Naslov
Child health in the early medieval community from Omey Island, western Ireland

Autori
Novak, Mario ; O'Keeffe, Tadhg

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
American Journal of Physical Anthropology (Volume 156, Issue Supplement S60) / - , 2015, 238-238

Skup
84th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists

Mjesto i datum
St. Louis (MO), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 25.03.2015. - 28.03.2015

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
subadult health; early medieval; Ireland; osteoarchaeology

Sažetak
Children were always the most vulnerable part of a human society. They are susceptible to various forms of metabolic stress that may leave a permanent record on bones and teeth and as such are excellent indicators of health. The aim of this paper is to investigate the frequency and distribution of cribra orbitalia (CO) and linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) in children and adults, and periostitis in children from the early medieval (7th-10th c. AD) site of Omey Island in western Ireland. A possible case of clavicular ante-mortem trauma in an infant from this rural community is also discussed. The total analysed sample consists of 43 subadults and 75 adults (40 females and 35 males). The CO frequency in adults is 33.3% (25/75) with a slightly higher frequency in males, while in children it was observed in 50% (14/28) of cases. LEH was observed in 65.0% (26/40) of studied individuals, and in 40.4% (101/250) of anterior teeth. The age ranges of LEH formation vary between 2.5 and 4.9 years for all anterior teeth combined. Periostitis was recorded in six subadults, and in three cases it was generalised active inflammation suggesting systemic infections. One infant (1-2 months old) exhibits ante-mortem healed fracture of the left clavicle, an injury mostly associated with complicated births. The results of this study strongly suggest that most of the individuals from Omey Island suffered from severe physiological disturbances during their childhood caused by a synergistic relationship between infectious diseases, inadequate nutrition, and poor sanitary conditions.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Arheologija

POVEZANOST RADA