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Ancient Human Bone Microstructure in Medieval England: Comparisons between Two Socio-Economic Groups.
Justyna J Miszkiewicz1, Patrick Mahoney1
1Skeletal Biology Research Centre, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NR, United Kingdom.
Anatomical Record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)
|October 20, 2015
Summary
Ancient human bone microstructure varied significantly by socio-economic status, revealing lifestyle differences. This study links bone histology to historical records of nutrition and mechanical loading in medieval populations.
Area of Science:
- Paleoanthropology
- Skeletal Biology
- Bioarchaeology
Background:
- Bone microstructure reflects skeletal growth and adaptation.
- Understanding lifestyle's impact on bone is crucial for clinical and anthropological research.
- Previous studies have not linked socio-economic status to ancient bone microstructure variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between socio-economic status and femoral cortical bone microstructure in ancient humans.
- To determine if lifestyle factors, such as nutrition and mechanical loading, are reflected in bone histology.
- To establish a link between socio-economic status and skeletal adaptation in a medieval population.
Main Methods:
- Histological analysis of femoral cortical bone from 450 medieval individuals.
- Assessment of osteonal parameters including density, Haversian canal size, and osteon size.
- Statistical comparison between two distinct socio-economic groups, controlling for age, sex, and robusticity.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in osteon size, Haversian canal dimensions, and osteon density were found between socio-economic groups.
- Microstructural differences align with historical data on mechanical loading and nutrition disparities.
- Females showed minor inconsistencies in microstructural variations compared to males.
Conclusions:
- Ancient human lifestyle aspects, including socio-economic status, can be inferred from bone microstructure.
- Bone histology provides a valuable tool for reconstructing past human behaviors and environmental interactions.
- This research highlights the impact of social and environmental factors on skeletal morphology over time.
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