Paleopathological, Trichological and Paleoparasitological Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from the Migration Period Cemetery Prague-Zličín

Abstract

The study deals with the paleopathological analysis of human skeletal remains found in 173 Vinařice cultural group graves at Prague-Zlicin from the early stage of the Migration Period (5th century). Because the osteological collection was fragmentary, skeletal remains of only 113 individuals were analysed (28 men, 33 women, 18 children, and 5 adolescents; the sex of 29 adults remained unspecified). Paleopathological diagnoses were grounded in macroscopic and x-ray examinations. Most frequently, skeletal remains showed progressing degenerative processes such as spondylosis (49.1%, n=53) and arthrosis (37.7%, n=69). Traces of healed traumas were detected in 8.8% (n=113) of the cases. Demonstrations of inflammatory symptoms were observed in 16.8%, (n=113) of the cases, out of which were two suspected cases of tuberculosis. Regarding neoplastic diseases, only two benign tumours (skull osteomas) were diagnosed (3.9%, n=51). Internal frontal hyperostosis, biparietal thinning, and calcaneonavicular coalition were detected only sporadically. Cribra orbitalia was detected in eye sockets of 7.1% (n=28) of the cases.