Leprosy in medieval Denmark: Exploring life histories through a multi‐tissue and multi‐isotopic approach

Abstract

Objectives By focusing on two Danish leprosaria (Næstved and Odense; 13th–16th c. CE) and using diet and origin as proxies, we follow a multi‐isotopic approach to reconstruct life histories of patients and investigate how leprosy affected both institutionalized individuals and the medieval Danish community as a whole. Materials and Methods We combine archaeology, historical sources, biological anthropology, isotopic analyses (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S, 87Sr/86Sr) and radiocarbon dating, and further analyze bones with different turnover rates (ribs and long bones). Results The δ13C, δ15N and δ34S results indicate a C3 terrestrial diet with small contributions of marine protein for leprosy patients and individuals from other medieval Danish sites. A similar diet is seen through time, between males and females, and patients with and without changes on facial bones. The isotopic comparison between ribs and long bones reveals no significant dietary change. The δ34S and 87Sr/86Sr results suggest that patients were local to the regions of the leprosaria. Moreover, the radiocarbon dates show a mere 50% agreement with the arm position dating method used in Denmark. Conclusions A local origin for the leprosy patients is in line with historical evidence, unlike the small dietary contribution of marine protein. Although only 10% of the analyzed individuals have rib/long bone offsets that undoubtedly show a dietary shift, the data appear to reveal a pattern for 25 individuals (out of 50), with elevated δ13C and/or δ15N values in the ribs compared to the long bones, which points toward a communal type of diet and reveals organizational aspects of the institution.

Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology in Denmark

“…Based on archeological skeletal material, we conduct research into, for example, health and diseases of past populations [58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67], trauma [68] dietary habits of the past [46,47], migrations [44], human morphology [69,70]. Based on PMCT scans, we also conduct research into, for example, age estimation [11,71,72], cranial trauma [21][22][23], 3D documentation and virtual reconstruction [27,73,74], 3D printing [75].…”

Bone of contention: Intra-element variability in remodelling of human femora based on histomorphometric and isotope analyses

“…Due to differences in turnover rates, it is increasingly common to analyse stable carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) isotopes in several skeletal elements from an individual to elucidate diet during different periods of life [e.g., [1][2][3]. The adult rib and femur are most frequently sampled, as they are believed to be the fastest and slowest bones to turnover, respectively [e.g., [4][5][6][7].…”

A dietary perspective of cat-human interactions in two medieval harbors in Iran and Oman revealed through stable isotope analysis

“…Cat remains are most often isotopically analyzed as single specimens, being part of local isotopic baselines (e.g., Refs. 29 – 33 ). Recent studies, however, focused on the paleodietary reconstruction of domestic and wild cats by analyzing tens of individuals 16 , 17 .…”