Demography and pathology of an urban slave population from New Orleans

Abstract

Twenty-nine skeletons from the first cemetery in New Orleans provide significant new information about urban slavery in America. Dating as early as 1720 and used perhaps as late as 1810, the cemetery provided an identifiable sample of two whites, 13 blacks, one individual of possible Indian-white ancestry, and two possibly mulatto individuals. Numerous skeletal and dental lesions were noted in the series, and historical information was used in conjunction with the physical data to draw conclusions about rates and patterns of mortality. Pathological changes indicate that the cemetery contained individuals representing two slave occupational groups, house servants and laborers. This research provides information in the expanding area of Afro-American biohistorical research.

Schmorl's nodes: clinical significance and implications for the bioarchaeological record

“…Schmorl's nodes in the clinical population are concentrated primarily in the thoracic region, a similar pattern to that noted in archaeological samples (Merbs, 1983;Owsley et al, 1987;Kramar et al, 1990;Coughlan & Holst, 2000). Also, as in the archaeological samples (Rathbun, 1987;Parrington & Roberts, 1990), the number of Schmorl's nodes in males and females differs, with males exhibiting a greater percentage of lesions.…”

“…Others Owsley et al, 1987;Kelley & Angel, 1987;Baker, 1997;Coughlan & Hoist, 2000;Knü sel, 2000;Knü sel & Boylston, 2000) use the presence of Schmorl's nodes as indicators of demanding physical activity. Some authors go further by using Schmorl's nodes to assess differences in activity patterns between the sexes (Rathbun, 1987;Parrington & Roberts, 1990) or between social classes (Robb et al, 2001).…”

“…For example, Schmorl's nodes have been noted in skeletal samples that include (in basic chronological order, from ca. 7000 years BP to the 20 th century), but are not limited to: mid-Holocene hunter-gatherers from Lake Baikal, Siberia (Faccia, n.d.); Neolithic and medieval populations in western Switzerland (Kramar et al, 1990); Middle Kingdom to Roman period Egyptians buried at Abydos (Baker, 1997); Iron Age Italians (Robb et al, 2001); Woodland period Native Americans living in Illinois (Buikstra & Cook, 1981); a Towton (English) battlefield population (Coughlan & Holst, 2000;Knü sel, 2000;Knü sel & Boylston, 2000); the Sadlermiut of Hudson Bay, Canada (Merbs, 1983); and Colonial and slave era AfricanAmerican communities in the southern US Kelley & Angel, 1987;Owsley et al, 1987;Rathbun, 1987;Parrington & Roberts, 1990). Together, these archaeological studies and observations indicate that Schmorl's nodes are found cross-culturally, throughout various time periods, and in groups differing in subsistence and overall activity patterns.…”

Schmorl’s nodes distribution in the human spine and its possible etiology

“…The majority of studies using archeological skeletal material also determined that SNs primarily concentrate in the thoracic region [6,16] thus suggesting that SNs etiology is probably independent of the time dimension.…”

De morcegos e caveiras a cruzes e livros: a representação da morte nos cemitérios cariocas do século XIX (estudo de identidade e mobilidade soclais)

“…Estudos de cultura material vêm privilegiando particularmente pesquisas em cemitérios históricos, envolvendo ou não escavações, e estão se multiplicando as monografias sobre o assunto, em especial nos Estados Unidos, Canadá e Inglaterra (Anderson, 1993;Bender, 1988;Brock, 1991;Brooks, 1989; Brown, 1992 a e b; Clark, 1987;Coates, 1987;Combs, 1986;Crowell, 1981;Corrucini, 1982; Costello, 1987;Deetz, 1977;Deetz & Dethlefsen, 1978;Dethlefsen, 1981;Frascari, 1981;Gittings, 1988;Hall, 1986;Hannon, 1983;Jeane, 1989;Jordan, 1980;Kjolbye-Biddle, 1976; Lanphear, 1990;Uttle et aI., 1992;McGuire, 1988;Milbauer, 1989;Osborne, 1974;Owsley et ai., 1987;Parrington, 1987;Patterson, 1986;Pearson, 1982;Pocins, 1986;Richardson, 1993;Ridlen, 1983;Rodwell, 1989;Sexton, 1991;Slater, 1987;Stone, 1991;Stone & Russel, 1986;Trask, 1978;Trask& McNabb, 1986;Watters, 1987;Wurst, 1991, entre outros).…”