A rare naviculocuneiform I coalition from Bronze Age Siberia

Naviculocuneiform coalitions are among the least common types of tarsal coalition, a rare congenital anomaly characterized by incompletely separated tarsal bones. Only a handful of cases have been documented from the archaeological record, none of which have been recovered from north central Asia or date to earlier than about 2000 years B.P. Here, we present a case of nearly complete osseous coalition of the left navicular and cuneiform I from the early Bronze Age (ca. 5200/5000-4000cal. BP) Lake Baikal region of Siberia (Russian Federation). We also provide substantial evidence for the congenital (rather than acquired) basis of this unusual condition and discuss, using modern clinical data, possible intra vitam complications.