A proposed framework for the study of paleopathological cases of subadult scurvy

Abstract

Paleopathological investigations of subadult scurvy have seen increasing frequency since the introduction of the “Ortner criteria” of porotic cranial and infracranial lesions. With the rise in bioarchaeological investigations of subadult scurvy there have also been concerns about the applicability of these lesions. In an attempt to further address this ongoing debate this study proposes a framework for looking at the variable stages in which clinical radiological indicators and macroscopically observable skeletal lesions would be expected to occur in cases of subadult scurvy. This article introduces a three phase system for considering the timeframe of subadult scurvy onset and resolution.