Ana Luisa Santos

Sex estimation in non-adult skeletons is crucial in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. It was not extensively considered in the past, mainly because it was stated that the dimorphic osteological features were difficult to identify before adulthood. Over the past few years, this statement was disproved, and the study of numerous dimorphic non-adult skeletal traits was approached. This paper presents a new methodology that evaluates the auricular surface of the non-adult ilia. Several morphological and continuous variables were recorded for 34 individuals (21 females and 13 males) aged between 7 and 18 from the Coimbra Identified Skeletons Collection (University of Coimbra, Portugal). The results show low intra and inter-observer errors for all the variables, which renders the methodology replicable. Two ratios related to the shape of the anterior area of the auricular surface offer the most dimorphic data (proportions of cases correctly assigned: 0.82 and 0.88; sexual allocation probabilities: 0.85 for both variables). A discriminant function and a logistic regression were developed, which correctly classified the 82.35 and the 88.23% of the individuals, respectively. Moreover, two qualitative variables, referred to as the overall morphology and the apex morphology, also show statistically significant differences between males and females (proportions of correct assignation: 0.82 and 0.76; sexual allocation probabilities: 0.79 and 0.76). These variables can be incorporated in a multifactorial approach together with other indicators already available in the specialised literature in order to help improve the accuracy of the results obtained. This methodological procedure has to be applied with other identified samples, including younger individuals, so as to test whether the trends presented in this context are maintained and are useful in populations from a different geographical provenience.

A escavação arqueológica de emergência realizada em 2008, no Largo da Igreja de Sarilhos Grandes (Montijo), no âmbito de uma empreitada do Grupo Águas de Portugal (SIMARSUL), permitiu identificar, no adro da Igreja de São Jorge, vinte e três enterramentos e seis ossários.
No decurso da escavação arqueológica a equipa de antropologia realizou a recolha de amostras de sedimento com o objetivo de submetê-los a uma análise paleoparasitológica, paleopatológica e de paleodieta. Essas análises permitiram identificar nos enterramentos nº8, 9, 13 e 22 parasitas que ainda não haviam sido encontrados em material arqueológico na Europa, bem como vestígios alimentares como amido de batata e arroz. Em curso encontra-se a pesquisa das paleodietas por análises de isótopos e do cálculo dentário.
As análises isotópicas de δ13C e δ15N desenvolvidas em quatro indivíduos sugerem uma dieta principalmente de origem terrestre, com uma contribuição variável de proteínas animais procedentes de organismos marinhos (entre 30% e 43% do carbono presente no colagénio).
As datações por AMS de alguns dos indivíduos corroboram a hipótese da população de Sarilhos Grandes ter estado em contato ou mesmo ter participado diretamente nas primeiras expedições ao continente americano. Sarilhos Grandes foi nos alvores da Modernidade e em época Moderna uma povoação vocacionada para o mar. São reconhecidas referências para a participação de montijences nas primeiras expedições na América do Sul. Os resultados da datação e da paleodieta indiciam que o consumo de batata foi introduzido em Portugal em data mais antiga do que estava documentado até agora. A análise em curso do tártaro dentário fornecerá novos dados que contribuirão para um melhor entendimento desta hipótese.

Differentiating between medical procedures performed antemortem, perimortem or postmortem in skeletal remains can be a major challenge. This work aims to present evidence of procedures to treat rhinosinusitis (RS) and mastoiditis, suggest criteria for the diagnosis of frontal sinus disease, and frame the individuals described in their medical historical context. In the International Exchange collection, the
skull (878) of a 24-year-old male, who died in 1933 due to frontal sinusitis and meningitis, presents evidence of a trepanation above the right frontonasal suture, and micro/macroporosity on the superciliary
arches. The available Coimbra University Hospitals archives (1913–1939) reported that 46 females and 59 males (aged 15 months–84 y.o., x=35.33) underwent surgery to treat RS, primarily by trepanation
(94.3%). In a search for similar evidence in the collection, the skull of a 42-year-old female (85), who died in 1927 due to sarcoma in the abdomen, shows four quadrangular holes located above the right supraorbital notch, right and left maxilla, and left mastoid process. The number/location of the holes and cut marks point to postmortem medical training (possible dissection). This paper discusses the value of information from historical contexts to differentiate between surgery and medical training in the paleopathological record.

Results of the archaeological and anthropological research on the necropolis of the castle of Viana do Alentejo (Évora). The castle was built at the end of the 15th/beginning of the 16th century and is considered to be the one of the finest examples of the “Manueline” architectural style in the south of Portugal.
Sixteen skeletons and the remains of at least other eight individuals were dug out. They had been buried there during the 15th and 16th centuries, when the town´s Mother Church and the church of Misericórdia were built inside the castle. It was possible to establish not only burial practices at the time, but also the genre, age, height and discreet characteristics of that population.

Resultados da investigação arqueológica e antropológica da necrópole do castelo da vila de Viana do Alentejo (Évora), erigido entre o final do séc. XV e o início do séc. XVI e considerado um dos melhores exemplos do estilo “manuelino” no Sul de Portugal.
Foram exumados 16 esqueletos em articulação e as ossadas de, pelo menos, outros oito indivíduos, aqui depositados nos sécs. XV-XVI, quando se construíram no interior do castelo a Igreja Matriz da vila e a Igreja da Misericórdia. Para além das práticas funerárias da época, avaliaram-se os sexos e as faixas etárias, a estatura e os caracteres discretos da população representada.

Calcification, or mineralisation, can occur as part of a natural process, or by pathological processes. The purpose of this work is to examine an unidentified semi-spherical and perforate hollow mass, found near the pelvis of an adult female, dated 12th–13th century AD, exhumed of the Church of Santo Domingo de Silos (Prádena del Ricón, Madrid, Spain).
The mass was examined by SEM and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy. These procedures revealed a heterogeneous inner surface with both smooth and irregular areas. A larger spherical and several smaller crescent-shaped perforations were noticed. X-ray microanalysis revealed the presence of the elements C, K, P, Ca, Al, Si, Fe, and Mg. The co-localisation of Ca and P suggests that they may be combined in a mineral matrix, likely formed in vivo. Other minerals probably came from the soil, although Fe could be related to the presence of blood. The macroscopic and microscopic appearances, chemical composition, and location of the calcified mass point to a possible hydatid cyst from Echinococcus granulosus, common in agricultural populations.
This study used a suite of analytical techniques that are useful in the diagnosis of unknown calcified masses and can, therefore, be recommended for use in future analytical work.

The period of European maritime expansion that started in the fifteenth century had a great impact on trading, on human migrations and consequently in the dispersion of infectious diseases. Portugal was at the core of this expansion; however, studies about parasitic infections, especially helminths, are lacking. This study aims to help reduce this gap presenting the results of microscopic analysis of soil sediments collected from the São Jorge churchyard of Sarilhos Grandes (Montijo). Consecrated in the fourteenth century AD, it remained as a burial ground until the nineteenth century. Soil samples collected from the pelvic girdle of five adult individuals and samples taken as control were analysed under the microscope after current conventional methodological procedures were undertaken. Eggs from Ascaris lumbricoides were identified. Also eggs of trichostrongyle type species were identified in two individuals and may represent the first report in archaeological European samples. Food remains include potato and rice starches, muscle fibres, bivalves, pollen grains and fungi spores. The stratigraphy interpretation together with potato findings put the oldest skeletons to a chronology around the sixteenth century AD. These results are consistent with historical sources that documented the prominence of Tagus river nearby villages in maritime expansion.

Iconographic representation of humans is an important source of evidence for paleopathologists. This is particularly so in acknowledging sociocultural practices in past and/or extinct populations. The aim of this work is to report images of body modifications and cases of paleopathological interest represented in the iconography recovered during the ‘Philosophical Travel’ to the Brazilian Amazonia, led by the naturalist Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira (ARF) between 1783 and 1792. Watercolors executed by the official expedition illustrators have been selected from the surviving archive. These portray individuals with their artefacts, clearly exhibiting cranial, facial and thoracic modifications, performed by groups such as the Tanarana, Cambeba, Jurupixuna, Mauá, Miranha, Caripúna and Uariquena. ARF also recorded the procedures and underlying cultural significance of these practices. The unequivocal pathological cases represented include a “male dwarf” [sic], and a Catauixi woman with dermatological lesions on her body. The author described with some details this skin condition and considered various possible diagnoses (e.g. vitiligo, scabies or leprosy). He also questioned whether these were hereditary or environmental in origin. This study considers the documentary evidence in the context of modern paleopathological inquiry, contributing to our understanding of cultural practices and diseases affecting the Amazonian inhabitants during the 18th century.

The invention of the microscope revolutionized the course of human knowledge. This instrument changed the
face of science and of previous beliefs, expanded the horizons of knowledge, and challenged philosophical and scientific
thought, especially in the field of natural sciences and medicine. In the domain of bioarchaeology, the introduction of
histological techniques was important; not only to identify body tissues and to diagnose diseases in mummified remains, but
also to understand bone and teeth microstructure, and associated patterns of response to environmental constraints. In this
paper a critical review of the major contributions of histology to the growing body of knowledge in paleopathology and
bioarchaeology will be presented, focusing on the current multiple applications of microscopy, its limitations, and its future
challenges.

A Paleoparasitologia pesquisa evidências de endo e ectoparasitas que auxiliam na identificação de patologias e migrações. O sucesso destas análises é influenciado pela forma como são recolhidos os vestígios, pelo que este manual tem como objetivo orientar a recolha de amostras para estudos de parasitas e de vestígios alimentares em materiais antigos. Tem como público-alvo antropólogos, arqueólogos, paleontólogos e demais profissionais que realizam escavações e/ou gerem coleções museológicas. Fornece informações sobre a recolha de coprólitos e sedimentos em enterramentos humanos e de outros animais, em estruturas para despejo de dejetos e esqueletos depositados em coleções. Orienta o investigador para evitar contaminação e como armazenar corretamente as amostras. A estreita colaboração entre os procedimentos de amostragem e o estudo laboratorial permitirá ampliar o conhecimento sobre as condições de vida no passado.

Among the many factors suggested as potential sources of variation in the rate of ageing of the pubic symphysis is occupational/physical activity, but this has yet to be demonstrated. This study's main goal is to determine whether occupational/physical activity influences the aging process in the pubic symphysis. We analyzed a sample of 161 males (18–96 years) from two Portuguese identified skeletal collections, where age-related features were recorded in the pubic symphysis as absent/present. The sample was divided in two groups according to the occupation of the individuals (manual and non-manual) and in two groups according to the femoral robusticity index (robust and gracile). The manual and robust groups represent individuals with more physically demanding occupations while the non-manual and gracile groups represent less physically demanding occupations. The possible influence of occupational/physical activity on the rate of ageing was evaluated by comparing the transition age for each age-related feature, between the two groups, using logistic regression. Only the ligamentous outgrowths on the ventral beveling showed a statistically significant younger age in the robust group, indicating a possible faster rate or early timing of change in the individuals with a more physically demanding activity compared with their gracile counterparts. Thus, these results do not provide significant support to the hypothesis that individuals with a greater demanding occupation or physical activity show greater pubic symphysis degeneration. Further testing of this hypothesis in other samples with individuals from known occupation is required.

The possible association between entheseal changes and activity has been widely studied. However many questions remain. This study aims to assess if occupation and physical activity influences the age at which entheseal changes appear in the iliac crest, retroauricular area, iliac tuberosity, ischial tuberosity and obturator foramen. Absence or presence of ossification exostosis and stress lesions was recorded in os coxae from 130 males (19 to 88 years old) from Lisbon and Coimbra identified skeletal collections. The individuals were divided into two groups, based upon to the recorded occupations: manual (n = 69) and non-manual (n = 61). The sample was also divided according to an osteological indicator of physical activity: the femur robusticity index (55 are robust and 54 are gracile femora). The individuals from manual and robust groups were considered to have had physically demanding occupations, while the non-manual and gracile groups represent individuals with less demanding activities. The asymmetry of entheseal changes between left and right sides of the same individuals was tested with a Chi-square test. And the influence of occupation and physical activities on the age of appearance of entheseal changes were tested using logistic regression. Statistically significant asymmetry was not found between left and right bones (p <0.05). However, for the logistic regression calculations the only valid result was obtained for the ossification exostosis on the iliac crest for the measure of femoral robusticity. For the iliac crest, physical activity did not influence the appearance of ossification exostosis. It was not possible to obtain valid logistic regression models, probably due to the distribution of individuals in each occupational and robusticity category. Therefore it was not possible to assess the influence of occupation and physical activity on the age at which entheseal changes appeared for retroauricular area, iliac tuberosity, ischial tuberosity and obturator foramen.

Prostate carcinoma is a common malignant neoplasia that mostly metastasizes to bone in males. Nonetheless, the number of paleopathological cases reported is very small. Most of them were identified in Europe, and only two came from South American individuals. The purpose of this paper is to document the lesions identified in a Pre-Columbian (around 1400 AD) individual that corresponds to a middle adult male from Pukara de la Cueva, Jujuy province, in the Northwest region of Argentina. The skeleton was found disarticulated but it is nearly complete and well preserved. The general character of the lesions observed is predominantly proliferative in nature, but osteolytic and mixed patterns were also detected in both axial and appendicular skeleton. Macroscopically, this overall pattern and the distribution of the lesions are compatible with a secondary cancer. Radiological examination showed multiple dense and irregular areas in several bones. The lesions visible by external inspection and by radiographs are in concordance with changes which are documented to occur in the course of prostatic carcinoma. The exuberance and dissemination of the lesions all over the skeleton led infer individual cachexy implying that he would have been assisted by his family and/or social group during the chronic process. Different carcinogenic risk factors associated to this kind of disease are discussed. This analysis adds new evidence of Pre-Columbian carcinoma in South American native populations, as knowledge from clinical cases  is considered to delineate a differential diagnosis.

When bone is exposed to the burial environment it may experience structural changes induced by multiple agents. The study of postmortem alterations is important to differentiate decomposition phenomena fromnormalphysiologicalprocessesorpathologicallesions,aswellastoassessbonetissuequality.Microscopyis of great utility to evaluate the integrity of bone microstructure and it provides significant data on long-term bone decomposition. A total of 18 human bone sections (eight archeological and ten retrieved from an identified skeletal collection) were selected for analysis under plane light and polarized light. The aim of this exploratory study was to analyze the impact of diagenesis and taphonomy on the bone microstructure, as well as on the differentialdiagnosisofpathologicalconditions.Theresultsshowedthatthemicroscopyapproachtobonetissues contributed materially as an aid in the detailed description of the main diagenetic changes observed. It showed that gross inspection does not provide a realistic assessment of bone tissue preservation, which can impact in the characterization of lesions present and subsequent disease diagnosis. Therefore, researchers should continue to consider the application of histological techniques if the aim is to comprehend tissue integrity and its association with decomposition or disease.

The Workshop in Musculoskeletal Stress Markers (MSM): limitations and achievements in the reconstruction of past activity patterns, was held at the University of Coimbra, in Portugal (2nd – 3rd July 2009). The chief goal of the organizing committee was to provide a productive environment where researchers could discuss the methodologies and terminology employed for the study of MSM as well as assessing how well these enthesopathies serve as markers of occupational stress. The Workshop was organized in three major sessions, each one introduced by a keynote lecture: (1) Methodological issues; (2) MSM studies of archaeological samples and Identified Skeletal Collections; and (3) The multifactorial etiology of enthesopathies. The meeting was concluded with a Plenary Session where two annotators discussed the presentations; this was followed by a general discussion and the formation of three working groups focused on the topics of Methods, Terminology, and Occupations. Details of the Workshop and the presentations presented are available for download at http://www.uc.pt/en/cia/msm/. A blog (http:// coimbraworkshopmsm.blogspot. com/) was created to facilitate communications about individual experiences and to share knowledge among researchers in this field. We hope that this Workshop will help to standardize methodologies and terminology and promote the creation of a more integrated scientific approach to future studies of MSM.

Each society has cultural rules to deal with the death of its members, including the burial practices. This study aims to present and interpret the mortuary context associated with the human remains recovered at the so-called Jail Cleaning Yard of the Inquisition Court of Évora (1536-1821). Approximately 12% of the yard was excavated, an area of 20.75m2, which consisted of layers of sediment containing domestic waste. The sample under analysis consists of 12 adult individuals in articulation (3 male, 9 female) and a minimum of 16 individuals identified from a commingled context.  Funerary structures were absent and no grave goods were found. Moreover, the orientation and position of the body and limbs are variable. The archaeological and anthropological contexts, including the Inquisition individual historical records consulted, are consistent with individuals not reconciled with the Catholic faith. The manuscripts from the Inquisition allowed the identification of 87 prisoners who died during the period in which the dump had been in use (somewhere between 1568 and 1634), and attested that 11 (12.6%) of them were confirmed discarded in the dump, likely because they were charged of ‘Judaism, heresy and/or apostasy’. More than a penalty to the body, this was a punishment to the soul of the deceased. The specific context of this place, as well as all anthropological, archaeological and historical information helped to characterize these individuals as unburied dead, once a proper funeral had been denied to them.

Paleopathology includes the analysis of diseases in the past through a variety of sources of information including skeletonized and mummified remains, studies of microorganisms, historical and ethnographic documents and molecular analysis. From these studies, it is possible to explore the impact of diseases in human populations and understand its development in today´s world. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to the reconstruction of evolutionary scenarios of human health and its relationship with different cultural and biological factors.
As part of the schedule of meetings organized by the Paleopathology Association, the Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America (PAMinSA) was uninterruptedly carried out since 2005. Like the meetings organized in North America and Europe, the main objective of the South American Meetings is to facilitate interactions between specialists interested in paleopathology. This is a space that allows researchers and students from many regions to present their results and have contact with professionals from other countries of the continent and the world.
The previous five meetings strengthened and encouraged the development of the South American paleopathological research on local and regional scales. In this first tenth anniversary, PAMinSA VI provides an opportunity to consider the results achieved so far, and to propose new goals for the near future within the discipline.

La paleopatología comprende el análisis de las enfermedades en el pasado reciente y remoto a través de una variedad de fuentes de información que incluye restos esqueletizados y momificados, documentos histórico-etnográficos y análisis moleculares y de microorganismos. A partir de estos estudios es posible explorar el impacto de las enfermedades en las poblaciones humanas y comprender su desarrollo en la actualidad. A su vez, es factible contribuir en la reconstrucción de escenarios evolutivos de la salud humana y su relación con diferentes factores culturales y biológicos.
Como parte del cronograma de encuentros organizados por la Paleopathology Association, se realizan desde el año 2005 y en forma ininterrumpida los Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America (PAMinSA). Al igual que en los congresos que se desarrollan en América del Norte y Europa, el Congreso Sudamericano tiene como objetivo principal facilitar la interacción entre especialistas interesados en la paleopatología. Este es un espacio que cada dos años permite a investigadores y estudiantes de toda la región presentar sus producciones y contactarse con profesionales de otros países del continente y del mundo.
Los cinco encuentros previos han fortalecido y favorecido el desarrollo de las investigaciones paleopatológicas sudamericanas en escalas locales y regionales. En este primer décimo aniversario, el PAMinSA VI ofrece la oportunidad de reflexionar acerca de los resultados alcanzados hasta el momento y proponer nuevas metas para el futuro próximo dentro de la disciplina.

A Paleoparasitologia pesquisa evidências de endo e ectoparasitas que auxiliam na identificação de patologias e migrações. O sucesso destas análises é influenciado pela forma como são recolhidos os vestígios, pelo que este manual tem como objetivo orientar a recolha de amostras para estudos de parasitas e de vestígios alimentares em materiais antigos. Tem como público-alvo antropólogos, arqueólogos, paleontólogos e demais profissionais que realizam escavações e/ou gerem coleções museológicas. Fornece informações sobre a recolha de coprólitos e sedimentos em enterramentos humanos e de outros animais, em estruturas para despejo de dejetos e esqueletos depositados em coleções. Orienta o investigador para evitar contaminação e como armazenar corretamente as amostras. A estreita colaboração entre os procedimentos de amostragem e o estudo laboratorial permitirá ampliar o conhecimento sobre as condições de vida no passado.

ABSTRACT Osteomyelitis is a non-specific infection of bone and bone marrow. In the past acute osteomyelitis (AO) led to high mortality especially in non-adults. Nevertheless, its diagnosis in archaeological populations is rare. Documented individuals with known cause of death offer a unique opportunity to study this condition. This paper aims to describe the bone lesions in non-adults diagnosed with AO at the Coimbra University Hospital (CUH) and now belonging to the Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection (CISC). Moreover, mortality ...

The paleopathological record of neoplastic conditions in the past is considered scarce. The detection of tumours in ancient populations is hindered by the quality and quantity of signs visible on the skeleton, the methodological approach, the preservation of remains, and by difficulties of differential diagnosis. The aims of this paper are to report the extensive and multiple osteolytic lesions observed in an adult male and to discuss the possible etiology of these lesions. The individual, a 71-year-old male who died in 1932, is part of the Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection. Records indicate that he died of a ‘heart lesion’. The present study used macroscopic, radiological, and computerized tomography examinations to analyse the skeletal remains of the individual number 439. The type and pattern of the lesions detected, which were most prominent on the skull, were compared with both clinical and paleopathological diagnostic criteria for different nosologic groups. The differential diagnosis addresses problems expressed both in clinical and in paleopathological literature with regard to the difficulties in distinguishing metastatic tumours from multiple myeloma. The nature of the lesions represented by this individual precludes an exact diagnosis. Therefore, we employed a broader category, neoplastic condition, instead of choosing a more specific diagnosis that would likely have resulted in a misdiagnosis due to overlapping features on this individual's condition. Further investigations are necessary to establish more replicable indicators and to improve confidence in retrospective diagnosis of these types of conditions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A saúde dos nossos antepassados versa sobre
paleopatologia, disciplina orientada para as
investigações acerca da saúde humana a partir do
estudo dos vestígios que persistem após a morte.
Os ossos e dentes perduram ao longo do tempo,
revelando evidências de pretéritas doenças e da
variabilidade no percurso da história da humanidade.
Nesta disciplina os vestígios esqueléticos foram
sempre estudados com recurso às mais recentes
técnicas. Nunca como hoje houve tantos vestígios
disponíveis para análise mas, em contraste, nunca
corremos tão grande risco de os perder. Num
notável exercício de síntese, articula a abordagem
biocultural da paleopatologia de modo original
e interdisciplinar, não descurando as questões
éticas a que estamos compelidos pela natureza
da Antropologia. A forma clara, e até lúdica, da
escrita torna-a atrativa tanto para quem detém
conhecimentos de paleopatologia como para
estreantes, sendo também um livro pedagógico e,
por conseguinte, recomendável para o ensino.

STUDY OF THE CREMATION BURIALS FROM THE ROMAN NECROPOLIS OF MONTEIRAS (BUSTELO, PORTUGAL)

FILIPA CORTESÃO SILVA ; TERESA SOEIRO ; ANA LUÍSA SANTOS

The necropolis of Monteiras is located on the North of Portugal, a few Km away from the Douro river, in the south border Roman province of Tarraconense. Approximately 90 burials, both from cremation and inhumation, were excavated between 1993 and 1995 by Teresa Soeiro and Gilda Pinto. According to the grave goods this necropolis dates from 1st to 4th centuries AD.
In this work will be presented the archaeological and anthropological results from 17 graves with preserved fragments of human bone. Pottery, metal, glass and charcoal were also studied. Through macroscopic observations and using a magnified lent, the colour and texture of the cremated bone were evaluated showing a whitish colour and transversal cracks on some fragments of long bone. For each grave, the total weight of the bone fragments and the degree of fragmentation is also specified. The human bone fragments identified, mainly from long bones and skull, allowed the determination of the demographic profile.
The study of the funerary practices in this archaeological site across time is a contribution to the knowledge of the roman funerary world.

Paleopathological diagnosis obtained from the study of children’s remains, tend to have a common feature: the sort of morbid condition. In these individuals, infections, metabolic diseases and trauma combine, paradoxically, high mortality with scarce bone expressions. Bone porosity presence is extremely high in their cranial and post cranial skeleton, and may be attributed to pathology, biological development, and/or diagenesis. However, to distinguish macroscopically between those origins is not  easy.
The aim is to perform a cortical surface exam, to test the reliability of the Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) as a non-invasive diagnostic tool, to determine differences between the bone manifestations mentioned above, and between individuals with different ages.

Em 2007/2008, na intervenção arqueológica no edifício da Inquisição de Évora (1536-1821), foi escavada uma área de 20.75m2 do então designado “Quintal da limpeza dos cárceres”, com camadas de sedimento da lixeira onde terão sido colocados corpos presumivelmente de prisioneiros falecidos (NMI=16). Este trabalho tem como objetivo interpretar as alterações dentárias observadas em três indivíduos adultos, dois femininos (indivíduos 5 e 8) e um masculino (indivíduo
2). No indivíduo 2 existem alterações de aspeto “espiculado”/“serrilhado” e depressão pronunciada nas superfícies oclusais de quatro incisivos e um canino
maxilares e três incisivos e dois caninos mandibulares. Nos dentes dos indivíduos 2, 5 e 8 verifica-se desgaste em forma de cunha na linha de junção cimentoesmalte, com consequente perda de substância dura. Estas lesões poderão ter origem mastigatória, provocada pela alotriofagia, ou extramastigatória,
provocada pelas condições de vida e atividades ocupacionais (discutidas no contexto da consulta dos processos individuais realizada na Torre do Tombo) ou pela hipercloridria provocada por vómitos crónicos que poderá ter contribuído para a dissolução química do esmalte e dentina resultante das deficientes condições de higiene e de alimentação no cárcere ou de um sistema digestivo afetado por várias enfermidades.

No dia 27 de outubro, às 15 horas, na Galeria Municipal do Montijo será apresentada uma conferência e inaugurada uma exposição sobre os 10 anos de investigação da Necrópole de Sarilhos Grandes.
O projeto Sarilhos Grandes foi iniciado em 2008, no âmbito de uma intervenção de salvaguarda de uma empreitada da SIMARSUL, empresa do Grupo Águas de Portugal, que conduziu à descoberta de 21 enterramentos dos séculos XV-XVII. Desde então uma equipa multidisciplinar tem realizado estudos com o objetivo de obter informações acerca da dieta e das doenças da população de Sarilhos Grandes.
A Conferência Sarilhos Grandes na Expansão Portuguesa e a exposição Sarilhos Grandes entre dois mundos: o Oriente e o Ocidente irão apresentar os resultados da investigação, de onde se destacam alguns parasitas relacionados com a ingestão de carnes e de águas contaminadas, o consumo de batata, centeio, trigo, feijão, grão-de-bico entre outros vegetais bem como de crustáceos. Alguns destes achados, bem como o fungo Candida albicans, foram pela primeira vez identificados no território nacional.

A recent clinical hypothesis stated that nasal septal spurs (NSS) may play a role in cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of NSS in a Portuguese osteological identified collection and to evaluate if the individuals with this anatomical variation were more likely to die of cardiovascular disease. The 547 (95%) skulls of the Medical Schools collection (University of Coimbra) with the ethmoid-vomer junction of the septum preserved (342 males, 205 females; age-at-death from 11-95 y.o.) were studied. NSS were scored macroscopically when at least one horizontal bony projection was present.
Seventy-seven individuals (14.1%) present at least one NSS, 36 to the right, 40 to the left and 1 male two bilateral spurs, without statistical significance between sides (X²=0.211; df=1; p=0.646). A logistic regression shows that age is associated with the predisposition to die of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OD], 1.020; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.003 to 1.038), but not sex (B=0.130; Wald=0.168; p=0.682) and the presence of NSS (B=-0.645; Wald=3.056; p=0.080). Furthermore, male individuals (OD, 2.343; 95% CI, 1.329 to 4.129) and age (OR, 0.985; 95% CI, 0.971 to 0.999), but not nasal trauma (B=-0.750; Wald=2.341; p=0.126), are associated with the presence of NSS. Albeit NSS are known to cause impairment of quality of life, its investigation is scarce in clinical studies and nonexistent in paleopathology.

Introduction: Jurmain (1999) proposed that models should be created to test the relationship between activities and their skeletal markers. The aim of this study was to use a model generated from clinical literature contemporaneous to the sample and to test its associations with skeletal changes. For this purpose, the activity tested was sewing.

Materials and Methods: The sample (n=21), selected from the Coimbra identified skeletal collection, consists of seamstresses, shoemakers and tailors, and an age and sex matched control sample of equal number. The indicators recorded were entheseal changes, degenerative joint changes, markers of occupational stress (MOS) and robusticity index (RI). The model suggests changes in the dominant side related to repetitive circular and pedalling movements associated with sewing, alongside changes associated with a hunched posture. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse bilateral asymmetry (Wilcoxon test) and the association of the indicators with occupation, age at death, sex and RI (Fisher’s exact test).

Results: Little association was found between occupation and the indicators, rather age at death and sex was more important. Bilateral asymmetry was rarely found. Specific MOS related to sewing were found in the control sample, thus the model is not supported. There was an almost non-existent association between the indicators and RI.

Discussion and Conclusions: No clear association was found between occupation and the indicators, contradicting the model. Age had a stronger association, suggesting that occupation itself is not a determining factor, whereas age and sex are. The model created is not effective or viable, since few differences were found between the samples. The use of both left and right sides in the tasks performed could explain the results of bilateral asymmetry. Similar studies, applied to a larger sample size, are needed to better understand the occupation factor in the development of the indicators.

La exostosis auditiva externa (EAE) es una elevación ósea del  conducto auditivo externo. Se asocia con la exposición a aguas frías, aunque también con bajas temperaturas, viento, traumas e infecciones repetitivas. Su prevalencia fue poco estudiada en poblaciones del pasado en Patagonia Austral. Nuestro objetivo es calcular la frecuencia de EAE de acuerdo a la región, sexo, edad y dieta en una muestra de 24 cráneos de individuos adultos pertenecientes al Holoceno Tardío. Se estimó la presencia y grado de EAE siguiendo a Standen et al (1998) y Crowe et al. (2010), cuyos resultados no presentaron diferencias significativas (r = 0,77). El 79,2% (n=19) presentó EAE, bilateral en el 47,4% (n=9), en general de grado 1 y 2 (63,2% y 31,6% respectivamente) según Crowe et al. (2010). Resultó más frecuente en individuos masculinos y adultos medios. El 84,2% (n=16) de los casos afectados proviene de sitios costeros. Sin embargo, fue más predominante en esqueletos asociados a dietas terrestres (58,3%), en especial en aquellos de Santa Cruz/Magallanes (33,3%) y norte de Tierra del Fuego (25%). Los resultados sugieren una combinación de factores ambientales (agua fría, viento y temperatura) como causa de la EAE en Patagonia Austral, aunque son necesarias evaluaciones sobre muestras más amplias y acotadas temporalmente.

6th - 8th of July, 2016. Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra.


The aim of this interdisciplinary conference is to bring together researchers interested in disease, injury and other effects of occupations (in the broadest sense) on the human skeleton to improve the interpretation of these changes in archaeological and forensic contexts.
Why Occupational Health?

Identifying occupation, task division and activity-patterns from skeletal remains past populations and using this to assist forensic identification, has been an alluring prospect in bioarchaeology from its earliest inceptions. Some occupation identification can be made by pathognomonic changes, e.g. “phossy jaw” which was characteristic of those working with white phosphorous in the matchstick industry, however, the majority of skeletal changes cannot be ascribed to a single task or occupation, e.g. entheseal changes or cross-sectional geometry. Recent research has highlighted that the multifactorial aetiology of many skeletal changes previously used to identify activity-patterns cannot be applied simplistically.
Conference Content

This conference will build on recent advances in related fields to provide a direction for future research on using skeletal changes to identify occupations (and activity-patterns) based on what is currently known. Abstracts are invited on a diverse range of approaches including: palaeopathology, biomechanics, ethnography, modern medicine, forensic science, archaeology, socio-cultural
Deadlines

The deadline for abstracts is the end of February and for early registration, is the 3rd of April.