A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Studia Archaeologica 10. (Szeged, 2004)
JUST Zsuzsanna – MACZEL Márta – MARCSIK Antónia – Molnár Erika: Paleopatológiai elváltozások Sándorfalva-Eperjes 10. századi embertani anyagában
PALEOPATHOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN THE I0 Th '-CENTURYHUMANSKELETAL MATERIAL OF SÁNDORFAL VA-EPERJES Zsuzsanna JUST-Márta MACZEL - Antónia MARCSIK - Erika MOLNÁR In the 10 -century series of Sándorfalva-Eperjes, 102 skeletons were available for paleopathological examination. The alterations were classified according to Steinbock's system (1976) with some modification. Severe developmental anomalies or skeletal changes referring to close genetic relations were not detected in the series. The frequency of traumatic alterations, such as fractures and blows were rather low. Trepanation was not observed, which might be explanied by the fragmentary condition of skulls. Among infectious diseases, severe non-specific osteomyelitis was diagnosed in two individuals. Moreover, early stage skeletal changes resulting from pulmonary tuberculosis could be supposed in several cases. The frequency of cribra orbitalia belonging to the group of hematogenous diseases was negligible. Osteoporosis due to metabolic disorders was not typical. For the etiology of "linear"(plane) sacrum, mild adolthood osteomalacia might be suggested. Both in males and females, the frequency of degenerative vertebral changes is rather high, which seem to reflect hard environmental and work conditions in their life. The same alterations can be caused by equestrian lifestyle, but in the Sándorfalva series other skeletal changes connceted to horse riding could not be seen. Entesopathies observed mainly in the lower limb bones suggest an increased physiscal load. Among teeth diseases, caries and abscess formation occurred only in few cases. Comparing the skeletons of Sándorfalva to other 10 th-century series (Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld, Algyő and Szegvár-Oromdülő), the high number of degenerative osteoarthritis (spondylitis, arthritis) is generally found in each population, while the frequency of skeletal changes due to nutritional deficiency is rare. Osseous leprosy is outstanding in the Sárrétudvari population which is not observed in the other three (Algyő, Szegvár-Oromdűlő and Sándorfal va-Eperjes) series. The occurrence of entesopathies is significant in all of these series, however, the different locations seem to refer to different lifestyles. This theory is also supported by the frequency and the types of traumatic lesions, showing differences in the four skeletal samples. In fact, the entesopathies and traumatic lesions observed in the series of Sárrétudvari and Algyő, might have been caused by horse riding and fighting, while in the populations of Sándorfalva-Eperjes and Szegvár-Oromdűlő agricultural activities might have provoked their development. Just Zsuzsanna SzTE Embertani Tanszék 6722 Szeged Egyetem utca 2. E-mail: justzs@bio.uszeged, hu Marcsik Antónia SzTE Embertani Tanszék 6722 Szeged Egyetem utca 2. E-mail: marcsik@bio.u-szeged.hu Maczel Márta SzTE Embertani Tanszék 6722 Szeged Egyetem utca 2. Molnár Erika SzTE Embertani Tanszék 6722 Szeged Egyetem utca 2. E-mail: balinte@bio. u-szeged. hu
