This project uses radionuclides from the uranium-238 decay chain series in conjunction with lead, strontium carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios to achieve accurate dating and geographical sourcing of human skeletal remains. A pilot study was conducted in order to test the hypothesis that 210pb stored within the skeleton during life decays at a known rate once death occurs. Samples of femur were used from 12 Portuguese individuals whose year of death was known.

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From the 1650s and corresponding with a trade in African slaves, the livelihood, health and life expectancy of indigenous groups were reported to decline as many Zimbabwean settlements changed their identities due to European influence. In this study, human skeletal remains from three archaeological sites from northern Zimbabwe were investigated to compare the health status of the people that it represents, pre-and post-European contact, to ascertain whether this was indeed the case. The Monk’s Kop (A.D. 1270-1285) and Ashford Farms sites (A.D. 1330-1440) date back to a period prior to European contact, whereas the Dambarare site (A.D. 1630-1693) represents a population consisting of both Africans and the Europeans they were in contact with. This study led to the re-discovery of the Monk’s Kop archaeological site and in particular indicated that the remains most probably resemble the high social status members of the society. In the Monk’s Kop’s skeletal collection (n =43), 14% of individuals presented with signs of skeletal pathology while the corresponding figure was 43% in the Ashford Farms individuals (n=7). The Dambarare sample comprised a total of 40 individuals (both African and European ancestry) of which 43% of the Africans had visible signs of skeletal pathology and included the southernmost case reported for trephination in Africa. Although the pre-European contact populations of Monk’s Kop and Ashford Farms therefore seemed to have suffered less (28% combined average) from pathological conditions in comparison to that of the Dambarare individuals of African ancestry (43%), the difference was not statistically significant. Although most preversus post-contact investigations report that the biological and cultural effects on the native population was catastrophic to their health, it seems that the first Europeans (particularly the Portuguese) that came into contact with the previously isolated indigenous northern Zimbabwean population, had a minor effect on the people that they interacted with during the 17th century. The Europeans from Dambarare, in contrast, showed many skeletal signs that reflect a less healthy population which, most probably, was due to both the poor socio-economic conditions in their home country and the impact of a long voyage to Africa. It should be kept in mind that the skeletons may not have represented all of the once living populations. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / tm2015 / Anatomy / PhD / Unrestricted

Since the arrival of the Dutch colonists in the Cape, Khoesan populations were subjected to severe political and economical marginalization and often fell prey to racial conflict and genocide. These circumstances persisted until the early 20th century, during which an astonishing number of Khoesan skeletons were transported from South Africa to various locations in Europe, as at the time, different institutions competed to obtain these valuable remains. Due to the above mentioned circumstances, Southern African Khoesan groups suffered from nutritional stress, as well as substandard living conditions. Such living conditions probably did not allow for health care and medical benefits at the time. It will therefore be interesting to evaluate the health status of this group through palaeopathological assessment. Skeletal remains housed in two different European institutions were studied. The sample comprises of 140 specimens from the Rudolf Pöch Skeletal Collection in Vienna, Austria and 15 specimens from the Musée de l’Homme in Paris, France. These individuals represent both sexes and were aged between newborn and 75 years, with 54 individual being younger than 20 years of age and 101 being adults. The aim was to analyse all skeletal lesions. Results indicated high levels of typical disease conditions associated with groups under stress, such as periostitis, cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis. Treponemal disease, rickets, osteoarthritis and trauma were also encountered amongst other more specific indicators of health and disease. This study provided additional knowledge on the health status and lives of the Khoesan people during the turn of the 20th century, as well as focused new awareness on a group of severely mistreated individuals. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Anatomy / unrestricted

Yes / Sex assessment is key when investigating human remains either from medicolegal contexts or archaeological sites. Sex is usually assessed by examination of the skull and pelvis, but this may not always be possible if skeletal material is fragmented or incomplete. The present study investigated the potential for using carpals to assess sex, utilizing one hundred individuals of known-sex from the Christ Church, Spitalfields Collection, curated at the Natural History Museum (London). A series of newly-defined measurements are applied to all eight carpals. Inter- and intra- observer error tests show that all measurements are satisfactorily reproduced by the first author and another observer. Paired t-tests to investigate side asymmetry of the carpals reveal that some, but not all, measurements are consistently larger on the right hand side than the left. Independent t-tests confirm that all carpals are sexually dimorphic. Univariate measurements produce accuracy levels that range from 64.6 to 84.7%. Stepwise discriminant function analysis, devised separately for left and right sides, provides reliable methods for assessing sex from single and multiple carpals, with an accuracy range of 71.7 to 88.6%. All functions derived are tested for accuracy on a sample of twenty additional individuals from the Christ Church, Spitalfields Collection.

Yes / After the Battle Dunbar between English and Scottish forces in 1650, captured Scottish soldiers were imprisoned in Durham and many hundreds died there within a few weeks. The partial skeletal remains of 28 of these men were discovered in 2013. Building on previous osteological work, here we report wide-ranging scientific studies of the remains to address the following questions: Did they have comparable diet, health and disease throughout their lives? Did they have common histories of movement (or lack of movement) during their childhoods? Can we create a collective biography of these men? Strontium and oxygen isotope analysis of tooth enamel investigated childhood movement. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of incrementally sampled dentine addressed childhood diet and nutrition. Metaproteomic analysis of dental calculus investigated oral microbiomes and food residues; this was complemented by microscopic analysis of debris in calculus from ingested materials. Selected individuals were examined for dental microwear. The extent of hydroxylation of proline in collagen was examined as a potential biomarker for scurvy. An osteobiography for each man was created using the full range of data generated about him, and these were synthesised using an approach based on the historical method for a collective biography or prosopography. The childhood residences of the men were primarily within the Midland Valley of Scotland, though some spent parts of their childhood outside the British Isles. This is concordant with the known recruitment areas of the Scottish army in 1650. Their diets included oats, brassicas and milk but little seafood, as expected for lowland rather than highland diets of the period. Childhood periods of starvation or illness were almost ubiquitous, but not simultaneous, suggesting regionally variable food shortages in the 1620s and 1630s. It is likely there was widespread low-level scurvy, ameliorating in later years of life, which suggests historically unrecorded shortages of fruit and vegetables in the early 1640s. Almost all men were exposed to burnt plant matter, probably as inhaled soot, and this may relate to the high proportion of them with of sinusitis. Interpersonal violence causing skeletal trauma was rare. Based on commonalities in their osteobiographies, we argue that these men were drawn from the same stratum of society. This study is perhaps the most extensive to date of individuals from 17th century Scotland. Combined with a precise historical context it allows the lives of these men to be investigated and compared to the historical record with unprecedented precision. It illustrates the power of archaeological science methods to confirm, challenge and complement historical evidence. / The excavation and post-excavation programme was primarily funded by Durham University, with the palaeoproteomic analysis funded through the Wellcome Trust www. wellcome.ac.uk (108375/Z/15/Z to CFS).

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No description available.

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Many have been searching for and contemplating the origins of syphilis. By understanding its emergence as a human pathogen we will be better able to elucidate its evolution through time and space as well as shed light on its current state. Ancient DNA techniques used to isolate Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum DNA from archaeological human specimens provides direct evidence of its existence in the past. To date, only Kolman et al. (1999) have been successful in this endeavour. Along with this protocol, two other published protocols and novel allele specific techniques this thesis aims to add new cases of venereal syphilis identification from historic human remains. To accomplish this, sixteen skeletal samples from different time periods and geographic locations were collected for this project. Of importance are those dating from the Civil War time period from the United States as medical documents state these individuals suffered and/or died from the complications of syphilis. Samples from the United Kingdom are also critical to this analysis as they have confirmed pre-Columbian dates. Along with attempts to isolate bacterial DNA, endogenous DNA (mitochondrial and amelogenin) is analyzed to provide an idea of the different levels of molecular preservation. General preservation as well as the identification of syphilis are also performed using microscopic techniques. By using a tiered approach (macroscopic to microscopic to molecular), a better idea of both preservation and disease presence can be ascertained. Results indicate that although syphilis could be identified at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels for some individuals and endogenous DNA was present, treponemal DNA failed to amplify. Many different reasons are suggested, for example poor conservation methods, misdiagnosis and diagenesis, but the most important possibility is the lack of bacterial DNA in bone at later stages of syphilis which was confirmed using the rabbit model. As a result, the present techniques may not be conducive for treponemal DNA isolation from ancient human remains. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)