Naslov
Maxillary sinusitis in Avar period communities: Cases from Croatia and Serbia

Autori
Đukić, Ksenija ; Novak, Mario ; Carić, Mario ; Mikašinović, Veda

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, znanstveni

Skup
50th Annual North American Meeting of the Paleopathology Association

Mjesto i datum
Reno (NV), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 18.04.2023. - 19.04.2023

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
bioarchaeology, early Middle Ages, maxillary sinusitis

Sažetak
The study investigates the presence of chronic maxillary sinusitis, its causes and symptoms in the Avar cultural period communities. Maxillary sinusitis is an inflammatory condition, caused by infection. Its osseous manifestations are related to a chronic form, representing a reliable proxy for assessing respiratory health. The skeletons investigated in this study derive from four previously excavated cemeteries (260 graves) from the territory of present-day Croatia and Serbia, dated between the 7th and 9th centuries CE. The total amount of investigated skulls was 164, (43 left and 58 right maxillary sinuses). Due to low number of findings (five cases) statistical analysis was not performed. All individuals, who suffered from the chronic sinusitis, were adults ; three females and two males. In four cases, osseous manifestations were present in the form of active subperiosteal new bone formation, suggesting an active form of the disease, while in one case lesions suggested healed sinusitis. In four cases osseous lesions were present in one maxillary sinus, while in one case in both. Archaeologically investigated early medieval houses in the region mostly shared some common attributes, such as clay or stone ovens or open fire pits in the middle. These heating/cooking systems produced excessive smoke that, with prolonged direct exposure, could cause respiratory diseases like sinusitis. Although, the number of sinusitis among our sample is low, the diagnosis of such a condition is of great importance, given that this rare skeletal view of respiratory disease could potentially suggest the everyday life circumstances of these past populations.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Arheologija

POVEZANOST RADA