Kirsty McLeod
Skeleton Report of SK.1
Excavated at the Romano-British settlement
in
Papcastle, Cockermouth
by
Kirsty McLeod
Contents
Page
3 Skeletal summary sheet
4 Introduction
4 Condition of Remains
4 Skeletal Inventory
6 Dental inventory
7 MNI
7 Non-human remains
7 Biological Profile
9 Pathological conditions
13 Conclusion
13-14 References
14-17 Appendices (1-5)
Skeletal report summary form
Recorded by / Kirsty McLeodDate / October 2012
Skeleton number / SK.1 (WAA12)
Age / 23.4 – 44 years (mean age 33.7 years)
Sex / Probable Male
Stature / Unable to calculate
Preservation / The bones of SK.1 are dry and fragile. The bones are a light brown in colour with areas of soil staining evident. Damage caused by plant roots is minimal and there is no visible evidence of scavenger activity.
Pathological conditions / Mild degenerative disease of the spine evident by schmorls nodes on the vertebrae, Periostitis observable on the shaft of the left fibula, possible Spina bifida occulta visible on the sacrum.
Skeleton Report of SK.1
Introduction
This aim of this report is to provide a biological profile fora skeleton found during excavations at a Romano-British settlement in Papcastle, Cockermouth in 2012.A palaeopathological examination will also be included as this will provide information for future palaeodemographic study. The usefulness of Palaeopathology will also aid in future studies of the evolution and progress of disease, and also shows how humans have adapted to diseases within their environment (Roberts and Manchester, 2010).
For the purpose of this report, the skeleton will be referred to as SK.1 and photographic evidence will be provided throughout.
Condition of remains
SK.1 is not a complete skeleton due to post-excavation water damage. Following a period of drying the remaining bones are fragmented, dry and very fragile. The bones are a light brown in colour with areas of soil staining evident. Damage caused by plant roots is minimal and there is no visible evidence of scavenger activity.
Inventory
A photograph of Sk.1 laid out in an anatomical position can be found in figure 1. A visual skeleton inventory sheet can be found in appendix 1.
Discussion of inventory
After being laid out in an anatomical position, the bones of SK.1were placed into twenty two plastic bags and packaged into a box for safe storage. Bagsone, two and three represents the skull; bag onecontains 14 skull fragments, bag two the occipitalbone and bag three contains 5 mandibular fragments including the left distal portion of the mandible and 14 teeth. Bag four contains the distal end of the left clavicle. Bag five represents the left arm and includes an incomplete radius and ulna (proximal ends only) and four fragments of the humerus. Bag six contains 6 bone fragments which represent the right scapula. Bag seven contains 2 left carpals (capitate and trapezium). Bag eight contains 6 metacarpal fragments. Bag nine contains 9 fragments of bone that represent 7 left phalanges and 2 right phalanges. Bag ten contains 1 sternal fragment. Bag eleven contains 7 vertebral fragments representing 2 lumbar vertebrae and 1 thoracic vertebra. Bag twelve contains 16 rib fragments. Bag thirteen contains the left and right ischium. Bag fourteen contains a portion of the right ilium. Bag fifteen contains five pelvic fragments including a portion of the left acetabulum, a portion of the right iliac crest and a portion of the left pubic synthesis. Bag sixteen contains two sacral fragments and bag seventeen contains one sacral fragment showing incomplete fusion of the posterior neural arches. Bag eighteen contains a portion of the coccyx. Bag nineteen represents the left leg and contains a portion of the proximal femur and a fragment of the fibula. Bag twenty represents the right leg and contains the proximal end of the femur. Bag twenty one contains 88 small bone fragments. Bag twenty two contains 6 miscellaneous non-human bone fragments.
Figure 1. The bones representing SK.1 in anatomical position
Dental Inventory
A photograph of the teeth from SK.1 can be found in figure 2. A visual dental inventory can be found in appendix 3.
Figure 2. The teeth of SK.1.
Minimum number of individuals (M.N.I)
Six miscellaneous bone fragments (bag 22) were included with the skeleton, and, after further examination it was determined that these bone fragments were non-human. Therefore it can be estimated that the M.N.I. in this assemblage is one.
Figure 2. Six miscellaneous non-human bone fragments.
Non-human remains
Six fragments of bone found with SK.1 were recognised as non-human and have been identified as; a distal right humerus of a sheep or goat, a proximal and distal right radius of a sheep or goat, two rib fragments of a sheep or goat and one tibia fragment of a sheep or goat.
Biological Profile
Sex determination
The sex determination of Sk. 1 has been established using observations made on a range of sexing techniques on the os coxae (see figures 3 and 4) and on long bone measurements. These include; sciatic notch (Buikstra and Ubelaker, 1994), preauricular sulcus (Bass, 2005), ischiopubic ramus (Phenice, 1969), femoral head measurements (Stewart, 1979: Mall et al., 2000) and radial head measurements (Berrizbeitia, 1995). The results of these assessments can be found in appendix 2 and show that SK.1 was probably male.
Age estimation
The age estimation of SK.1 has been established using observations made on aging techniques of the os coxae and skull (see figures 5-6). These techniques included; the auricular surface (Lovejoy et al., 1985b), the pubic symphysis (Brooks and Suchey, 1990) and teeth attrition (Lovejoy, 1985). Using these techniques it was calculated that the age of SK.1 was between 23.4 - 44 years. The results can be found in appendix 2.
Ancestry
The cranium may be used to estimate ancestry of an individual using mainly landmarks of the splachnocranium (Rhine, 1990). SK.1 has no splachnocranium (see figure 1)so examination for ancestry is not possible. Observations of some useful non-metric traits based on the cranium as outlined by Gill (1995) can be made; the incisor present is blade-like and the cranial sutures are simple. Taking theseobservations into accountand also location of burial, SK.1 is probably of white European origin.
Pathological conditions
Several pathologies can be observed in SK.1 and are listed below.
Periostitis
Periostitis is a non-specific inflammation found on the surface of bones (Roberts and Manchester, 2010) it is an infection which affects the periosteum of the bone (Burns, 2007). Periostitis is most commonly found in the bones of the lower legs, probably because they are close to the skin surface and can be subjected to recurrent minor injuries (Schultz, 2001, White and Folkens, 2005). The surface on the shaft of the left fibula of SK.1 presents with a localised area of porous woven bone with striated new bone formation (figure 7), this is indicative of Periostitis and still active at the time of death.
Schmorl’s nodes
The degeneration of intervertebral discs exerting pressure on the vertebral body of the spine can cause Schmorl’s nodes.Schmorl’s nodes are usually observed on the lower thoracic and lumbar vertebrae (Saluja et al., 1986). Trauma can cause disease which weakens bone structure, and this has been implicated as one of the major causes of Schmorl’s nodes (Resnick and Niwayama, 1988). SK.1 presents with Schmorl’s nodes on the anterior and superior surfaces of two lumbar vertebrae.
Spina Bifida Occulta
Spina bifida occulta is the most commonly reported developmental defect in archaeologically (Roberts and Manchester, 2010). The disease is defined as incomplete fusion of the posterior neural arches of the sacrum (Roberts and Manchester, 2010). Males are more frequently affected than females and both genetic and environmental factors are potential causes (Barnes, 1994). Occulta means hidden, and this condition is usually not detected in a living person. Potential causes include; deficiencies in maternal folic acid, zinc and selenium, while the foetus is developing (Barnes, 1994).
The sacrum of SK.1 presents with incomplete fusion of the posterior neural arches of the sacrum (figure 9).
Personal identification
Wormian bones
Wormian bones are irregular shaped bones found along cranial suture lines (Hauser and De Stefano, 1989). The presence of wormian bones in an archaeological context has led to many speculations, including; genetics, poor nutrition, low life expectancy and environmental factors (Daniell, 2005). SK.1 has a number of wormian boners present on the occipital bone (figure 10).
Conclusion
This aim of this report was to provide a biological profile of a skeleton excavated at Papcastle, Cockermouth in 2012. The report includes an examination of palaeopathological evidence. A biological profile of SK.1 is provided with a written report supported by photographs.The author has established that SK.1 is probably a white European male with an approximate age between 23.4 – 44 years (mean age 34 years). No estimated height could be calculated due to the absence of incomplete long bones.
SK.1presented with pathologies which have been discussed in this report and include; Periostitis, Schmorl’s nodes and possible Spina bifida occulta. The evidence from this report will provide further palaeodemographic information about populations and will prove useful for future studies.
References
Barnes, E. (1994), Developmental defects of the axial skeleton in Palaeopathology, University Press, USA.
Bass, W. (2005), Human Osteology, A Laboratory and Field Manual, 5th Edition, Missouri Archaeological Society, USA.
Berrizbeitia, E. (1989), Sex determination with the head of the radius, Journal of Forensic Sciences, 34(5):1206-1213.
Brooks , S., Suchey, I. (1990), Skeletal Age Determination Based on The Os Pubis: A Comparison of The Acsaidi-Nemeskeri and Suchey-Brooks Methods, Human Evolution, 5:222-223.
Buikstra, J., Ubelaker, D. (1994), Standards for Data Collection From Human Skeletal Remains, Fayetteville, Arkansas Archaeological Survey Report Number 44.
Burns, K. (2007), Forensic Anthropology Training Manual, 2nd Edition, Pearson Education, New Jersey.
Gill, G. (1995), Challenge on The Frontier Discerning American Indian From Whites Osteological, Journal of Forensic Science, 40: 783-788.
Lovejoy, C. (1985), Dental wear in the Libben population: Its functional pattern and role in the determination of adult skeletal age at death, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 68:47-56.
Lovejoy, C., Meindl, R., Nebsforth, R., Pryzbeck, T. (1985), Chronological metamorphosis of the auricular surface of the ilium, A new method for the determination of age at death, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 58:15-28.
Mall, G., Graw, M., Gehring, K., Hubig, M. (2000), Determination of sex from femora, Forensic Science International, 113:315-321.
O’Loughlin, V. (2003), Effects of different kinds of cranial deformation on the incidence of wormian bones, The American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 123(2):146-155.
Phenice, T. (1969), A newly developed visual method of sexing in the os pubis, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 96:89-92.
Roberts, C., Manchester, K. (2010), The Archaeology of Disease, 3rd Edition, The History Press, UK.
Rhine, S. (1990), Non-metric skull racing, In: Gill, G., Rhine, S., Skeletal Attribution of Race: Methods for Forensic Anthropology, Maxwell, New Mexico, pp. 9-20.
Resnick, D., Niwayama, G. (1988), Diagnosis of bone and joint disorders, 2nd Edition, W.B. Saunders, USA.
Saluja, G., Fitzpatrick, K., Bruce, M., Cross, J. (1986), Schmorl’s nodes (intravertebral herniations of intervertebral disc tissue) in two historic populations, Journal of Anatomy, 145:87-96.
Schultz, M. (2001), Palaeohistology of bone: a new approach to the study of ancient diseases, Yearbook of Physical Anthropology, 44:106-147.
Stewart, T. (1979), Essentials of Forensic Anthropology, Thomas Publishing, USA.
White, T., Folkens, P. (2005), The Human Bone Manual, Elsevier Academic Press, USA.
Appendix 1
Skeletal Inventory Sheet
Appendix 2
Sex determination and age estimation Results
Sex determination
Landmark / Method / Score / SexPreauricular sulcus / Bass (2005) / Not present / Male
Ischiopubic ramus / Phenice (1969) / Wide / Male
Sciatic notch / Buikstra and Ubelaker (1984) / 4 / Probable male
Femoral head measurement / Stewart (1979), Mall et al., (2000) / 45.6 mm
45.5 mm / Undetermined
Undetermined
Radial head measurement / Berrizbeitia (1995) / 23.90 mm / Male
It was concluded that SK.1 was probably male
Age estimation
Landmark / Method / Score / Age (years)Pubic Symphysis / Suchey-Brooks (1990) / 2-3 / 23.4-28.7 years
Auricular surface / Lovejoy et al. (1985) / 4-5 / 35-44 years
Teeth attrition mandible / Lovejoy (1985) / N/A / 24-35 years
Teeth attrition maxilla / Lovejoy (1985) / N/A / 24-40 years
Result 23.4 - 44 years with a mean age of 33.7 years
Appendix 3
Dental information
Skeleton number / SK.1Date / October 2012
Recorded by / Kirsty McLeod
Loose teeth / 14,15,16,24,25,26,31,33,34,35,37,38,44,45,46,47
Additional notes / Only the crown of each tooth is present due to water damage.
Tooth number / Description
11
12
13
14 / Crown only
15 / Crown only
16 / Crown only
17
18
Tooth number / Description
21
22
23
24 / Crown only
25 / Crown only
26 / Crown only
27
28
Tooth number / Description
31 / Crown only
32
33 / Crown only
34 / Crown only
35 / Crown only
36
37 / Crown only
38 / Crown only
Tooth number / Description
41
42
43
44 / Crown only
45 / Crown only
46 / Crown only
47 / Crown only
48
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