?
A IIC
osteophytes up to 1 mm
1594/160
fM II
–
SC
osteophytes 4 mm
1595/161
f
A II – M I
C
osteophytes 9×2 mm, erosion of surfaces
1596/162
fA IIT, L
osteophytes 3–7 mm
1597/163
f
M I – M II
L, S
osteophytes up to 1 mm, Schmorl’s node, L4 spondylolysis and prolaps
of disc
1598/164
mM II
–
ST, L
osteophytes 5 mm
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IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 31–32
Lenka Vargová, Ladislava Horáčková, Marcela Horáková, Hana Eliášová, Eva Myšková, Oleg Ditrich: Paleopathological, Trichological
and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
17
have survived. Degenerative changes were detected in nearly
half of these 56 skeletons (26 cases; 49.1%; n=53), as seen in
Table 2. The modifed scheme of Stloukal, Vyhnánek (1976)
was used to identify the individual examples of spondylosis
and spondylarthrosis. Based on the scheme, the fndings
were classifed into three groups according to the character
of the morphological changes. Nearly half of the cases
revealed frst-degree disabilities in the form of subtle bony
edges encircling the articular surface areas and terminal
surfaces of the bodies of vertebrae (12 cases; 46.2%; n=26).
This group also included bony projections (osteophytes) of a
small size and linear depressions on the terminal surfaces of
Table 3:
Occurrence of arthrosis. Explanation: f – female, m – male; J – juvenis, A I – adultus I (20–30 years), A II – adultus II (30–40 years), M I – matures I
(40–50 years), M II – matures II (50–60 years), S – senilis (more than 60 years).
Grave NoSexAge
Localization
ArticulatioObservation
530/19
fM I
ulna dx.cubiti dx.
osteophytes 2 mm
529/25
fM I
scapula sin.humeri sin.
osteophytes up to 1 mm
572/54
f
A II – M I
mandibulatemporomandibularisosteophytes 2 mm, deformation of surface
574/56
fA II
clavicula sin.
scapula sin.
sternoclavicularis sin.
humeri sin.
erosion of surfaces
591/63
mM I
sternum
humerus sin.
ulna dx.
ossa scaphoidea
os coxae dx.
sternoclavicularis dx.
humeri sin.
radioulnaris dist. dx.
radiocarpea et intercarpalis
coxae dx.
erosion of surfaces, eburnation, osteophytes 1–4 mm, myositis
ossifcans, ossifcation of ligaments
594/65
mM I ossa coxae
coxae dx. et sin.
osteophytes up to 1 mm
599/67
?
J
humerus humeriosteophytes up to 1 mm
721/77
mM I
clavicula sin.
scapula sin.
humerus sin, dx.
os coxae
sternoclavicular. sin.
acromioclavicular. sin.
humeri dx., sin.
coxae dx., sin.
erosion of surfaces,
osteophytes 1–8 mm, osteochondritis
dissecans, ossifcation
722/78
f
M I – M II
clavicula dx.
ossa coxae
sternoclavicular. dx.
acromioclavicular. dx.
coxae sin., dx.
osteophytes up to 1 mm
778/95
f
M I – M II
radius sin.
ossa coxae
talus dx.
calcaneus dx., sin.
radiocarpalis sin.
coxae dx., sin.
talocruralis dx.
erosion of surfaces,
osteophytes up to 1 mm, exostoses 5 mm
795/107
m
M?
calcaneus dx.
exostosis 5 mm
798/110
fM I
ossa coxae
sacroiliaca dx., sin.
erosion of surfaces
800/112
m
M I – M II
humerus dx.
os metacarp. I. dx.
os coxae sin.
os coxae dx.
cubiti dx.
carpometacar. I. dx.
coxae sin.
sacroiliaca dx.
erosion of surfaces, osteophytes up to 1 mm, osteochondritis
dissecans
800/113
mM I
ossa coxae
femur dx., sin.
patella sin.
tibia sin.
sacroiliaca dx., sin.
genus sin.
erosion of surfaces, osteophytes 4 mm, myositis ossifcans
807/119
mM I
patella sin.
genus sin.
818/121a
fM I
mandibula
scapula sin.
tibia sin.
temporomandibul. dx.
acromioclavic. sin.
genus sin.
osteophytes 2–10 mm, eburnation
1509/131
mM II
humerus dx.cubiti dx.
osteophytes up to 1 mm, osteochondritis dissecans
1544/132
m
A II – M I
os coxae sin.coxae sin.
osteophytes up to 1 mm
1555/142
mM I
clavicula dx.
scapula dx.
humerus dx.
acromioclavic. dx.
humeri dx.
osteophytes up to 1 mm
1559/145
m
M I – M II
os metacar. III dx.metacarpophal. III dx.
osteophytes up to 1 mm
1569/150
fM I
mandibula
humerus dx.
temporomandibul. dx
cubiti dx.
osteophytes up to 1 mm
1593/159
?
A II
scapula dx.
humeri dx.
osteophytes up to 1 mm
1594/160
f
M II – S
os coxae sin.coxae sin.
osteophytes up to 1 mm
1595/161
f
A II – M I
os coxae dx.coxae dx.
osteophytes up to 1 mm
1596/162
fA II
humerus dx.
radius dx.
cubiti dx.
osteophytes up to 1 mm, osteochondritis dissecans
1598/164
m
M II – S
talus sin.
calcaneus sin., dx.
talocalcaneonavic. sin.
osteophytes up to 1 mm, exostoses
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IANSA 2016 ● VII/1 ● 13–32
Lenka Vargová, Ladislava Horáčková, Marcela Horáková, Hana Eliášová, Eva Myšková, Oleg Ditrich: Paleopathological, Trichological
and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
18
vertebrae – Schmorl’s nodes. The vertebrae with osteophytes
exceeding 3 mm, which projected above the spine surface,
were described as a greater degree of spondylosis and
spondylarthrosis and were detected in 9 skeletons (9 cases;
34.6%; n=26). The most severe degree of spondylosis
and spondylarthrosis revealed mirror-smooth patches on
articular surfaces (eburnation) and deformations of vertebrae
bodies and articular surfaces (5 cases; 19.2%; n=26). Block
vertebrae formed by the merging of large osteophytes on
neighbouring vertebrae were not detected.
We also met other problems during the interpretation.
It was very difcult to determine the border between a
normal and pathological state. The degenerative-productive
process is usually seen as a natural manifestation of the
aging of connective tissues and is characterized by a lower
vescularization of the tissue itself, of cartilage and of
bones, and by their lower regenerative ability. The rate of
development of this process is even used as an auxiliary
method to determine a biological age of life expectancy
(Dobisíková 1999). A mild degree of arthrosis is usually
considered as the usual fnding in cases of individuals older
than 40 years. Therefore, arthrosis can be marked as a
disease only in cases where the pathological changes do not
correspond to the respective age (Rejholec 1982).
When comparing the degree of spondylosis and the age
of the afected individuals, it emerges that only 16 cases
(30.2%; n=53) showed an actual disease while the remaining
fndings of degenerative changes corresponded to the usual
wearing of the musculoskeletal system caused by age.
The detailed examination of the individuals showed that
the most severely part afected was their lumbar spine, then
the thoracic and cervical sections, and the least afected was
the sacrum. An article by Vargová
et al.
(2014) provides a
detailed description of the joint impairment.
In addition to the spinal column, other joints were also
afected by degenerative changes (Table 3) that were
detected in 26 adult skeletons (37.7%; n=69); however, only
9 cases (13.0%; n=69) showed actual disease. The remaining
fndings were accorded the normal signs of ageing because
they had been observed on skeletal remains of individuals
aged 40 and above and corresponded with a mild degree of
arthrosis. Hip joints were most frequently afected, followed
by shoulders, elbows, collarbone joints, knees, and jaws.
4.1.2 Traumas
Apart from joint diseases, traumas were the next most
frequent paleopathological fndings. Traces of healed
injuries were detected in 7.9% (n=9/113) of cases. A defect
detected on the cranial vault of a man over 50, excavated
from grave 1509/131, is exceptionally interesting. An oval-
shaped opening is visible on the left parietal bone, the front
edge of which begins at the coronal suture, 26 mm to the
left of the bregma (Figure 1). The rear edge of the lesion
and the dorsal part of the medial edge have been damaged
posthumously and so the precise dimensions of the defect
cannot be determined (the maximum width is 12 mm,
the length is estimated to circa 24 mm). The edges of the
opening ascend inside the skull on the medial side. The
preserved parts of the two edges have been rounded and
neatly smoothed during the reparation process. The external
table of calvaria near the defect shows signs of a chronic
infammatory process which form an edging 9 mm wide
(15 mm dorsally) on the lateral side. The internal table of
calvaria cannot be fully analysed because of severe damage;
however, small perforations near the groove for the left
middle meningeal artery and the superior sagittal sulcus
indicate an infammation. Although no fssures have been
found near the wound, the poor condition of the calvaria
makes it impossible to rule them out. The nature of the injury
infers a possible slash inficted from the right. A defect on
the left parietal bone and the inclined medial border of the
wound might indicate an anthropogenic injury caused by a
right-handed attacker. The absence of visible cracks suggests
that the cutting weapon was very sharp and the slash required
great efort. Based on the diferent thickness of the bone on
the edges of the opening, it is likely that the sharp edge hit
the cranial vault in a slanted fashion. After the injury, the
wound was probably cleansed, mainly its lateral edge, and
bone fragments removed. This is evidenced by the width of
the cut.
Nonetheless, the lateral edge of the wound was highly
damaged which thwarted any detection of traces of a
trepanation tool. Yet, it is evident that the afected individual
lived for a long while after having sufered this injury, as
indicated by signs of the reparation process. The symptoms
of infammation in the cranial cavity give evidence of
posttraumatic chronic meningitis which in this type of injury
is the most frequent cause of death, besides brain contusion
(Tesař 1968).
Traumatic changes on the forearm bones of the upper left
arm of a 35 to 45-year-old man from grave 1573/154 also
appear to have been the result of interpersonal violence. The
left ulna shows traces of a well-healed oblique fracture in the
distal one third of the shaft. The peripheral fragment shows
Figure 1.
The oval-shaped opening on the left parietal bone. The preserved
parts of the two edges have been rounded and neatly smoothed during the
reparation process (about 50-year-old male, grave No. 1509/131). Photo by
Lumír Trenčanský.
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a slight ad axim dislocation in the medial direction. Medical
professionals refer to this type of ulna fracture between the
central and distal section of the diaphysis as a defensive
fracture (“parry fracture”) resulting from situations when an
individual holds out his forearm to defend himself from a
blow. The fracture is usually found on the left hand because
most individuals use their left hands for defence and dominant
right hands for attack (Vyhnánek
et al.
1998; Horáčková
2004). In most cases, radial bones remain intact; however,
in this case, an X-ray examination disclosed an infraction of
the shaft of the adjacent left radius, located proximally from
the ulna fracture (Figures 2A, B). Moreover, posttraumatic
arthrosis complicated the injury which was attested by
arthrotic changes (articular surface erosions) detected on
the head of the ulna and a minor osteophyte on the styloid
process of the ulna.
In contrast to the above-mentioned case, a comminuted
fracture of the right radius detected on the skeleton of a man
in his forties or ffties, found in grave 1613/175, is believed
to be a casual injury. The fracture was localised between the
proximal and central third of the shaft, was not dislocated,
and healed well. Isolated radius fractures in this localisation
are rather rare and their clinical fndings are inconspicuous.
They are caused either by the direct impact of a strong force
on the bone, by a blunt tool in the case of the comminuted
fracture, or indirectly, when falling on the upper limb
(Pokorný
et al.
2002).
The traumatic changes in the upper extremities found at
Prague-Zličín also included an infraction of the proximal
fnger phalanx of a woman aged 35–45 discovered in grave
572/54. The macroscopic examination showed the abnormal
bend of the afected fnger part; the X-ray image revealed
a partial break of the bone on the verge of the central and
distal thirds. The break line was apparent in the sagittal
projection, running obliquely in a proximal-distal direction.
It appears to have been a casual injury arising from everyday
activity, because injuries of this kind are rather frequent
even in today’s population. The bending of the afected bone
was caused by the antagonistic traction of the interosseous
muscles on the proximal fragment and of the fnger extensor
on the distal fragment (Kubáček
et al.
1982).
A healed fracture of the right tibia of a 50-year-old man
from grave 1559/145 belonged to severe injuries detected
on the lower extremities. The break line ran obliquely in the
distal third of the diaphysis. The peripheral fragment was
dislocated medially ad axim and proximally ad longitudinem
(Figures 3A, B). Current medical practice shows that
isolated oblique tibia fractures are usually the result of a
Figure 2.
A) The left ulna shows traces of a well-healed oblique fracture
in the distal one third of the shaft. B) The X-ray examination disclosed an
infraction of the shaft of the adjacent left radius, located proximally from
the ulna fracture (35–45-year-old male, grave No. 1573/154). Photo by
Lumír Trenčanský.
Figure 3.
A) A healed fracture of the right tibia in the distal third of the
diaphysis, signs of pyogenic osteomyelitis have been detected nearby. B)
The X-ray image shows inaccurately bordered areas of shade alternating
with brighter areas close to the break line, and the bone losing its
homogenous structure (about 50-year-old male, grave No. 1559/145). Photo
by Lumír Trenčanský.
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20
direct external force in the form of angle bending (Pokorný
et al.
2002). Very likely it was an open fracture because signs
of pyogenic osteomyelitis have been detected nearby. The
X-ray image shows inaccurately bordered areas of shade
alternating with bright areas close to the break line, and the
bone losing its homogenous structure.
Macroscopic examination revealed a knobbly surface
on the medial area of the afected tibia and a fstula with
an opening of 5 mm in diameter in the centre. The defect is
surrounded by several small perforations indicating that the
infammation process reached its chronic stadium.
A traumatic origin is also assumed in the case of
pathological changes to the left tibia of a 30 to 40-year-old
man from grave 501/2. A lateral bony projection (length:
38 mm, proximal width: 10 mm, distal width: 12 mm)
with a chipped-of distal part protrudes from the middle of
the diaphysis. Three or four tiny pinhead-size holes were
found on the ventral and dorsal sides. From the viewpoint
of diferential diagnosis, they might be
myositis ossifcans
of the
fexor digitorum longus
muscle tendon. However, the
X-ray image does not show a normal bone structure (Figures
4A, B). Thus a fbula fracture where the bone projection
would be the residue of the subsequent adhesion of the two
shank bones cannot be excluded. A more accurate diagnosis
is prevented by the poor condition and incompleteness of the
skeletal remains.
Impairments of the axial skeleton were detected in a
45-year-old man from grave 591/63. His second right rib
evinced a slightly thinned spot on its ventral third bordered
by a 3 mm long dorsomedial bone projection. The X-ray
examination shows a transverse fracture (Figures 5A, B)
which healed properly. In addition, a ffth lumbar vertebra
with bilateral intra-articular spondylolysis,
i.e.
a separated
vertebral arch, was discovered. The aperture ran nearly
vertically between the upper and lower joint projections. At
the place of the defect, the non-knitted areas of the vertebral
arch were covered with compact bone that has only a slightly
Figure 4.
A) Left tibia with a process protruding from the middle of the
diaphysis – may be
myositis ossifcans
. B) X-ray image does not show the
normal bone structure (30–40-year-old male, grave No. 501/2). Photo by
Lumír Trenčanský.
Figure 5.
A) Second right rib evinced a slightly thinned spot on its ventral
third bordered by a dorsomedial bone projection. B) The X-ray examination
showed a transverse fracture which healed properly (about 45-year-old
male, grave No. 591/63). Photo by Lumír Trenčanský.
Figure 6.
Osteochondritis dissecans
located on the ventromedial edge of
the left femur head (20–24-year-old female, grave No. 1610/172 a). Photo
by Lumír Trenčanský.
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bumpy surface and tiny perforations. The spondylolysis in
this case could be an after-efect of the trauma, emerging
simultaneously with the rib fracture, and resulting in
polytrauma.
In most cases, the contusion of soft tissue on skeletal
remains cannot be detected. Ossifcations of afected
structures are the only exceptions; for example, the partially
ossifed anterior tibiofbular ligament on the left fbula of a
40 to 50-year-old woman from grave 798/110. The ossifed
part of the ligament is 11 mm wide at the base and 6 mm tall.
The bone surface is covered with a thin layer of compact
bone while spongy bone is found inside. Contusion of the
lateral ankle region appears to be the most likely cause of the
ligament ossifcation.
A shallow depression of 7×4 mm detected on the
ventromedial edge of the articular head by the anatomical
neck of the left femur of a 20 to 24-year-old woman from
grave 1610/172a gives evidence of contusion of the left hip
joint and partial avulsion of the articular cartilage, which is
referred to as
osteochondritis dissecans
(Figure 6).
4.1.3 Infammations
Nearly every larger skeletal collection shows traces of
subacute or chronic infammation. Infammatory changes
have been found on 19 human skeletal remains of Prague-
Zličín (16.8%; n=113). Cranial bones were most frequently
afected by infections that spread from the oral cavity and
the upper respiratory tract. Typical examples are signs of
chronic parodontitis on the mandibles of four individuals in
their forties or ffties, including three women (graves 722/78,
1555/142, and 1612/174) and one man (grave 721/77).
Symptoms of chronic parodontitis were rounded smooth
small bumps or bone edgings with very fne perforations
around dental alveoli outside and inside the mandibles. In
all these cases the occurrence of parodontitis was connected
with the overall bad condition of the individual’s teeth, which
was caused either by the accumulation of profuse amounts
of dental calculus or by cavities as remnants of periapical
granulomas and cysts at the roots of the teeth.
The suppurative nidi of infection at the dental roots spread
the infammation to the parodontal tissue and paranasal
sinuses. The left maxilla of a woman aged 40–50 found in
grave 530/19 provides further evidence. A circular opening
of 3 mm in diameter emerged at the buccal root of the second
molar, which opened into the maxillary sinus (Figure 7).
The edges of the defect have been smoothed during the
reparation process. A newly-formed bone tissue of irregular
shape appears on the medial area of the left maxillary sinus,
apparently as a result of chronic sinusitis. Similar chronic
infammation of the maxillary sinus, though remarkably
smaller, was observed on the upper left maxilla of a 35 to
45-year-old woman from grave 572/54. In this case, the
maxillary sinus was opened after a tooth extraction and
infection spread inside the bone. An opening with smoothed
edges was found at the place of the closed dental alveolus
of the second molar. Infammatory changes are evident both
inside and outside the maxillary sinus.
Furthermore, temporal bones of three skulls of the Zličín
skeletal collection were afected. There were traces of
chronic infammation of the middle ear (
otitis media
) where
infection usually spreads from the nasopharynx via the
auditory tube. A disrupted dorsal edge of the tympanic part
was detected on the right temporal bone of a 45 to 55-year-
old individual from grave 1609/171. The perforation is of an
irregular shape; the edges having been smoothed over during
the reparation process (Figure 8). Diferential diagnosis
suggested an innate dehiscence of the tympanic plate. The
presence of infammatory changes on the tympanic groove
in the form of tiny bumps was the main criterion to diagnose
otitis media
. Other traces of middle ear infection were found
Figure 7.
A fragment of the left maxilla with circular opening opened into
the maxillary sinus. Newly-formed bone tissue as a result of chronic sinusitis
(40–50-year-old female, grave No. 530/19). Photo by Lumír Trenčanský.
Figure 8.
The presence of infammatory changes on tympanic groove of
the right temporal bone in the form of tiny bumps – a sign of chronic
otitis
media
(45–55-year-old adult individual, grave No. 1609/171). Photo by
Lumír Trenčanský.
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on the skeleton of a 50 to 60-year-old man in grave 522/10.
Three irregularly-shaped perforations are visible on the
anterior surface of the petrous portion of the left temporal
bone. A thin, irregular layer of newly-formed bone mass
of 15×7 mm was found near their lateral edges. A similar
infection was observed on the skeleton of a woman aged
30–40 from grave 535/24. A number of irregularly-shaped
openings appear on the anterior surface of the petrous
portion of the right temporal bone; however, edges of only
two of them, located by the
sinus petrosus superior
groove,
have been smoothed over during the reparation process. As
a result, it is impossible to clearly diferentiate whether the
majority of these openings perforating the tympanic cavity
emerged posthumously and belong to taphonomic changes.
Mastoiditis was another health problem diagnosed on the
skulls of the Zličín skeletons. Most often, mastoiditis results
from
otitis media
complications when infection passes
from the tympanic cavity in the mastoid cells, which may
result in their coalescence as a consequence of osteoclastic
destruction (Klozar
et al.
2005). The fnding on the skull of
a 45 to 50-year-old man from grave 1555/142 corresponds to
this diagnosis. The left mastoid process features an opening
of 8×5 mm on the outside leading to a cavity 3–4 mm deep.
The edges of the opening have been smoothed over during
the reparation process; the base of the defect is porous
(Figure 9). Suppuration leaked through this perforation to the
skull surface, where it most likely resulted in retroauricular
infltration of soft tissues.
The fnding of a subperiosteal abscess in the nuchal region
on the occipital bone of a woman over 45 excavated from
grave 529/25 indicates the more serious complication of
mastoiditis. A circular lythical defect with smooth edges
has been detected on the external surface of the squama
of the occipital bone, about 47 mm below the lambda. The
lesion penetrates all the way to the diploe, the edges being
undermined, and the base (12×11 mm) is partially smoothed
over (Figure 10A). A groove about 10 mm long continues
towards the lambda. A round opening on the dorsal surface
of the right mastoid process, which leads to a cavity of
Figure 9.
The left mastoid process with an opening on the outside leading
to the mastoid cellulae. The edges of the opening have been smoothed
during the reparation process – a sign of chronic mastoiditis (45–50-year-
old male, grave No. 1555/142). Photo by Lumír Trenčanský.
Figure 10.
A) Traces of a subperiosteal abscess in the nuchal region on
the occipital bone as a serious complication of mastoiditis. B) A lythic
defect on the dorsal surface of the right mastoid process as a sign of chronic
mastoiditis (about 45-year-old female, grave No. 529/25). Photo by Lumír
Trenčanský.
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9 mm in diameter inside the projection, gives evidence of
the individual sufering from mastoiditis. The base of the
lythical defect is smoothed; the edges of the opening bear
signs of the reparation process (Figure 10B). The fact that
in this case, together with a subperiosteal abscess, a more
serious complication of mastoiditis could have occurred,
means that intracranial infection cannot be ruled out. The
s
ulci arteriosi arteriae meningeae mediae
on the left are
signifcantly wider than those on the right, and many small
perforations are seen. To a certain extent the clinical picture
resembles the manifestation of posttraumatic meningitis as
described on the cut on the skeleton from grave 1509/131.
Infammatory changes on upper extremities have been
observed in two cases. The frst one was the left radius
of a 50-year-old woman from grave 778/95 where a fne
accumulation of newly-formed bone tissue, about 50 mm
in diameter, was found on the dorsal part of the distal end.
The bone surface was coarsened with perforations up to
1 mm in diameter. The infammatory nidus is localised under
the tendons of the extensors that run below the extensor
retinaculum. It is possible that the infammation of the
adjacent tendons and ligament structures occurred primarily
and the aseptic irritation infammation of the bone developed
secondarily. Infammatory changes on the proximal end of
the left ulna of the 45 to 50-year-old man from grave 807/119
might be the result of a similar aetiology; a coarsened porous
surface was observed on the radial notch of the ulna, the
coronoid process, and on a fragment of the olecranon of the
ulna.
The skeletal remains of the lower extremities revealed
infammatory processes on the right pelvic bone of a man
over 55 from grave 1598/164, where the infammation
damaged the cranial edge of the acetabulum. The surface is
bumpy and shows tiny perforations. The approximate lesion
size is 28×8 mm; severe damage to the pelvic bone hinders
the determination of more precise dimensions. The afected
joint also shows signs of arthrosis – the dorsal edge of the
acetabulum shows an osteophyte edge up to 5 mm high.
The most signifcant traces of infammation of the lower
extremities were detected on the shinbones of a 45 to 50-year-
old man from grave 612/79. Nearly the entire diaphysis of
the left tibia was afected. The surface of the bone is uneven
with a lot of tiny perforations and irregular accumulations of
the newly-formed bone tissue. Analogous changes have also
fully damaged the left fbula diaphysis. In this case, chronic
osteomyelitis was diagnosed as afecting the compact and
spongy bones. The clinical picture is very much reminiscent
of syphilitic osteomyelitis; however, this diagnosis should
be excluded because of the date of the skeletal remains.
The fragmentary condition of the examined skeleton did
not facilitate a more detailed diferential diagnosis of the
pathological condition. The diagnoses of further occurrences
of infammation were difcult; for example, that on the
right tibia of a 40-year-old man from grave 797/109, where
newly-formed bone tissue accumulated on the lateral side
of the tibial tuberosity. Nevertheless, the scope of periostitis
cannot be precisely determined because of the damage to the
proximal end of the bone (the size of the lesion is estimated
to be 43×20 mm). Another similar fnding was that on the
skeleton of a 45 to 50-year-old man from grave No. 801/113
where periostitic nidi were detected on the distal third of both
tibias, on the medial surface and anterior border. A lesion of
32×17 mm on the left side projects above the bone surface;
the infammatory nidus is damaged on the right so its size
could only be estimated at about 68×25 mm. During the
diferential diagnosis determination we also took ossifcated
subperiosteal hematomas resulting from injuries or scurvy
into consideration for their similarity to both the above-
mentioned cases.
In addition to non-specifc infammation, two skeletons
of Prague-Zličín showed suspected cases of tuberculosis. In
the frst case, pathological changes on the spine of a woman
aged 45–55 from grave 722/78 were detected, which could
be diagnosed as Pott’s disease. In addition to the signs of
an advanced stage of spondylosis, traces of compression
fracture were observed on the second lumbar vertebra. The
body of the afected vertebra is wedge-shaped and lowered
on the right by the ventral perimeter where it reaches only
10 mm while the dorsal height is 23 mm. An osteophyte
11 mm high and about 23 mm wide can be seen at the
maximum reduction. The superior terminal facet is inclined
obliquely while the inferior terminal facet has remained
intact, being oriented in the transversal plane. The collapse
of the vertebra might be indicated by caseous necrosis of
the tuberculosis nidus inside the body. Subsequently, the
necrotic mass coursed down along the psoas major muscle
into the pelvis resulting in a psoatic abscess. This assumption
is further supported by a region of newly-formed bone tissue
on the pelvic surface of the sacrum at the level of S2 (circa
8 mm in diameter). A circular depression of about 15 mm in
diameter found on the internal surface of the wing of ilium,
medially from the right anterior inferior iliac spina, may also
be related to the abscess in the pelvis. It has a smooth base
covered with a normal compact bone. The depression might
have been caused by the pressure of a hypertrophic regional
inguinal lymphatic node. However, diferential diagnosis
requires taking into account a possible atypical surface
starting at the rectus femoris muscle.
The question remains whether changes on the ribs of this
woman are also associated with tuberculosis, because they do
not show any signs of a typical chronic infammatory process.
The cranial surface of the frst left rib reveals a striking
bone structure covered with a thin layer of compact bone
(19 mm long, 12 mm wide, and 9 mm high). Furthermore,
fragments of the dorsal third of two cranial ribs on the right
side are knitted in the area of their costal angles. A fragment
of the caudal rib shows a bone protrusion on the cranial edge
which is 11 mm long and 5 mm high. Polytraumas must also
be considered in diferential diagnosis; therefore, partial
ossifcation of intercostal muscles or membranes may have
occurred.
The skeleton of a fve-year-old child from grave 1556/143
showed obvious traces of pleuritis (most likely tuberculous).
One of the left caudal ribs revealed a fne accumulation of
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Lenka Vargová, Ladislava Horáčková, Marcela Horáková, Hana Eliášová, Eva Myšková, Oleg Ditrich: Paleopathological, Trichological
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newly-formed bone tissue (approximately 13×4 mm). The
surface of the bone is coarsened and slightly porous. An
X-ray image exposed a blurred bone contour and damaged
homogeneity of the bone tissue (Figures 11A, B). The long-
lasting chronic disease associated with a metabolic disorder
is further evidenced by
cribra orbitalia
of the frst degree on
the upper margin of the eye sockets. In this case, periostitis
as a consequence of chronic pleuritis can be confrmed.
4.1.4 Tumors
The paleopathological analysis of human skeletal remains of
Prague-Zličín showed only benign bone tumours (osteomata)
localised on two skulls (3.9%; n=51); in both cases on the
right part of the frontal sinus. The diagnosis of osteomata was
determined from the macroscopic examination according to
their typical visual aspect. The tumour of a 35 to 45-year-old
woman from grave 574/56 was ball-shaped, about 10 mm in
diameter, and had a smooth surface. A man aged 45–50 from
grave 807/119 had a conical-shaped osteoma with the base
about 4 mm wide and 3 mm high. Both the osteomata had
a normal bone structure; their surfaces were covered with a
layer of compact bone, with spongy bone inside.
4.1.5 Other osteopathies
The pathological changes on the skull of the 45 to 50-year-
old woman from grave 530/19 can be regarded as endocrinal
osteopathy. The interior surface of the left squama of the
frontal bone revealed an uneven surface of the inner table with
several rounded bumps separated by shallow depressions.
The diploe is partially exposed on one of the bumps. Only
an indication of similar changes is found on the right side of
the frontal bone squama. Most probably, it is the beginning
of a frontal internal hyperostosis. However, in this case, a
traumatic origin for the lesion (for example, a subperiosteal
hematoma) cannot be ruled out because one of the grooves,
conditioned by a branch of the meningeal medial artery, is
abnormally wide and several small perforations run along
the groove for the superior sagittal sinus reaching to the
internal occipital protuberantia of the occipital bone.
Manifestations of innate skeleton defects are classifed
among rare paleopathological fndings. The Zličín
osteological collection includes the case of the thinned
parietal bone which was observed on the 40 to 50-year-old
woman from grave 798/110. The severely-damaged fragment
of the calvaria revealed a round shallow depression (circa
30×30 mm) on the right parietal bone. It was impossible
to assess the left side because the bone had deteriorated
posthumously. Assumingly, it was a case of biparietal
thinning.
4.1.6 Cribra orbitalia
Only two cases from the analysed skeletal collection (7.1%;
n=28; grave 1509/131, grave 1556/143) showed porotic
changes on the upper part of orbits referred to as
cribra
Figure 11.
A) One of the left caudal ribs with a fne accumulation of
newly-formed bone tissue. B) X-ray image exposed a blurred bone
contour and damaged homogeneity of bone tissue (5-year-old child, grave
No. 1556/143). Photo by Lumír Trenčanský.
Figure 12.
A) Coalition of tarsal bones on the left foot. B) X-ray shows a
round protrusion of the calcaneus with the contact surface of the navicular
bone, referred to as “Anteater Nose Sign” (45–50-year-old female, grave
No. 530/19). Photo by Lumír Trenčanský.
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Lenka Vargová, Ladislava Horáčková, Marcela Horáková, Hana Eliášová, Eva Myšková, Oleg Ditrich: Paleopathological, Trichological
and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
25
orbitalia
, usura orbitae (Møller-Christensen
et al.
1963),
or
hyperostosis spongiosa orbitae
(Hengen 1971). The
majority of paleopathologists regard
cribra orbitalia
as
a manifestation of anaemia (
e.g.
Moseley 1963) or a non-
specifc symptom of long-term stress.
4.1.7 Tarsal coalition
The coalition of tarsal bones on the left foot of the 45 to
50-year-old woman from grave 530/19 can be included in
innate diseases (Figure 12A). In this case, the anterior talar
articular surface on the severely damaged left heel bone is
missing, and the dorsomedial side of the articular surface
of the cuboid features a contact surface to meet with a
similar surface on the navicular bone (about 21 mm long
and 8 mm wide). The base of the latter surface is covered
with the compact bone with many small openings reaching
into the spongy bone. The articular surface of the cuboid
is narrower (c. 19 mm) and slightly medially inclined. The
abnormal contact surface on the navicular bone is 21×8 mm
and its surface corresponds to the contact surface on the
heel bone. The left talus bone has a normal size but the
perimeter of the articular head was damaged posthumously,
so the scope and position of the navicular articular surface
of the talus cannot be determined accurately. When placing
these three bones into their correct anatomical positions, it
appears that the talus bone head is slightly medially inclined
whereas the navicular bone is shifted laterally towards the
calcaneus. Some contact occurred between the navicular
bone and calcaneus, probably as a result of synchondrosis
or syndesmosis. Diferential diagnosis took into account the
criteria which Case and Burnett (2012) set for tarsal coalition
determination. They include the typical localisation of the
lesion, characteristic change of shape, and the corresponding
contact surfaces on the neighbouring tarsal bones; the
afected foot showed all these symptoms. A lateral X-ray
projection (Figure 12B) exposed a round protrusion with
a contact surface of the navicular bone which radiologists
refer to as “Anteater Nose Sign” (Chapman 2007). Based
on these fndings, the traumatic origin (fracture, as well as
osteochondritis dissecans
) and arthrosis could be excluded.
Since no other signs of developmental defects were detected
on the analysed skeleton, the tarsal coalition in this case was
apparently neither a part of Apert syndrome, Nievergelt-
Pearlman syndrome, nor PFFD (proximal femoral focal
defciency).
4.2 Trichology
Samples included human hair, animal hair, animal, plant and
artifcial fbres, fragments of feathers and plant tissues. In
the microscopical preparations fbres highly predominated
over hair – tufts of fbres occurred frequently. Head hair
predominated in the samples, somatic hair occurring
sporadically. The head hair is most likely recent. Damaged
hair was compared with referential historical material.
Some samples of hair were exposed to a signifcantly longer
infuence of environmental factors, but almost no examined
hairs were historic. Also, no human ectoparasites were found.
The exception is the grave sample 519/11 (juvenile
individual). Hair fragments separated from soil reached to
a length of 5–55 mm, with a maximum width of shafts 65–
105 µm. Hair fragments colouring in the transmitted light of
the optical microscope were middle brown, sporadically light
brown or dark brown, and always with a rutile tint caused
by taphonomic changes in the melanin structure (Figure 13).
Clumps of pigmental granules were visible here and there
in the cortex; however, in most of the cases the origin of the
pigment distribution was impossible to evaluate.
The medullary canal was either missing or was present in
a discontinuous or continuous form. The preserved structure
of the medulla was discernible only here and there. The
original basal ends (roots) were not preserved in the surveyed
samples. Proximal and distal ends were even (transversally)
broken, frayed or irregular abraded.
The destruction of hair shafts was manifested by the
ragged and cracked cuticle scales, absence of cuticle scales,
Figure 13.
Human hair. Light brown shaft, black medullary canal flled by
air. Photo by Tomáš Kmječ.
Figure 14: Human hair. Tunnels caused by keratinophilic organisms, air
flled medullary canal. Photo by Tomáš Kmječ.
Figure 15.
Human hair. Loosened shaft. Photo by Tomáš Kmječ.
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Lenka Vargová, Ladislava Horáčková, Marcela Horáková, Hana Eliášová, Eva Myšková, Oleg Ditrich: Paleopathological, Trichological
and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
26
longitudinal loosened shafts and especially transversal
fragmentation of hair shafts. Hair also showed marked
damage owing to keratinophilic organisms having created
transversal and longitudinal tunnels (Figures 14, 15).
In the pictures from the electron microscope there were
visible cuticle scales, damaged shafts and stuck deposits
of inorganic material native to the surrounding spoil that
partly caused some incrustation of hair shafts (Figures 16A,
B, 17). An analysis of inorganic material proved the
presence predominantly of aluminium and silicon (probably
aluminosilicate) (Figures 18, 19).
Animal hairs were represented by guard hair and underhair
in the samples. The medullary pattern, pigment in the cortex
and especially the characteristic root shape determined dog
guard hair. Underhair is not capable of exact taxonomic
determination due to an insufcient amount of identifcation
features.
Fibres were represented by sheep wool, cotton (twisted
ribbon) and a great deal of artifcial fbres (
e.g.
blue, red,
light green, dark blue, yellow,
etc.
). These modern fragments
come from the long period of excavation.
4.3 Parasitology
Despite the fact that we have used several diferent sample
preparation methods to increase the probability of parasite
detection, both microscopic and molecular analyses were
negative for the presence of parasites. In several samples
only pollen seeds were visible.
5. Discussion
The occurrence of osteophytic edges or bill-shaped osteophyts
encircling articular surfaces, Schmorl’s nodes on terminal
surfaces of vertebral bodies, traces of osteochondritis
dissecans, geodes in subchondral bones, eburnation of
articular surfaces, or their signifcant deformations, were
the main criteria to diagnose the degenerative changes on
the human skeletal remains from Prague-Zličín (Steinbock
1976; Aufderheide, Rodríguez-Martín 1998; Ortner 2003).
However, the interpretation of the results for these types of
joint diseases has been rather questionable. The origin of the
degenerative process is infuenced by a lot of factors: innate
genetic predispositions; age; sex; weight; nutrition; physical
load on the musculoskeletal system; natural conditions;
and overall health condition (Weiss, Jurmain 2007). The
progression of degenerative changes in elderly individuals is
a sign of the natural ageing of connective tissues (Dobisíková
1999). Therefore, as evidence the only true fndings of this
disease are such conditions where the detected pathological
changes do not correspond to the relevant age category
(Rejholec 1982). The chronic impairment of joints,
however, does not allow an accurate borderline between
standard and pathological changes to be determined (Ortner,
Putschar 1985). In the case of individuals under forty, mild
impairments of joints have been regarded as pathological
while only a more serious degree of degenerative change
have been regarded as a disease of the elderly during the
skeletal remains analysis. Nevertheless, we are aware of a
certain inaccuracy in the determination of fnal diagnoses
because the current medical practice shows that the overall
clinical picture (movement disorders, painfulness,
etc.
)
does not always correspond to the degree of the manifested
Figure 16.
A) Human hair. Transversal hair shaft split, medulla in the centre
of the hair. B) Human hair. Transversal hair shaft split (SEM). Photo by
Tomáš Kmječ.
Figure 17.
Human hair. Stuck deposits of inorganic material on the hair
(SEM). Photo by Tomáš Kmječ.
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Lenka Vargová, Ladislava Horáčková, Marcela Horáková, Hana Eliášová, Eva Myšková, Oleg Ditrich: Paleopathological, Trichological
and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
27
morphological changes – the latter being, of course, the
only possible criteria of evaluation in paleopathological
studies. The value of the paleopathological analysis of the
osteological fndings from Prague-Zličín was signifcantly
limited by the considerably damaged state of the human
skeletal remains, as stated by Víšková
et al.
(2012). For this
reason, no statistical methods, such as those recommended by
Nikita
et al.
(2013), could be used to assess the degenerative
changes. The accurate prevalence and distribution of
spondylosis and arthrosis, as, for example, that recorded in
the study of Waldron (1991), could not be determined here
in the case of this analysed population sample. Because
of the small number of bones that could be evaluated, the
degenerative changes were not used as a physical load
indicator – as, for example, carried out by Jurmain (1977;
1991), Beňuš, Masnicová (2001), and Woo, Sciulli (2013).
To evaluate this type of fnding, a generally-recognised
uniform way of classifcation has not yet been introduced
in paleopathology; therefore, it is difcult to compare the
study results with other human skeletal collections in central
Europe,
e.g.
those of the Neolithic era (Crubézy
et al.
2002),
Slavic burial sites (Stloukal, Vyhnánek 1976; Kalová 2012),
and modern cemeteries (Vargová, Horáčková 2005; Vargová
et al.
2013). Despite all these difculties, the analysis of
human skeletal remains from Prague-Zličín may contribute
to diachronic development of arthrosis and spondylosis in
historical European populations.
Furthermore, spondylolysis is commonly detected in
human skeletal collections. It is a unilateral or bilateral
aperture-shaped interruption of the vertebral arch, most
frequently between the upper and lower articular processes.
The frequency of occurrence of spondylolysis in a population
is estimated to be at 4–8% (Aufdeheide, Rodríguez-
Martín 1998). Two such cases were detected on the human
skeletal remains from Prague-Zličín (graves 1597/163 and
591/63) which equals 3.7% (n=53 individuals). This value
corresponds with the existing fndings on the frequency of
spondylolysis in the European population and approximates
to the prevalent value of 4.8%, as Fibiger, Knüsel (2005)
described on a skeletal collection from the 5
th
–6
th
centuries
in Eccles, England. Nathan (1959) regards the range of
values of spondylolysis occurrence in various populations
to be the result of diferent predisposition factors, which
are genetically coded, and whose degree of manifestation
depends on local conditions. Žižka (1994) claims that the
defects of vertebral arches may be one of the symptoms of
Figure 18.
Composition of crust. Photo by
Tomáš Kmječ.
Figure 19.
Composition of the crust on
the hair surface and composition of the soil
(relative to the same volume of silicon).
Photo by Tomáš Kmječ.
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Lenka Vargová, Ladislava Horáčková, Marcela Horáková, Hana Eliášová, Eva Myšková, Oleg Ditrich: Paleopathological, Trichological
and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
28
genetically-determined syndromes, such as chondrodysplasia
punctata, Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, Klippel-Feil syndrome,
and others. In addition to congenital developmental disorders,
innate predispositions for the activation of spondylolysis by
external factors must be taken into account. Such importance
is further supported by the gradually increasing incidence of
this disorder in children and adolescents (Fredrickson
et al.
1984; Tsirikos, Garrido 2010); an increase has also been
detected in adults (Kalichman
et al.
2009). In most cases,
acquired spondylolysis is regarded as a fatigue fracture
caused by repeatedly overloading the spine (more accurately
pseudoarthrosis) which would logically correspond to its
occurrence in the functionally-strained part of the spine.
A direct one-time traumatic event rarely occurs (Wiltse
et al.
1975). The human skeletal remains from Prague-
Zličín included a female skeleton (grave 1597/163) where
spondylolysis was accompanied by a prolapse of an
intervertebral disc, which made it impossible to diferentiate
between congenital and traumatic origin. A rib fracture was
detected on a male skeleton (grave 591/63) in addition to
spondylolysis); therefore polytrauma was contemplated with
respect to aetiology.
A healed cut-wound on a male skull from grave 1509/131
was one of the most severe injuries within the analysed
collection. It was a typical anthropogenic injury inficted
by a right-handed attacker. Based on the angle from which
the cutting weapon struck the individual, one could estimate
that the attacker was of similar height to that of the victim.
All attributes of the slash wound that could be evaluated, as
drawn up by Lewis (2008), were taken into account when
determining the type of weapon. A great force was used for
the slash which was performed with a heavy and sharp tool,
perhaps a sword or an axe. However, no cutting weapons
were discovered at the Prague-Zličín burial site (Vávra
et al.
2009) and so the type of tool can only be speculated
on. Similarly, the method of medical treatment of the injury
was ambiguous, because the lateral edge of the defect was
severely damaged. Assuming that the cutting weapon struck
at an oblique angle, its edge should have been dull or lobe-
shaped. But the surviving section of the lateral edge is straight
and the bone thickness is the same as on the opposite side:
this indicates that the wound was cleansed. Yet, it cannot be
afrmed whether only bone fragments were removed or a
“false” trepanation was carried out because no trace of any
trepanation tools were observed.
In addition, the fracture of a distal end of the left ulna
diaphysis (“parry fracture”) sufered by a man from
grave 1573/154 was also considered to be an anthropogenic
injury. All the other traumatic changes were evaluated as
random injuries sufered during everyday life. Similar types
of injuries also occur in the present population (Pokorný
et al.
2002).
Infammatory changes were another group of diseases
which left traces on the human skeletal remains. Nearly a
third were of an odontogenic nature and most likely caused
by an infection spreading into the surrounding tissues from
a tooth root canal that has been afected by deep caries or
that has irritated the attachment apparatus by the hardened
dental calculus. They included chronic parodontitis
and infammation inside the maxillary sinus. Traces of
parodontitis were detected in four cases (5.5%; n=73).
Furthermore, scurvy has always been considered when
this type of disease has occurred. However, the absence
of ossifcated subperiosteal hematomas on the postcranial
skeletons excluded vitamin C defciency as a factor.
Two cases of maxillary sinusitis, which evidently resulted
from a tooth cavity that had been left untreated, were also
classifed among infammatory changes of an odontogenic
origin. The total frequency of maxillary sinusitis, however,
was surprisingly low in the studied skeletal collection (1.7%;
n=117). Roberts (2007) observed the occurrence of maxillary
sinusitis in seven populations from diferent periods (the
earliest from AD 1500–1600 and the latest from the 18
th
–
19
th
centuries) which lived in diferent social-economic
conditions. The frequency of occurrence ranged from 17.2
to 51.5%. The researcher primarily focused on air quality in
the observed localities because in her view, the spreading of
infection from the nasal cavity during the infammation of
the upper respiratory tract is the main cause of this disease.
Nevertheless, the extremely low occurrence of maxillary
sinusitis in the sample of the population from Prague-Zličín
indicates that unpolluted air is not the only infuence. The
signifcant damage of the skeletal collection is probably the
main factor: as most maxillae found were incomplete – and
fragments of bones with pathological changes need not have
survived.
Two cases of tuberculosis, representing 1.8% (n=113) of
the group, belonged to the most interesting fndings associated
with infammatory diseases. Proceeding from current clinical
practice, where bones and joints of about 5% of people
sufering from tuberculosis are afected (Steinbock 1976;
Aufderheide, Rodríguez-Martín 1998), this mathematical
refection may be used to estimate the total percentage of
tuberculosis. From this point of view, the two skeletons
with tuberculosis changes could theoretically correspond
to 40 individuals afected by tuberculosis, which represents
about 35.5% of the entire analysed collection (n=113).
However, even this method of calculating tuberculosis
frequency does not provide an accurate picture of the disease
in the studied population because of the poor preservation of
the osteological collection. The true occurrence of this feared
disease was most likely slightly higher. Thus far, Holloway
et al.
(2011) have recorded 531 diagnosed paleopathological
fndings of tuberculosis from 221 localities around the
world (dated from BC 7250 to AD 1899). The cases of
bone tuberculosis from Prague-Zličín will enrich this vast
collection by two more cases during the Migration Period.
In addition to infammatory changes, our researchers
examined for neoplastic diseases. Only benign tumours
were detected; however, this fact cannot be interpreted as
an absolute absence of malign bone tumours or carcinogen
infuences because of the fragmentary condition of the
skeletons. The sporadic occurrence of
cribra orbitalia
,
frontal internal hyperostosis, and biparietal thinning is most
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and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
29
likely caused by the fragmentary skeletal remains; therefore,
it is very difcult to compare the data with better-preserved
collections.
The abnormal connection of the heel and navicular bone
(calcaneonavicular coalition) of the woman from grave 530/19
was among the most interesting paleopathological fndings
of the analysed skeletal collection. The tarsal coalition is
an innate genetically-determined disorder which is caused
by a malfunction of segmentation and diferentiation of
the primitive mesenchyme during embryogenesis (Kulik,
Clanton 1996). It is an abnormal connection of two or more
tarsal bones with connective tissue; most often it is a tissue-
cartilage synarthrosis, less often a synostosis.
The tarsal coalition may result in a spasm, via the pressing
on the fbular muscles, and cause a spastic fat foot or even
a rigid fat foot to result in a painful foot, heel valgosity, and
limited mobility of the subtalar joint (Dungl
et al.
2005).
The total frequency of tarsal coalitions difers from one
population to another. Recent clinical research estimates
their frequency at 1–2% (Case, Burnett 2012) while cadaver
studies usually record a higher occurrence; for example
Rühli
et al.
(2003) presented the overall prevalence of tarsal
coalitions as 13.0% and of calcaneonavicular coalitions
as 7.0%. Case and Burnett (2012) based the cause for
these diferences to be the examination methods and the
character of the analysed sample. Current clinical studies
usually determine the prevalence of tarsal coalitions based
on radiological examinations of patients sufering from
foot pain; therefore only cases of fbular spastic fat foot are
being detected while the asymptomatic coalitions remain
uncovered (Leonard 1974).
In case of genetically-determined defects, such as tarsal
coalitions, the frequency of their occurrence is strongly
infuenced by family relationships, as evidenced by Leonard
(1974). Case and Burnett (2012) recorded geographical
diferences in the occurrence of types and frequencies
of tarsal coalitions. The calcaneonavicular coalition was
most frequent in the samples from European populations:
the frequency in the Medieval Danish population equalled
2.2%, while South Africans showed only a sporadic
occurrence (0.2%). The occurrence of tarsal coalitions in
most studies was not infuenced by sexual dimorphism (
e.g.
Leonard 1974; Rühli
et al.
2003; Case, Burnett 2012) and
statistically-important diferences between unilateral and
bilateral occurrences were not detected (
e.g.
Kulik, Clanton
1996; Cooperman
et al.
2001).
In paleopathological studies, calcaneonavicular coalitions
have been researched and described by Angel (1971), Stloukal
and Vyhnánek (1976), Dastugue and Metz (1977), Cooperman
et al.
(2001), Silva (2005; 2010; 2011), Darton (2007),
Dinwiddy (2009), Silva and Silva (2010) and Case and Burnett
(2012). Most of them were case studies; only Cooperman
et al.
(2001) and Case and Burnett (2012) recorded the frequency of
tarsal coalition in whole skeletal collections. In their studies,
the frequency ranged from 0.2% to 2.2%.
The calcaneus or navicular bones of only 43 individuals
could be researched from the skeletal remains of Prague-
Zličín, where the single case of unilateral calcaneonavicular
coalition represented a total frequency of 2.3%. The result
corresponds fully to the data presented by similar analyses in
other European localities.
Comparisions with other skeletal series (Horb-Altheim,
Munich-Perlach) bring some difculties: authors are focused
on diferent skeletal markers and the bone preservation
of the Prague-Zličín population is very poor (no skeletal
material from almost one half of all individuals). However,
some interesting data can be mentioned. Horb-Altheim
includes a total of 75 individuals, the collection composed
of 26 males, 36 females and 12 adolescents (6 boys, 6 girls)
and one undetermined infant (Obertová 2008). The Munich-
Perlach population consists of 32 individuals, 18 females
(10 certain females, 8 probably females), 11 males (8 certain,
3 probably), 3 undetermined individuals; 8 individuals from
the total are infants (Zintl, von Heyking 2016).
In the Horb-Altheim population the same patterns in
degenerative joint diseases were discovered. The frequency
of degenerative changes was also quite high, the most
frequently afected areas being the lumbar vertebra and hip
joints. The authors recorded signifcant diferences between
the right and left elbow being afected (the right elbow was
afected more) and also signifcant diferences between male
and female hip bones being afected (male hip bones afected
more). Traumas were more frequently observed in the Horb-
Altheim population than at Prague-Zličín. At Horb-Altheim,
42.3% males and 13.9% females were afected, whereas at
Prague-Zličín only 8.8% of all individuals were afected. The
diference between Horb-Altheim individuals was signifcant,
whereas at Zličín such a diference between sexes could not
be observed, due to the state of the bone material (as stated
above). At Horb-Altheim, the tibia was the most afected bone
(66.7%); other infammatory changes were observed on the
skull (
cribra
orbitalia
, porotic hyperostosis). Out of a total
sample of 61 skulls at Horb-Altheim, 19 individuals sufered
from
cribra orbitalia
(31.1%). At Munich-Perlach, 46.4%
(13 out of 28) individuals were afected by
cribra orbitalia.
This is also quite a big diference from the Zličín population
(7.1%); but, at Zličín, only 28 (out of 113) individuals with
preserved orbits were available. Dental enamel hypoplasia
was detected in many individuals within all the mentioned
localities, with a similar frequency: at Prague-Zličín it was
47.5% (Jarošová 2016), at Horb-Altheim 55%, at Munich-
Perlach 44% of individuals.
There exist a lot of records of intestinal parasites, both
multicellular and unicellular, from archaeological sites;
however, they are mostly faecal in origin from cesspits,
wells,
etc.
(Bartošová
et al.
2011; Fernandes
et al.
2005;
Florenzano
et al.
2012; Myšková
et al.
2014; Rocha da
et al.
2006; Yeh
et al.
2014). The main problem of this material
lies in the fact that, despite the parasites being found, they
cannot be directly assigned to a specifc host. In the case of
coprolites we are able to connect the parasitofauna with one
individual; however, the origin of this material is also not
always clear. The most reliable connection is the fnding of
a parasite in human or animal remains. There are records
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and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín
30
of parasites in mummies and other well preserved human
remains (Cockburn
et al.
1975; David 1997; Oeggl 2009;
Seo
et al.
2014; Shin
et al.
2011; Horne 2002; Sianto
et al.
2005; Wei 1973), but for skeletal graves there exist very few
records (Dittmar, Teegen 2003; Jaeger
et al.
2013; Mitchell
et al.
2013).
Despite the high sensitivity methods that are used
nowadays, it is not very common to recover parasitic DNA
and the parasites themselves in archaeological material.
Failure to prove parasites present in the archaeological
material does not necessarily mean that the material had
not contained parasites, due to the risk of degradation in
this material being very high. A lot of factors must combine
successfully for there to be preservation of parasitological
material in archaeological samples. Factors thought to
have an infuence on the preservation of parasites and their
DNA in samples are mainly age and origin of the samples
(graves-skeletal, mummies, cesspits, soil,
etc.
), handling of
material during the excavation on the archaeological site and
subsequent storage of samples.
In the case of parasitological grave material we were
confronted with many difculties. The environment (soil
composition) in which the remains were found could itself be
a problem. The soil was very sandy and permeable and could
contribute to degradation. The long period of time for this
excavation (nearly 7 years, due to fnancial reasons) and then
the long period of storage could have dried out the samples
and DNA persistence been degraded. The lack of intestinal
parasites could also be due to general decomposition
processes after the death of individuals. Soil processes could
also play a role, for example:
leaching, lower pH conditions,
and the decomposition of humic acids and of other organic
compounds in the dominantly-sandy sediments.
6. Conclusion
What can we say about the state of health of the Vinařice
people? Signs of the majority of common diseases were
found on the analysed skeletal remains. Joint diseases were
the most numerous pathological changes detected in the
collection. Their frequency and spectre is comparable to the
present-day population and gives no evidence of abnormal
physical loads on the studied population sample. Most of
the detected traumatic changes correspond with random
injuries received during normal everyday routine. With one
exception, no traces of injuries typical of war periods were
discovered on the analysed bones. Likewise, no increase
in the total number of metabolic disease manifestations
(mainly
cribra orbitalia
) was found; such increases usually
being associated with famines (Steinbock 1976). No sex
or age diferences in female and male morbidity were
found. Unfortunately, we could not perform any statistical
evaluation, due to nearly half of all buried individuals being
unavailable for examination. It is possible that missing
skeletons, predominantly of children, could have changed
the overall evaluation results. Such typical signs for the
Migration Period as deformed skulls were also not found.
But only fve complete skulls were preserved, so artifcial
deformities were not observable.
It would seem possible to fnd ancient human hairs, if the
grave conditions should be suitable. Such specifc conditions,
allowing the preservation of organic material and also hairs,
were found in two graves from Prague-Zličín. On these hairs
we could observe mechanic, chemical and organical damage,
but fnd no signs of ectoparasites.
Highly-sensitive molecular methods seem to be inefcient
in dealing with old and inappropriately-stored soil samples.
Abiding by the conditions for handling and storing samples
will be important for this type of analysis in the future.
The poor state of bone preservation has not allowed
the health status of the buried people to be described in
detail, but the data obtained has shown some trends. The
low proportions of traumas or infammatory changes may
indicate a population enjoying a quite peaceful period and a
rich quality diet. This would lead to a robust fgure and quite
high body stature, but increased caries intensity. As a major
problem it seems to be the stress in childhood that caused
the common occurrence of enamel hypoplasia. Perhaps
these bad living conditions improved once these individuals
reached maturity.
Up to the present time, the paleopathological, trichological
and parasitological analyses of human skeletal and hair
remains from Prague-Zličín stand as a unique, comprehensive
study of the health condition of the Vinařice cultural group of
Germanic populations from the early stage of the Migration
Period (5
th
century) in the Czech Republic.
Acknowledgement
This project has been funded with the support from the
Czech Science Foundation, grant number P405/13-18955S.
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