engleski

Subadult stress in the Medieval Korlat site from Croatia

Korlat is a mediaeval site situated in south Croatia. Bioarchaeological analyses were carried out on 47 skeletons (13 males, 3 females and 31 subadults). The average age at death for males is 41.6 years and for females 37.0 years. This analysis focuses on markers of subadult stress - cribra orbitalia (CO) and linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH), as well as on non-specific periostitis which frequently accompanies these pathological conditions. Only adults were analysed for the presence of LEH as only 3 subadults had permanent teeth. In subadults CO is present in 85.0% (17/20) of frontal bones with both orbits preserved, with 35.3% (6/17) of the lesions active at time of death. In adults, the lesions have a frequency of 50.0% with all of the lesions completely healed. In subadults non-specific periostitis is present in 55.0% (11/20) of well preserved skeletons (50% or more), with 36.4% (4/11) of lesions active at time of death. No periostal lesions are present in adults. The total frequency of LEH on all analysed teeth in adults (maxillary central incisors, maxillary and mandibular canines) is 42.3% (11/26). Comparisons with a large (n=146) mediaeval series from the same area (Koprivno) show similar frequencies of skeletal markers of subadult stress suggesting uniformly poor life conditions and low health standards in mediaeval Croatia.

subadult stress; Mediaeval; Korlat

nije evidentirano