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Bicoronal synostosis in a child from historic Omaha Cemetery 25DK10
1Department of Orthodontics, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA. bathead@u.washington.edu
Insights
This study details a rare case of bicoronal synostosis in an infant from an 18th-century Omaha burial. The findings highlight paleopathology and ancient infant care practices.
Area of Science:
- Paleopathology
- Bioarchaeology
- Pediatric Skeletal Analysis
Background:
- Analysis of fragmentary infant cranial remains from a historic Omaha Cemetery (AD 1780-1800).
- Investigating skeletal anomalies in archaeological human remains.
Observation:
- Bony fusion between frontal, parietal, and sphenoid bones in a child aged 0-6 months.
- Osteological signs of bicoronal sutural synostosis, including lateral orbital margin deformation.
- Evidence of a large bregmatic fontanel, expanded anterior cranial fossa, and bossed forehead.
Findings:
- Radiological and morphological analyses confirm bicoronal synostosis.
- Suggestive evidence of increased intracranial pressure, possibly due to hydrocephaly.
- The fragmentary remains contribute significantly to the archaeological record of coronal synostosis.
Implications:
- Augments understanding of the prevalence and presentation of craniosynostosis in past populations.
- Provides insights into potential co-occurring conditions like hydrocephaly in infants.
- Demonstrates consistent treatment of deformed infant remains, including the use of red mercury pigment, in this historical context.
Abstract:
Fragmentary cranial remains of a child from a commingled burial in a historic Omaha Cemetery (AD 1780-1800) exhibit bony fusion between the frontal, parietals, and sphenoid. The child's remains are consistent with a developmental age between newborn and 6 months postnatal. Radiological and morphological analyses confirm that this individual exhibits osteological signs pathognomic of bicoronal sutural synostosis, including deformation of the lateral orbital margin. This case, although fragmentary, significantly augments other archaeological cases of coronal synostosis reported in the literature. In addition, an extremely large bregmatic fontanel, expanded anterior cranial fossa, and bossed forehead compared with undeformed individuals suggest the child also suffered from increased intracranial pressure perhaps related to an associated hydrocephaly. Despite the deformity, the remains of this child were treated in much the same manner as other infant remains from the site, including the presence of red mercury pigment on the skeletal remains.