Evolution of two human skeletal markers of the squatting position: A diachronic study from antiquity to the modern age

Abstract

Some human skeletal features that were produced through the actions of their bearers during life allow the reconstruction of postures. These can be typical of population groups. For example, tibial retroversion and lateral squatting facets are two skeletal markers closely related to the habit of squatting. The facets and the retroversion are induced by pressure and traction as a consequence of the hyperdorsiflexion of the knees and ankles. The examination of 543 tibiae and tali from French and American archaeological series, and dating between the 1st-20th century AD, reveals changes in squatting posture over time. This study shows that tibial retroversion tends to be a "precocity indicator" of the adoption of this posture, while the lateral squatting facet shows the intensity or regularity of the use of this posture. The results indicate that squatting was a regular behavior used until the end of the Middle Ages, and after this period a progressive decrease occurs. This tendency may be explained by different lifestyles in different time periods.

Postural Behaviour of Later Stone Age People in South Africa

“…A consequence of regular squatting is the development of supernumerary surfaces or articular facets on the proximal and distal tibia and on the talus due to the hyperdorsiflexion of the ankle and hyperflexion of the knees (Thomson 1889;Satinoff 1972;Trinkaus 1975;Ubelaker 1978;Boulle 2001aBoulle , 2001b, as postural stress alters the articular morphology of joints (Martin 1932;Trinkaus 1975;Ubelaker 1978Ubelaker , 1979 (Fig. 3).…”

“…Corresponding facets are frequently located on the anterior aspect of the distal tibia, reflecting articulation with the talus. However, as the talus is considered a more reliable indicator of squatting (Boulle 2001a), in that it exhibits evidence for squatting more often and less ambiguously than does the tibia, this study focuses on the talar component of the ankle joint.…”

“…He tested the hypothesis that the squatting posture could be detected in the ankle and knee joints on skeletal remains. Since this pioneering study (Thomson 1889(Thomson , 1890 there have been several others (Charles 1893(Charles , 1894Sewell, 1904aSewell, , 1904bSewell, , 1905Wood 1919-20;Martin 1932;Barnett & Napier 1952;Barnett 1954;Singh 1959Singh , 1963Kate & Robert 1965;Rao 1966;Satinoff 1972;Oygucu et al 1998;Boulle 2001aBoulle , 2001b. The largest studies have been conducted on recent colonial samples from India and Australia.…”

“…Studies of large prehistoric samples have been less common, the only other study of skeletons from the African continent being of Egyptians (Satinoff 1972). This lack of data from prehistoric contexts is notable as Boulle (2001a) has argued that the incidence of squatting facets in Europeans increases as one goes back in time, from modern to medieval samples. (Anthrophoto, Cambridge, Mass.…”

Seppellire un vescovo, seppellire un monaco. La gestione della morte all’interno del complesso di San Severo in Classe a Ravenna

“…A carico degli arti inferiori è la maggior parte degli stress funzionali riscontrati. È stata rilevata, infatti, una presenza elevata di squatting facets dell'epifisi distale della tibia, risultati da probabile e ricorrente flessione dell'astragalo sulla caviglia 57 . Questi indicatori denotano una frequente assunzione della posizione accovacciata o di quella seduta su sedili bassi.…”