An historical overview of the field of study of human remains in South Korean archaeology

Dental caries and periodontal disease are two of the most common human diseases along with the common cold. Signs of dental caries have been seen even in early hominids (Australopithecus). It is well known that many signs of dental caries and periodontal disease were also seen in the Krapina Neanderthals and the archaic homo sapiens Kabwe man (also called “Broken Hill Man”: human from 300,000-130,000 years ago) (Fig. 1). Dental caries and periodontal disease are not diseases that appeared in the modern era, so-called “modern diseases” or “diseases of civilization.” Instead, they are ancient diseases with a long history of afflicting mankind. Therefore, the study of dental caries and periodontal disease in ancient people can be a major key to unlock information on their daily lives and behavioural patterns. Such a study on ancient human skeletal remains can provide information on dietary habits and lifestyles in various stages of human evolution, including diet, subsistence and oral hygiene. Dental caries is considered to be the disease with the most case reports in dental paleopathology. The reason is that dental caries occurs in teeth which have the hardest tissue in the human body. Therefore, even if ancient human skeletal remains are excavated in poorly preserved conditions, dental caries can be distinguished relatively easily and data can be accumulated easily for statistical analysis. Studies of dental caries date back to the Meiji and Taisho era in Japan. Today, studies on dental caries are still being actively conducted by (including myself) Sakura; 1964; Sakura, 1989; Yukinari, 1975; Turner, 1979; Inoue et al., 1981; Fujita et al., 1994; Fujita, 1995; Fujita & Suzuki; 1995; Fujita and Hirano,1999; Fujita, 2002; Oyamada et al., 2004; Temple, 2007a, 2007b; Temple and Larsen, 2007; Oyamada et al., 2010). Since there are many studies on dental caries in ancient human skeletal remains from various countries, this chapter will use the results of recent studies as reference (Garcin et al., 2010; Meller et al., 2009). What about the other prevalent disease, periodontal disease? Unfortunately, there are almost no comprehensive studies on periodontal disease in anthropology (Fujita, 1999; Reich et al., 2011; Meller et al., 2009; Silvestoros et al., 2006). Although teeth are made of the hardest material in the body, alveolar bones are fragile. Periodontal disease occurs in this fragile type of bone. Thus, an examination of alveolar bone is not always easy in ancient human skeletal remains that were buried in the soil for many years and a statistical study can be difficult to perform.

Evaluation of rapid diagnostic tests and Enzyme Linked Immunoassay in the detection of malaria in ancient human remains

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is one of the earliest recognized disease entities in the history of medicine. It has a peculiar periosteal proliferation distinctive from other bone diseases. In its advanced stage, it leaves an indelible mark on the skeleton. It has been recently shown that digital clubbing is accompanied by a bone remodeling process of the underlying phalanges. Thus, theoretically, this entity can be recognized in ancient human skeletal remains. We studied part of the collection of skeletal remains from pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica preserved at the National Museum of Anthropology of Mexico City. We examined 1000 specimens and found 2 skeletons with widespread, bilateral, symmetric periosteal proliferation of the tubular bones in addition to the bone remodeling changes of the distal phalanges. One of the specimens was from the Formative period (2000 B.C. to 100 A.D.). We conclude that hypertrophic osteoarthropathy can be recognized in ancient human skeletal remains and that this disease was present in Mesoamerica near the time of the original description of clubbing by Hippocrates about 2500 years ago.

Quantitative ultrasonometry for the diagnosis of osteoporosis in human skeletal remains: New methods and standards

Bioarchaeological approaches to looting: A case study from Sudan

The present study is a scoping review of the literature on Pott disease in ancient human remains. Comprehending the origin and history of Pott disease is relevant to assessing this pathologic condition from an evolutionary perspective. Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient pulmonary disease that remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, rating above HIV/AIDS. The disease typically affects the lungs but can also target other anatomic sites. Of those, the most common and characteristic are the skeletal changes involving the spine, such as in Pott disease. Spinal tuberculosis accounts for approximately half of all cases of musculoskeletal tuberculosis. It can lead to loss of function in the lower limbs due to damage to the spinal column. Nevertheless, its origin and evolution are still not fully understood and need further investigation. The authors investigated the published studies on Pott disease in ancient human remains, intending to survey the literature, map the evidence and identify gaps and future perspectives on TB in paleopathology. The search strategy was conducted between September 2021 and March 2023 using keywords including the terms "Pott disease" OR "tuberculosis" AND "skeletal remains" in PubMed Biomed Central , Scopus , and Google Scholar search engines and biomedical databases. Five hundred and three records were initially identified, and 66 studies were finally included and assessed for qualitative analysis. Finally, the included records were analyzed in terms of non-narrative data, including the type of publication, country of excavation, dating of the sample, the number of human remains, and their details. Furthermore, the type of bone lesion was indicated as well as the diagnostic method if detailed. Among articles identified, most were classified as original articles, and were published between 2011 and 2020. Close to 77% of the reported records are excavations in Europe and the Near East. Included studies considered a total of 3388 human remains, mostly excavated in archeological sites and necropoles. Interestingly, the reported prevalence was higher among young males and adults. Although most of the findings are consistent with the literature, since the majority of the human remains were from Europe and the Near Middle East, more research is necessary in other sectors of the world. The suggestion of a male predominance needs to be confirmed and questions about the possible pathognomic role of rib lesions as well Serpes endocranica symmetrica (SES) represent further areas of research that need to be explored.

Radiology is a pivotal clinical method in anthropology, offering minmally destructive examination of ancient human remains. Archaeologists frequently rely on radiology to analyse anthropological and pathological findings without damaging osteological artifacts from archaeological excavations, including those intended for museum display. Imaging plays a critical role in assessing anthropological and pathological aspects of bones in osteoarchaeological studies, providing insights into sex, age at death, stature, and various pathologies such as infections, and neoplasmas, and trauma. This study, conducted at the University Hospital "Luigi Vanvitelli" in Naples, focuses on analyzing human skeletal remains excavated from the Acropolis of Cumae (Campania, Italy), fostering collaboration among archaeologists, physical and rehabilitation medicine physicians (i.e., physiatrists) with expertise in the management of metabolic bone diseases,and radiologists. The study aims to identify and assess anthropological and pathological features of skeletal remains using advanced imaging techniques. Additionally, it highlights the role of multidisciplinary collaboration for comprehensive analysis of ancient remains, laying the basis for future research to improve knowledge in this field. Human remains from the cemetery of the Christian Basilica of Cumae, were catalogued and examined utilizing conventional radiography (CR) and computed tomography (CT). CT scans were conducted on bone fragments to assess integrity, density alterations, fractures, and pathologies. Each bone fragment was analyzed separately, maintaining anatomical orientation. Dual-energy CT (DECT) scans were employed in select cases, enhancing bone lesion detection. The collaboration between archaeologists and radiologists facilitated the reconstruction and the identification of skeletal fragments. CT analysis revealed diverse findings across cases, including fractures, osteosclerotic areas, and degenerative changes. Detailed observations from CT scans were complemented by X-ray examinations, contributing to comprehensive skeletal analyses. Paleoradiology, coined in 1987, has evolved with CT advancements, enabling minimally invasive examination of ancient remains. CT imaging offers superior resolution and detail compared to conventional radiography, aiding in the identification of subtle pathologies. Multidisciplinary collaboration enhances diagnostic accuracy and ensures comprehensive analyses. CT analysis provides detailed insights into bone integrity and pathologies, facilitating comprehensive anthropological examinations. Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for accurate interpretations of ancient human remains. This study represents a preliminary phase, laying the groundwork for further investigations into morpho-densitometric characteristics.

Ancient human remains have for long been a source of both fascination and contestation. Their appeal is multifaceted and has complex origins. It is based partly on the human enthralment with the issue of mortality. The dead provide learning moments for the living, and it is common to reflect on the self when contemplating the material remains of people from the past. It is not surprising then that in archaeology, the study of human remains is as old as the discipline itself, but this relationship has had chequered histories in different world areas. This is partly due to the diversity of origins of skeletal research in discourses such as anatomy, medicine, racial studies, and evolutionary biology, while in some countries, the influence of non-western traditions of science has also shaped the development of approaches to ancient human remains. As a result of these diverse histories, archaeological human remains have been used as the basis for a range of narratives such as human evolution; tracking ancient diseases; human variation; past migrations; and the reconstruction of past lifestyles. In some settings, human remains have provided the basis for politically motivated narratives of ethnogenesis, while in other countries, self-conscious attempts to characterize the nation as modern and civilized have produced a selective blindness to remains associated with the local past. Similarly, the appropriateness or otherwise of the retrieval, analysis, and long-term curation of human remains has provoked controversy in some world areas but not in others, while in some contexts, forensic approaches have emerged as an important element in conflict resolution. Institutions such as national museums and universities have played central roles in the development of research into archaeological human bone. The diversity in terminology—physical anthropology, biological anthropology, skeletal biology, osteology, bioarchaeology, human osteoarchaeology—reflects the distinctive histories of research into archaeological human remains: there are many bioarchaeologies.

Antemortem tooth loss (AMTL) and degree of dental attrition are thought to be closely related to dental caries and periodontitis, not only in ancient human skeletal remains but also in modern humans. We examined these features in the Yean-ri skeletal series (AD 4rd to 7th centuries), South Korea. There is no significant difference between males and females in AMTL and degree of dental attrition, so the male and female data in the present study were pooled. However, a significant difference in the AMTL rate was observed between individuals of different ages, particularly in the posterior teeth of the lower jaw. A significant increase in AMTL was seen with increasing age. The degree of dental attrition was also correlated with age and was closely related to dental eruption. The prevalence of occlusal dental caries was low in the Yean-ri skeleton. Yean-ri people ate food that was much harder than the food eaten by modern day people; therefore, their dental attrition was considerable. Occlusal dental caries is speculated not to have occurred in an individual with occlusal surfaces, such as severe attrition. In other words, occlusal dental caries might have occurred in young people, but it would not have been found in individuals beyond a certain age, as dental attrition progressed with aging. If dental attrition was considerable, slight occlusal dental caries could have disappeared due to dental attrition, as in the modern Nigerian cases. Furthermore, severe dental attrition in archaeological samples was closely related to caries sites.

Ancient human skeletal remains, dating from the Bronze Age (1000 BC–500 AD) of China, were investigated from the paleopathological point of view. The remains were excavated from three archeological sites in the northern part of Qinghai Province, and included 294 skulls and 255 long bones. Macroscopic observations revealed marked hypertrophic and sclerotic changes in the long bones of the lower extremity in two individuals indicative of treponematosis. No evidence of cranial involvement was found in any individual. According to the nonunitarian theory, from 3000 BC to the first century BC, an uninterrupted block of endemic syphilis extended from Africa through western into central Asia, comprising deserts and semi-deserts, often with nomadic populations. The possible cases of treponematosis, reported here, from the Bronze Age of inland China supports the nonunitarian theory, and indicates that endemic syphilis was transmitted to China by Bronze Age times, most likely from the Middle East via the ‘Silk Road’ which came into being about 1000 BC.

Bioarchaeology as a discipline encompasses the broad variety of data that can be gleaned from ancient human skeletal remains and that contribute to understanding human biological and cultural history. Bioarchaeologists examine archaeological skeletal remains to estimate individual ages at death and sex, then use these data to reconstruct demographic profiles. Together with evidence of skeletal pathology or growth disruption, bioarchaeologists also study skeletal features that are a product of genetics and population affinity, health status, or behavior, and reconstruct past mobility and diets through the chemical analysis of bones.

Since its birth in 1895, radiology has been used to study ancient mummies. The purpose of this article is to present paleoradiological investigations conducted on several medieval human remains in Varese province. Anthropological (generic identification) and paleopathological analyses were carried out with the support of diagnostic imaging (X-ray and CT scans). Human remains were discovered during excavations of medieval archaeological sites in northwest Lombardy. Classical physical anthropological methods were used for the macroscopic identification of the human remains. X-ray and CT scans were performed on the same scanner (16-layer Hitachi Eclos 16 X-ray equipment). Results Radiological analysis permitted investigating (1) the sex, (2) age of death, (3) type of trauma, (4) therapeutic interventions and (5) osteomas in ancient human remains. In particular, X-ray and CT examinations showed dimorphic facial traits on the mummified skull, and the same radiological approaches allowed determining the age at death from a mummified lower limb. CT analyses allow investigating different types of traumatic lesions in skulls and postcranial skeleton portions and reconstructing the gait and functional outcomes of a fractured femur. Moreover, one case of possible Gardner’s syndrome (GS) was postulated from observing multiple osteomas in an ancient skull. Among the medical tests available to the clinician, radiology is the most appropriate first-line procedure for a diagnostic approach to ancient human remains because it can be performed without causing any significant damage to the specimen.

Museum curators and living communities are sometimes reluctant to permit ancient DNA (aDNA) studies of human skeletal remains because the extraction of aDNA usually requires the destruction of at least some skeletal material. Whether these views stem from a desire to conserve precious materials or an objection to destroying ancestral remains, they limit the potential of aDNA research. To help address concerns about destructive analysis and to minimize damage to valuable specimens, we describe a nondestructive method for extracting DNA from ancient human remains. This method can be used with both teeth and bone, but it preserves the structural integrity of teeth much more effectively than that of bone. Using this method, we demonstrate that it is possible to extract both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from human remains dating between 300 BC and 1600 AD. Importantly, the method does not expose the remains to hazardous chemicals, allowing them to be safely returned to curators, custodians, and/or owners of the samples. We successfully amplified mitochondrial DNA from 90% of the individuals tested, and we were able to analyze 1-9 nuclear loci in 70% of individuals. We also show that repeated nondestructive extractions from the same tooth can yield amplifiable mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. The high success rate of this method and its ability to yield DNA from samples spanning a wide geographic and temporal range without destroying the structural integrity of the sampled material may make possible the genetic study of skeletal collections that are not available for destructive analysis.

The molecular analysis of ancient pathogen DNA represents a unique opportunity for the study of infectious diseases in ancient human remains. Among other diseases, paleogenetic studies have been successful in detecting tuberculous DNA in ancient human remains. In the beginning of ancient DNA (aDNA) studies, the presence of tuberculosis (TB) DNA was assessed using a PCR-based assay targeting specific regions of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) complex, such as the repetitive element IS6110. The advent of high-throughput sequencing has enabled the reconstruction of full ancient TB genomes in the field of paleomicrobiology. However, despite the numerous paleopathological and PCR-based studies on the presence of tuberculosis in historic human remains, full genome wide reconstructions are still limited to well-preserved specimens with low environmental contamination and connected with extensive screening efforts. This has led to some controversies regarding the evolutionary history of its causative agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this context, mummies have been shown to be a good source for the detection of MTB complex DNA due to a low exposure to environmental influences and the overall good state of preservation of hard and soft tissues in the human remains. Here, we present the major findings on the presence of TB infections in the 18th century naturally mummified human remains from Vác, Hungary and the current status of the detection of MTB complex DNA in mummified human remains. The future perspectives of detecting tuberculosis in mummies will be discussed in the light of methodological aspects, as well as ethical and curational challenges.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient chronic infectious disease that remains a global health concern. In human remains, the most common and characteristic clinical signs are the skeletal modifications involving the spine, such as in Pott's disease. Diagnosing TB in ancient human remains is challenging. Therefore, in this systematic review, the authors investigated the studies assessing molecular diagnosis of Pott's disease in ancient human remains with the intention to survey the literature, map the evidence, and identify gaps and future perspectives on TB in paleopathology. Our systematic review offers a full contextualization of the history of Pott's disease in ancient times. Our search strategy was performed between August 2022 and March 2023. The authors initially identified 340 records, and 74 studies were finally included and assessed for qualitative analysis. Due to non-specific clinical signs associated with TB, how best to diagnose tuberculosis in human remains still represents a central point. Nevertheless, ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis, lipid biomarkers, and spoligotyping might be extremely useful tools in the study of TB in human remains. Moreover, we propose the extraction and study of immune response genes involved in innate and adaptive immunity versus Mycobacterium spp. as an innovative and vastly overlooked approach in TB paleopathology. Complementary methodologies should be integrated to provide the best approach to the study of TB in human remains.