Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 83. (Budapest 1991)

Ferencz, M.: Joint diseases in Medieval cemetery in Hungary

On the other hand we have to mention the inhabitants' way of life and work, too. The villagers were engaged in agriculture. This work could be a significant one-sided stress for the vertebral column. As the rheumatoid and the degenerative joint diseases produce very similar marks on the bones, it is very hard to define the real cause of the symptom noticed (MARCSIK 1983). If we compare the two cemeteries in the view of the joint diseases (considering the differences of the number and the degree of uncovering of the two series) we can see that spondylosis deformans was more frequent in the Árpádian-Period than in the late Middle Ages. Difference in the frequency of osteoarthrosis deformans is not significant. So the changes of the housing circumstances did not bring any changes in the frequency of the joint diseases. Consequently, the working conditions, the stress was caused by the working circumstances could significantly generate joint diseases, while the living circumstances could only contribute to them (e. g. spondylosis deformans). References FARKAS, Gy. (1972): Antropológiai praktikum I. [Anthropological practice I.] - Szeged: p. 121-136. FERENCZ, M. (1982-1983): The Avar-age cemetery at Solymár. -Anthrop. hung. 18: 9-41. HARANGHY, L. (1960): Részletes kórbonctan [Detailed pathology]. - Medicina Könyvkiadó, Budapest: p. 954-963. MARCSIK, A. (1983): A Duna-Tisza-köze avar korának paleopatológiája [Paleopathology of the Avar period at the region between the rivers Duna-Tisza]. - Thesises, 21 pp. MARTIN, R. & SALLER, K. (1957): Lehrbuch der Anthropologic I. Stuttgart: p. 440-597. PÁLÓCZI-HORVÁTH, A. (1976): A Lászlófalván 1969-74. évben végzett régészeti ásatások eredményei [Results of the archaeological excavations at Lászlófalva in 1969-74]. - Cwnania 4: 275-309. PÁLÓCZI-HORVÁTH, A. (1986): Régészeti és településtörténeti adatok a kunok letelepedéséhez [Archaeological and historical data to the settlement of Cumanians]. - Az Arany János Múz Közi, Nagykőrös: 215-236. PÁLÓCZI-HORVÁTH, A (1988): Szentkirály (Lászlófalva) - Templom-dűlő. Az 1987. év régészeti kutatásai [Archaeological examinations in 1987]. - Régészeti füzetek 41: 104. STEINBOCK, R. T. (1976): Paleopathological Diagnosis and Interpretation. - Charles C Thomas Publisher, Springfield: 423 pp. ZSEBŐK, Z. (1979): Orvosi radiológia [Medical radiology]. - Medicina Könyvkiadó, Budapest: 548 pp. Author's address: Dr. Márta Ferencz Anthropological Department Hungarian Natural History Museum H-1062 Budapest, Bajza utca 39 Hungary