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1
SITE CODE GDV96
Palaeopathology
PBR
_____________________________________________________________________
Osteologist: R.N.R. Mikulski
Date: 12/05/2005
150
_____________________________________________________________________
Context
Summary: GDV96 150 represents a subadult individual with an age-at-death of
approximately 7 years, exhibiting a classic case of healed rickets. Defects in the
molar teeth enamel are present and may be related to the period of ill-health due
to rickets. If the severe enamel hypoplasia observed in the permanent canine
crowns is linked to the rickets, then this would place the period of vitamin D
deficiency/ill-health at between 3 and 5 years of age.
Cranial:
There is an area of marked pitting to the right parietal in the region just lateral to the
right lambdoid suture and superior to asterion – it’s possible this may simply be postmortem change. The left parietal also exhibits some pitting to the region of the left
parietal boss, though this is different to that seen in the right side: the pits are larger
and more spaced out – again it’s possible this could be post-mortem. The broken
sections of both parietals show them to be considerably thickened in the region of the
parietal bosses, which seems unusual for a child of this age.
Both the coronoid processes of the mandible appear thickened and the mandibular
condyles appear to be angled more inwards than would normally be the case.
The majority of molars present, deciduous and permanent, exhibit distinctive pits or
enamel failures to the occlusal surfaces. Large pits are observed in the extant
deciduous molars, whilst smaller pits are found in the permanent molars (particularly
evident in the right 1st mandibular molar). The extant permanent mandibular canines
exhibit severe enamel hypoplasia with ridging evident just above the necks.
Postcranial:
Both scapulae exhibit marked change to the morphology of the glenoid cavity, with
the superior portions warped anteriorly by approximately 30-40 degrees and slightly
medially (particularly evident in the left scapula).
Clavicles: The lateral ends of both clavicles appear quite flattened, with that of the
right clavicle also appearing splayed anteriorly.
Humeri: There is slight bilateral bowing in the humeri, with midshafts bowed
outwards laterally and anteriorly, while the distal ends appear bent slightly medially.
Ulnae: The proximal ulnae do appear thickened but there is no obvious evidence for a
sharp bend, which is seen as characteristic of rickets.
Pathology Codes
congenital
infection
joints
trauma
metabolic
511
endocrine
neoplastic
circulatory
other
1055
2
SITE CODE GDV96
Palaeopathology
PBR
_____________________________________________________________________
Osteologist: R.N.R. Mikulski
Date: 12/05/2005
150
_____________________________________________________________________
Context
Femora: There is bilateral bowing in the femurs, though this is much more
pronounced in the right femur where there is a definite sharp bend in the proximal
femoral shaft, with the shaft bowed anteriorly and laterally. The bowing in the left
femur is more subtle and seems to be more towards the midshaft.
In both femurs, the unfused femoral neck region appears very flattened, with the neck
angle being very acute, almost at a right angle to the femoral shafts themselves.
Tibiae: There is bilateral bowing in the tibiae. The bowing is relatively symmetrical
and appears focussed on the midshafts, with the midshafts warped slightly medially
and anteriorly. The proximal ends appear displaced laterally while the distal ends are
more towards the posterior.
Fibulae: There is marked bilateral bowing in the fibulae. Again, the bowing is
symmetrical, occurring at the midshaft, where there is a sharp bend and bulging of the
shaft at the apex of the bend.
Pathology Codes
congenital
infection
joints
trauma
metabolic
511
endocrine
neoplastic
circulatory
other
1055