Basilar portion porosity: A pathological lesion possibly associated with infantile scurvy

Joanna Moore1, Hannah E C Koon2

  • 1Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK; Department of Archaeology, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.

Insights

Nutritional deficiencies were common in 19th-century Wolverhampton children. A new bone lesion on the occipital bone was identified in 90% of infantile scurvy cases.

Area of Science:

  • Paleopathology
  • Bioarchaeology
  • 19th-century British skeletal studies

Background:

  • Analysis of juvenile human remains from a 19th-century English site revealed high rates of nutritional deficiency diseases.
  • 41.7% of 48 juvenile skeletons showed bone lesions indicative of nutritional stress.

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