Paleopathological Findings in Cranial Series from a Necropolis of a Medieval Town of Drustar (Silistra), Bulgaria

Abstract

The comprehensive study of the various paleopahological findings on bone material is of great importance for the biological reconstruction. It is also a valuable source of information about the way of life of the past populations. In this study we described some paleopathological findings on cranial series obtained from archaeological excavation of a necropolis of the medieval town of Drustar (9th-15th century), Northeastern Bulgaria. Drustar was the most important Bulgarian fortress of the lower Danube. This town was connected with the earlier history of Bulgaria since it was one of the first places in which the Slavic people and the Bulgars were settled after they passed over Danube. The town was also an inheritor of the Roman town Durostorum, called Dorostol from the Byzantines. From the Ottoman period in Bulgaria till today the town bears the name Silistra.The investigated cranial series includes a total of 196 crania (70 male, 50 female, 59 infant, and 17 unidentified). There are two cases of traumas inflicted as a probable result of battle injuries in adult male individuals. In a few individuals is observed cribra orbitalia as an evidence of anemia. Concerning the jaw and tooth pathology the most common findings were the dental caries with related complications. There are also some cases of alveolar atrophy in adult individuals and cases of temporomandibular joint arthritis as well. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n11p640