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Subadult stress in Early Modern Period (16th-18th century) skeletal sample from Koprivno – Kod križa near Klis, southern Croatia

The village of Koprivno is situated north-eastern of the fortress Klis, 13 km north of Split in southern Croatia. The graveyard consisted of 97 graves containing from one to six individuals located near a large undecorated slab-shaped tombstone surmounted with a large stone cross (Kod križa). Grave goods (needles, clothing buckles, buttons and coins) date the use of this graveyard between the 16th and 18th century AD. Bioarchaeological analysis was carried out on 146 skeletons (33 females, 27 males and 86 subadults). The average age at death for males is 47.1 years and for females 42.2 years. All skeletons were analysed for the presence of subadult stress markers: linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) and cribra orbitalia, and additionally, for the presence of the non-specific periostitis. A total of 154 permanent teeth (maxillary central incisors, maxillary and mandibular canines) were analysed for the presence of LEH. LEH was observed in 55.8% of all analysed teeth with a somewhat higher frequency in males than in females. Analysis of cribra orbitalia was carried out on 128 frontal bones with intact orbital roofs. The total frequency of cribra orbitalia in Koprivno is 32.8% (43.2% in subadults and 18.5% in adults with a statistically higher frequency in females than in males). Periostitis among adults in Koprivno is very rare (four cases) and primarily resulted from complications related to traumas. The frequency of periostitis among subadults is, on the contrary, very high: 79.7% of well preserved subadult skeletons exhibit signs of periostitis. A positive correlation (P=0.018) between cribra orbitalia and periositis in Koprivno was established. The frequencies and distribution of subadult stress markers in other Late Mediaeval and Early Modern Period skeletal samples from Croatia are very similar to those observed in Koprivno. The presented data suggests poor life conditions and exceptionally low health standard, probably resulting from the synergistic effects caused by iron deficiency anaemia, infectious diseases, inadequate nutrition and parasitic infections.

Subadult stress; Early Modern Period; Koprivno - Kod križa; cribra orbitalia; linear enamel hypoplasia; periostitis

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