Child Health in Five Early Medieval Irish Sites: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Abstract

With the aim to reconstruct child health in five early medieval (5th–12th c. CE) Irish sites, an osteoarchaeological study of three biological stress indicators – cribra orbitalia, linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) and periostitis – has been conducted on 229 skeletons. In addition, Irish early medieval written sources testifying on child health during this period were consulted. These data were furthermore combined with the results of stable isotope analyses (nitrogen and carbon) conducted on subadult bone specimens. Cribra orbitalia was found in 27.5% of the studied individuals (48.6% of subadults were affected), with only two cases active at the time of death. The prevalence of LEH per individual is 63.5% (78.9% in subadults and 59.7% in adults). The age ranges of LEH formation vary between 1.9 and 4.8 years for the maxillary teeth and between 1.8 and 6.2 years for the mandibular teeth. Periosteal inflammations were recorded in over one third of the studied subadults (36.2%) with six cases active at the time of death. The stable isotope results suggest a diet based on terrestrial food sources, with little or no marine input. The presented data strongly suggest that most of the individuals were exposed to a high level of physiological stress during their childhood, and as such does not support the so called ‘osteological paradox’ hypothesis. The observed disturbances were probably caused by a synergistic effect of various biological and socio‐cultural factors. Although the historical records indicate certain differences in diet and lifestyle between social classes and the sexes, this study showed that the children of all ages had poor health in all social classes across a wide geographical location for the full time period of the early medieval. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Megalithic Builders

“…Cribra orbitalia was observed in one non-adult orbit from Megalitho do Facho and two (n = 4) from Ansião. This pathological condition is due to genetic or acquired chronic anaemia, most frequently caused by inadequate nutrition, such as due to iron, magnesium, vitamin B deficiencies, parasitism, weanling diarrhoea or to chronic disorders (Novak et al 2017;Rinaldo et al 2019), although other pathological conditions can't be excluded (Walker et al 2009;Brickley 2018). This indicator was also observed in one adult from Ansião.…”

Sex-related morbidity and mortality in non-adult individuals from the Early Medieval site of Valdaro (Italy): the contribution of dental enamel peptide analysis

“…In this regard, it should be mentioned the growing archeological evidence of differential burial treatment of newborns, disposed in non-conventional burial places (for Italy see for instance (Amoretti et al, 2018;Sperduti et al, 2018b)). Usually, juvenile mortality is higher during the first year of life (Novak et al, 2017;Sperduti et al, 2018b), while gradually decreasing from infancy onwards. Lewis (Lewis, 2007) highlights the presence of a second peak of non-adult mortality occurring during the weaning phase, when children's diet may not guarantee an adequate intake of fundamental nutrients, ultimately undermining the immune system (Katzenberg et al, 1996;Pearson et al, 2010).…”

The Life Course of a Standard-Bearer: A Nonroyal Elite Burial at the Maya Archaeological Site of El Palmar, Mexico

“…He also had healed periostitis on the radii. Periostitis, which results in some tenderness and aching pain in the afflicted area (Aufderheide and Rodríguez-Martin 1998; Ortner 2003), is commonly caused by nonspecific bacterial infection, trauma, tuberculosis, or metabolic disorders like scurvy and rickets (Novak et al 2017; Ortner 2003; Weston 2012). No evidence of tuberculosis or rickets was observed elsewhere.…”