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Evidence of non-adult vitamin C deficiency in three early medieval sites in the Jaun/Podjuna Valley, Carinthia, Austria.
Srienc-Sciesiek, Magdalena T; Richards, Nina; Ladstätter, Sabine; Kirchengast, Sylvia.
Afiliación
  • Srienc-Sciesiek MT; Austrian Archaeological Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Franz-Klein Gasse 1, Vienna 1190, Austria; Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Djerassipl. 1, Vienna 1030, Austria. Electronic address: magdalena.srienc-sciesiek@oeaw.ac.at.
  • Richards N; Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Bäckerstraße 13, Vienna 1010, Austria.
  • Ladstätter S; Austrian Archaeological Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Franz-Klein Gasse 1, Vienna 1190, Austria.
  • Kirchengast S; Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Djerassipl. 1, Vienna 1030, Austria.
Int J Paleopathol ; 45: 18-29, 2024 Jun.
Article en En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38520801
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

This study aims to determine and discuss the prevalence of non-adult scurvy cases from the early medieval Jaun/Podjuna Valley in southern Austria. MATERIALS 86 non-adult individuals were assessed from three early medieval sites.

METHODS:

Morphological characteristics associated with suggestive and probable scurvy were observed macroscopically and under 20-40x magnification.

RESULTS:

A significant relationship between the prevalence of scurvy and age group was observed. Perinates (46%, 6/13) and children (27.5%, 8/28) showed a high prevalence of skeletal features indicating a diagnosis of scurvy, while no cases of scurvy were observed in adolescents and adults.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this Alpine region, scurvy occurred frequently in infants and children. Seasonal fluctuations of diet are discussed as factors triggering scurvy.

SIGNIFICANCE:

This study sheds new light on the prevalence of scurvy in the Alpine region and how the region developed after the fall of the Roman Noricum. It also models ways in which multiple lines of evidence can contribute to the diagnostic process.

LIMITATIONS:

Poor preservation posed a challenge to identifying probable cases of scurvy. Likewise, non-adult remains are difficult to diagnose due to their developing nature and it is not always possible to distinguish between normal bone growth and pathological growth. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Future applications of biomolecular studies will help illustrate changes in diet that may have contributed to vitamin deficiencies.
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Deficiencia de Ácido Ascórbico / Escorbuto Límite: Adolescent / Adult / Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Newborn País/Región como asunto: Europa Idioma: En Revista: Int J Paleopathol Año: 2024 Tipo del documento: Article Pais de publicación: Países Bajos
Texto completo
Añadir a Mi BVS
Imprimir
XML
PubMed Links
Buscar en Google

Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Deficiencia de Ácido Ascórbico / Escorbuto Límite: Adolescent / Adult / Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Newborn País/Región como asunto: Europa Idioma: En Revista: Int J Paleopathol Año: 2024 Tipo del documento: Article Pais de publicación: Países Bajos