A case of dwarfism in 6th century Italy: Bioarchaeological assessment of a hereditary disorder

Abstract

ObjectiveThe skeletal remains of a short-statured individual (T17) are described and a differential diagnosis performed to determine the etiology of the condition. MaterialsAn individual considered pathologically short in stature was discovered in the burial site of Piazza XX Settembre, Modena (northern Italy). MethodsMorphological and morphometric analyses were performed, and T17 was compared to dwarfs from other localities and periods and to the adult female population from the same site. A paleopathological survey was undertaken to assess the degree of the skeletal elements of T17 were affected. ResultsT17 was a female, 20–30 years of age at death, with a stature of 128 cm and disproportionate dwarfism associated with congenital skeletal dysplasia. ConclusionsT17 likely affected by a form of hypochondroplasia. SignificanceAnatomical consequences of hypochondroplasia are presented, and the timeframe and associated burial goods suggest a 6th-century Lombard short stature belonging to one of the earliest Lombard settlements in Italy. Suggestions for further researchFuture genetic analysis would resolve if the mutation in the type 3 fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR3) is present in the remains of T17; however, it is not exclusivly linked to hypochondroplasia.