No abstract

1The distribution, antiquity and epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) have previously been studied in 2 osteoarchaeological material in the eastern part of Hungary, mainly on the Great Plain. The 3 purpose of this study is to map the occurrence of skeletal TB in different centuries in the Western 4 part of Hungary, Transdanubia, and to present new cases we have found. Paleopathological 5 analysis was carried out using gross observation supported by radiographic and molecular 6 methods. A large human osteoarchaeological sample (n=5684) from Transdanubian 7 archaeological sites ranging from the 2nd to the 18th centuries served as a source of material. 8Spinal TB was observed in seven individuals (in three specimens with Pott's disease two of 9 which also had cold abscess) and hip TB was assumed in one case. The results of DNA for 10Mycobacterium tuberculosis were positive in seven of the eight cases identified by 11 paleopathology, and negative in the assumed case of hip TB. However, the molecular results are 12 consistent with highly fragmented DNA, which limited further analysis. Based on the present 13 study and previously published cases, osteotuberculosis was found in Transdanubia mainly 14 during the 9th-13th centuries. However, there are no signs of TB in many other 9th-13th 15 centuries, even in those that lie geographically close to those where osteotuberculous cases were 16found. This may be due to a true absence of TB caused by the different living conditions, way of 17 life, or origin of these populations An alternative explanation is that TB was present in some 18 individuals with no typical paleopathology, but that death occurred before skeletal morphological 19 features could develop. 20 21 3