Eun Jin Woo | Seoul National University (original) (raw)

Papers by Eun Jin Woo

Research paper thumbnail of Bibliometric Analysis on the Trend of the Computed Tomography (CT)-Related Studies in the Field of Forensic Science

Applied Sciences

The computed tomography (CT) technique has attracted much attention as a promising tool for non-i... more The computed tomography (CT) technique has attracted much attention as a promising tool for non-invasive diagnosis and examination in the field of forensic science. The purpose of this study is to assess the trend in CT-related forensic studies through bibliometric methods and thus present a holistic idea about the application of CT in the field of forensic science of the past and present. A total of 2084 articles published in the Scopus index journals between 1978 and 2020 were analyzed using VOSviewer 1.6.15. A drastic increase in the number of CT-related articles was noticed in forensic science since the early 2000s. Switzerland, having the most productive institution (University of Zurich) and author (Michael J. Thali), contributed most to the increasing number of publications. Forensic Science International was the top journal, where approximately 12.5% of the articles (261 out of 2084) have been published. CT was frequently used for autopsy and diagnosis purposes, but recently...

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient mitochondrial DNA analysis of avian bones collected from the 4th century pit burial found in South Korea

Archaeological Research in Asia

Research paper thumbnail of The correlation between the tooth wear of the first molar and the estimated age from the auricular surfaces in a Joseon Dynasty population, South Korea

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

Research paper thumbnail of The relationship between ante‐mortem molar loss and mandibular ramus shape in an archaeological population from Korea

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

Research paper thumbnail of A Case Study of the Fetal Skeleton from a Joseon Period Cemetery

Anatomy & Biological Anthropology

In this study, the case of the burial of a couple with their perinatal child in a cemetery from t... more In this study, the case of the burial of a couple with their perinatal child in a cemetery from the Joseon period (Eunpyeong site) of South Korea was examined. In archaeological populations, high mortality rates of young females are often associated with problems related to pregnancy and childbirth. However, discoveries of pregnant women and fetal skeletons are very rare in archaeological research. Here, we report the case of a burial of a pregnant female and her perinatal child from a Joseon period cemetery site. The gestational age of fetus was estimated to be between 8.5 months and 9.5 months based on the cranial size and long bone length. The pregnant female under study appears to have died with fetal remains in utero. An examination of this case did not provide evidence that stress of obstetrical event was the direct cause of death. The rare case presented here makes a valuable contribution to the literature on pregnancy and obstetrical issues in past populations.

Research paper thumbnail of Cranial index in a modern people of Thai ancestry

Anatomy & Cell Biology

teenth century [1]. Moreover, currently univariate analyses using this index cannot compete with ... more teenth century [1]. Moreover, currently univariate analyses using this index cannot compete with multivariate techniques [2]. However, variation of the cranial shape is known to be associated with specific ancestral groups although there is still controversy surrounding cranial index. Besides, this index is generally known to be higher in females than in males regardless of the degree of interethnic variability. In this context, the cranial index can be an important parameter when attempting to quantify population differences and understand human variations among populations. In particular, it can assist forensic anthropologists with the categorization of human skulls, which may be an important component in the identification of highly decomposed bodies and skeletal remains [3]. Additionally, this index is clinically used as an anthropometric parameter in assessments of growth, development and specific disorders in relation to clinical diagnose and treat

Research paper thumbnail of Paleopathological Studies of Infectious Disease: Examination of the Osteoarchaeological Research

Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology

Reconstructing the impact of infectious disease on past populations is one of the main fields in ... more Reconstructing the impact of infectious disease on past populations is one of the main fields in paleopathological studies. The initial phase of paleopathology was descriptive, focusing on the identification and presence of disease in the past. However, currently paleopathological studies are moving toward probing questions about the larger picture of origin and transmission of disease agents. In this study, paleopathological studies of major infectious disease (i.e., tubuerculosis, treponemal disease and leprosy) were reviewed through osteoarcheological work published in

Research paper thumbnail of Probable Cases of Scurvy in Subadults Crania from Archaeological Sites, South Korea

Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology

In this study, the skeletal abnormalities associated with scurvy in subadults crania from three a... more In this study, the skeletal abnormalities associated with scurvy in subadults crania from three archaeological skeletal collections (Nukdo, Imdang, Yeanri), South Korea was analyzed to examine the prevalence and distribution of childhood scurvy of ancient Korea. For this, 30 subadults crania from the Nukdo, Imdang, Yeanri site were examined. Using criteria described by Ortner and Ericksen (1997) for identifying scurvy in skeletal material we evaluated the cranial skeleton of the subadults for evidence of abnormal porosity. All skeletal materials were macroscopically evaluated for pathological changes associated with scurvy. In results, lesions indicative of probable scurvy were observed in 22 individuals of 30 individuals. Based on the results, childhood disease relating to nutrition and metabolism in ancient Korea might have been widespread, along with scurvy. The results of the present study will be useful for understanding the health condition of the ancient Korean populations. Future work will add significantly to the larger picture of diet and disease within populations of ancient Korea.

Research paper thumbnail of Anthropological Study on the Cremated Bones of the Late Silla Kingdom Period in Korean History

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in Mandibular Ramus Shape from the Neolithic to Modern Periods in Korea

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

Research paper thumbnail of Review of Previous Studies on Dental Wear Method

Anatomy & Biological Anthropology

Tooth wear records valuable information ranging from diets to cultural behaviors such as using te... more Tooth wear records valuable information ranging from diets to cultural behaviors such as using teeth as a tool. However, methods analyzing tooth wear in archaeological skeletal remains have been designed and developed with subjective standards and processes. In addition, the definition of measuring range is different by each method and some have not specified it exactly. For this reason, there are limits to attempt a comparison between studies using different types of tooth wear methods even though data on tooth wear in ancient populations have been accumulated for many years. To solve this problem, it is needed to establish a method that can objectively diagnose tooth wear. This study aims to examine systematically a variety of tooth wear methods which have been developed from an anthropological point of view and to consider limitations of each method. A total of 20 research papers which describe a new dental wear method or advanced one were included in this review and then classified into two categories based on the properties of the measurement value, which means both qualitative and quantitative methods of dental wear. Qualitative wear methods were examined according to two subdivisions (① entire pattern on the occlusal surface, ② sum of quadrants on the occlusal surface). On the other hand, quantitative wear methods were divided into three classifications (① angle, ② height ③ area) and each category was reviewed. This approach enables to help understand the trend about methods for analyzing tooth wear, and would contribute to establishing an objective tooth wear method by more standardized criteria in the near future.

Research paper thumbnail of Biomechanical Analysis of Femoral Diaphyseal Cross-sectional Properties from the Three Kingdoms Period Populations, Korea

Anatomy & Biological Anthropology

The purpose of this research is to examine and report the biomechanical characteristics of the pa... more The purpose of this research is to examine and report the biomechanical characteristics of the past populations that lived in different environments during the Three Kingdom Period of ancient Korea. In this research, the cross-sectional size of the femoral subtrochanter region and mid-shaft was measured for the human skeletal remains excavated from the Three Kingdoms Period sites: Imdang and Yean-ri site. The results showed that two populations were grouped into the platymeric category. Moreover, female groups were more platymeric than males. The difference in platymeric index between populations was significant only among female groups with the samples of Imdang site more platymeric than those of Yean-ri site. Meanwhile, pilasteric indexes in two populations were similar level. This study is the first report of the mechanical characteristics in the Three Kingdoms Period population. Yet, for more detailed understanding, it is necessary to investigate more individuals of indicators for biomechanical loading in ancient Korean populations.

Research paper thumbnail of Syphilitic infection in a pre-modern population from South Korea (19th century AD)

Anthropological Science

Recent studies suggest that acquired syphilis evolved in the Old World from a non-sexually transm... more Recent studies suggest that acquired syphilis evolved in the Old World from a non-sexually transmitted treponeme originating in the New World during early European expansion and colonization. However, when and via which route the bacteria were introduced into Asia remains uncertain. This study examined the first paleopathological evidence of syphilitic infection in an individual from the 19th century AD in South Korea. The individuals from a site identified as the middle and late Joseon period were examined for the presence of the skeletal lesions that are indicative of an acquired syphilitic infection. Direct macroscopic observation of the skeletal remains was conducted alongside radiological analysis. One individual displayed extensive pathologies throughout the cranial and postcranial skeleton. Treponematosis is the only disease that best explains the pattern of lytic cranial lesions and widespread bilateral symmetrical periosteal new bone of the postcranial elements. To date, paleopathological evidence of treponemal disease in Asia is severely limited. In this regard, this study provides meaningful data for studying the history of infectious disease in Asia. This study represents the only known archaeological case in South Korea.

Research paper thumbnail of Analytical Review of the Forensic Anthropological Techniques for Stature Estimation in Korea

Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology

Mean of the maximum left femoral lengths of Korean females in Lee et al. [46] † Standard deviatio... more Mean of the maximum left femoral lengths of Korean females in Lee et al. [46] † Standard deviation of the maximum left femoral lengths of Korean females (= 2.3268 cm) in Lee et al. [46] ‡ Calculated by 'estimates by Lee et al. [46]-estimates by Trotter [8]'

Research paper thumbnail of Principles of Archaeogenetics and the Current Trends of Ancient Genome Studies

Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology

Archaeogenetics is an academic discipline that aims to establish scientific facts of human histor... more Archaeogenetics is an academic discipline that aims to establish scientific facts of human history by integrating ancient DNA analyses with archaeological and anthropological evidence. After ancient DNA research was initiated about 30 years ago, it has been innovated so rapidly that the range of analysis has been extended toward the whole genome sequence of ancient genomes in recent 10 years. By this development, researchers have been able to study in detail the origins and migration patterns of hominin species and ancient human populations by approaches of evolutionary genetics. This study has reviewed main principles of the archaeogenetic analysis and the current trends of ancient genome studies with recent achievements. While sampling techniques and statistical analyses have been improved, typical research methods have been established by the findings on hominins and ancient western Eurasia populations. Recently, archaeogenecists have been applying the methods to studying those in other geographical areas. Nonetheless, there is still the lack of ancient genome research about populations in Eastern Asia including the Korean peninsula. This review ultimately aims to predict possibilities and promise of future ancient genome studies of ancient Korean populations.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing the physical and pathological traits of human skeletal remains from cemetery localities at the Rakhigarhi site of the Harappan Civilization

Anthropological Science

The Rakhigarhi site is the location of the ruins of an ancient megacity of the Harappan civilizat... more The Rakhigarhi site is the location of the ruins of an ancient megacity of the Harappan civilization and had not previously been investigated thoroughly. We tried to examine the physical and pathological traits of human skeletons (n = 37) from the cemetery at the site. In our study, a cranial index was calculated from one male skull (dolichocranic; index value = 65.78). The mean statures estimated by long bone length were 175.8 cm (male) and 166.1 cm (female). The indices of femoral diaphyseal shape were 79.8 (males) and 90.31 (females) for the platymeric index; and 113.78 (males) and 112.74 (female) for the pilasteric index. The dental health of the subjects appeared to be good as the overall prevalence of oral pathologies (caries and antemortem tooth loss) was generally low. Periosteal reactions were found in tibias and possible evidence of osteomyelitis was also observed in a femur. Some joint parts showed signs of osteoarthritis. Although various pathologies have been identified, we could not find any specific lesions suggestive of leprosy and tuberculosis in these skeletons. Although our study has added invaluable data to the existing information pool on the health and disease status of Harappan society, more accurate conjecture on the structure of Harrappan society based on bioarchaeological evidence will need additional research based on future excavations at Rakhigarhi cemetery.

Research paper thumbnail of A historical approach to syphilis infection in Korea

Acta medico-historica Adriatica

From the end of the 15th century, syphilis spread worldwide, posing a serious threat to public he... more From the end of the 15th century, syphilis spread worldwide, posing a serious threat to public health. Venereal syphilis has been a major research topic, not only in clinical medicine but also in paleopathology, especially because it is a disease of questionable origin and of high prevalence until the discovery of antibiotics. Syphilis in history has been studied extensively in Europe and the Americas, though less so in Asia. In this review, based on extant historical documents and available paleopathological data, we pinpoint the introduction and trace the spread of venereal syphilis in Korea to the end of the 19th century. This review provides

Research paper thumbnail of Horse-riding accidents and injuries in historical records of Joseon Dynasty, Korea

International journal of paleopathology, 2018

Only a few osteological reports describe bone injuries thought to have been caused by falls from ... more Only a few osteological reports describe bone injuries thought to have been caused by falls from horses. Nevertheless, anthropological study alone is insufficient for establishing the correlates of such equestrian accidents. We therefore reviewed the records in Seungjeongwon ilgi (Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) and Joseon wangjo silrok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty) of the Korea's Joseon period (1392-1910 CE). Although the mechanisms of trauma were diverse, the Joseon documents recorded many injuries caused by horse-riding accidents. During 1625-1872 CE, equestrian-related accidents occurred almost every year, overwhelming other causes of trauma. In all horse-riding accidents (n=142), 37.77% of the records offer detailed data about the traumatic mechanism. Injuries occurred most frequently to the extremities (79.58%), which were followed by the trunk (34.5%) and head (4.92%). Although we do not think that this attempt can explain every paleopathological case, our historical r...

Research paper thumbnail of Archaeological and anthropological studies on the Harappan cemetery of Rakhigarhi, India

PloS one, 2018

An insufficient number of archaeological surveys has been carried out to date on Harappan Civiliz... more An insufficient number of archaeological surveys has been carried out to date on Harappan Civilization cemeteries. One case in point is the necropolis at Rakhigarhi site (Haryana, India), one of the largest cities of the Harappan Civilization, where most burials within the cemetery remained uninvestigated. Over the course of the past three seasons (2013 to 2016), we therefore conducted excavations in an attempt to remedy this data shortfall. In brief, we found different kinds of graves co-existing within the Rakhigarhi cemetery in varying proportions. Primary interment was most common, followed by the use of secondary, symbolic, and unused (empty) graves. Within the first category, the atypical burials appear to have been elaborately prepared. Prone-positioned internments also attracted our attention. Since those individuals are not likely to have been social deviants, it is necessary to reconsider our pre-conceptions about such prone-position burials in archaeology, at least in the...

Research paper thumbnail of Dental Pathologies in the Three Kingdoms Period Population from Imdang Site, Gyeongsan, Korea

Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology

Dental pathology has the potential to provide insight into the interpretation of the health and l... more Dental pathology has the potential to provide insight into the interpretation of the health and life style of past population. In particular, dental pathologies are strongly correlated to subsistence pattern, diet habits and food-preparation techniques. For this reason, my studies have focused on analyses of dental diseases (e.g., caries, abscesses, ante-mortem tooth loss, enamel hypoplasia, dental attrition, and periodontal diseases). The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of dental pathologies of the Imdang population dating to between A.D. 3rd and A.D. 7th centuries (Three Kingdoms Period). In this study, through a macroscopic observation of dental remains from 138 individuals of the Imdang site, the prevalence of caries, abscess and ante-mortem tooth loss was examined. The association between sex, age and the frequencies of pathology was analyzed by the Chi-square tests. The results showed that the frequency of dental pathologies was consistently low level in Imdang population. Caries prevalence in the Imdang population was higher in females (6.15%) that in males (4.89). Among dental pathologies, abscess prevalence (0.7%) was lowest in Imdang population. Meanwhile, AMTL prevalence was 10.81% in males and 3.8% in females. There is a statistically significant difference between the anterior teeth of males and females (p<0.05). This study revealed that the rate of dental caries, abscess and AMTL in the Three Kingdoms Period population was relatively low level. This study is the first report of the patterns of dental pathologies in the Three Kingdoms Period population. It is necessary to investigate more number of pathologic markers that needed for deeper understanding of the multi-faceted nature of dental pathologies of ancient populations.

Research paper thumbnail of Bibliometric Analysis on the Trend of the Computed Tomography (CT)-Related Studies in the Field of Forensic Science

Applied Sciences

The computed tomography (CT) technique has attracted much attention as a promising tool for non-i... more The computed tomography (CT) technique has attracted much attention as a promising tool for non-invasive diagnosis and examination in the field of forensic science. The purpose of this study is to assess the trend in CT-related forensic studies through bibliometric methods and thus present a holistic idea about the application of CT in the field of forensic science of the past and present. A total of 2084 articles published in the Scopus index journals between 1978 and 2020 were analyzed using VOSviewer 1.6.15. A drastic increase in the number of CT-related articles was noticed in forensic science since the early 2000s. Switzerland, having the most productive institution (University of Zurich) and author (Michael J. Thali), contributed most to the increasing number of publications. Forensic Science International was the top journal, where approximately 12.5% of the articles (261 out of 2084) have been published. CT was frequently used for autopsy and diagnosis purposes, but recently...

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient mitochondrial DNA analysis of avian bones collected from the 4th century pit burial found in South Korea

Archaeological Research in Asia

Research paper thumbnail of The correlation between the tooth wear of the first molar and the estimated age from the auricular surfaces in a Joseon Dynasty population, South Korea

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

Research paper thumbnail of The relationship between ante‐mortem molar loss and mandibular ramus shape in an archaeological population from Korea

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

Research paper thumbnail of A Case Study of the Fetal Skeleton from a Joseon Period Cemetery

Anatomy & Biological Anthropology

In this study, the case of the burial of a couple with their perinatal child in a cemetery from t... more In this study, the case of the burial of a couple with their perinatal child in a cemetery from the Joseon period (Eunpyeong site) of South Korea was examined. In archaeological populations, high mortality rates of young females are often associated with problems related to pregnancy and childbirth. However, discoveries of pregnant women and fetal skeletons are very rare in archaeological research. Here, we report the case of a burial of a pregnant female and her perinatal child from a Joseon period cemetery site. The gestational age of fetus was estimated to be between 8.5 months and 9.5 months based on the cranial size and long bone length. The pregnant female under study appears to have died with fetal remains in utero. An examination of this case did not provide evidence that stress of obstetrical event was the direct cause of death. The rare case presented here makes a valuable contribution to the literature on pregnancy and obstetrical issues in past populations.

Research paper thumbnail of Cranial index in a modern people of Thai ancestry

Anatomy & Cell Biology

teenth century [1]. Moreover, currently univariate analyses using this index cannot compete with ... more teenth century [1]. Moreover, currently univariate analyses using this index cannot compete with multivariate techniques [2]. However, variation of the cranial shape is known to be associated with specific ancestral groups although there is still controversy surrounding cranial index. Besides, this index is generally known to be higher in females than in males regardless of the degree of interethnic variability. In this context, the cranial index can be an important parameter when attempting to quantify population differences and understand human variations among populations. In particular, it can assist forensic anthropologists with the categorization of human skulls, which may be an important component in the identification of highly decomposed bodies and skeletal remains [3]. Additionally, this index is clinically used as an anthropometric parameter in assessments of growth, development and specific disorders in relation to clinical diagnose and treat

Research paper thumbnail of Paleopathological Studies of Infectious Disease: Examination of the Osteoarchaeological Research

Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology

Reconstructing the impact of infectious disease on past populations is one of the main fields in ... more Reconstructing the impact of infectious disease on past populations is one of the main fields in paleopathological studies. The initial phase of paleopathology was descriptive, focusing on the identification and presence of disease in the past. However, currently paleopathological studies are moving toward probing questions about the larger picture of origin and transmission of disease agents. In this study, paleopathological studies of major infectious disease (i.e., tubuerculosis, treponemal disease and leprosy) were reviewed through osteoarcheological work published in

Research paper thumbnail of Probable Cases of Scurvy in Subadults Crania from Archaeological Sites, South Korea

Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology

In this study, the skeletal abnormalities associated with scurvy in subadults crania from three a... more In this study, the skeletal abnormalities associated with scurvy in subadults crania from three archaeological skeletal collections (Nukdo, Imdang, Yeanri), South Korea was analyzed to examine the prevalence and distribution of childhood scurvy of ancient Korea. For this, 30 subadults crania from the Nukdo, Imdang, Yeanri site were examined. Using criteria described by Ortner and Ericksen (1997) for identifying scurvy in skeletal material we evaluated the cranial skeleton of the subadults for evidence of abnormal porosity. All skeletal materials were macroscopically evaluated for pathological changes associated with scurvy. In results, lesions indicative of probable scurvy were observed in 22 individuals of 30 individuals. Based on the results, childhood disease relating to nutrition and metabolism in ancient Korea might have been widespread, along with scurvy. The results of the present study will be useful for understanding the health condition of the ancient Korean populations. Future work will add significantly to the larger picture of diet and disease within populations of ancient Korea.

Research paper thumbnail of Anthropological Study on the Cremated Bones of the Late Silla Kingdom Period in Korean History

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in Mandibular Ramus Shape from the Neolithic to Modern Periods in Korea

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

Research paper thumbnail of Review of Previous Studies on Dental Wear Method

Anatomy & Biological Anthropology

Tooth wear records valuable information ranging from diets to cultural behaviors such as using te... more Tooth wear records valuable information ranging from diets to cultural behaviors such as using teeth as a tool. However, methods analyzing tooth wear in archaeological skeletal remains have been designed and developed with subjective standards and processes. In addition, the definition of measuring range is different by each method and some have not specified it exactly. For this reason, there are limits to attempt a comparison between studies using different types of tooth wear methods even though data on tooth wear in ancient populations have been accumulated for many years. To solve this problem, it is needed to establish a method that can objectively diagnose tooth wear. This study aims to examine systematically a variety of tooth wear methods which have been developed from an anthropological point of view and to consider limitations of each method. A total of 20 research papers which describe a new dental wear method or advanced one were included in this review and then classified into two categories based on the properties of the measurement value, which means both qualitative and quantitative methods of dental wear. Qualitative wear methods were examined according to two subdivisions (① entire pattern on the occlusal surface, ② sum of quadrants on the occlusal surface). On the other hand, quantitative wear methods were divided into three classifications (① angle, ② height ③ area) and each category was reviewed. This approach enables to help understand the trend about methods for analyzing tooth wear, and would contribute to establishing an objective tooth wear method by more standardized criteria in the near future.

Research paper thumbnail of Biomechanical Analysis of Femoral Diaphyseal Cross-sectional Properties from the Three Kingdoms Period Populations, Korea

Anatomy & Biological Anthropology

The purpose of this research is to examine and report the biomechanical characteristics of the pa... more The purpose of this research is to examine and report the biomechanical characteristics of the past populations that lived in different environments during the Three Kingdom Period of ancient Korea. In this research, the cross-sectional size of the femoral subtrochanter region and mid-shaft was measured for the human skeletal remains excavated from the Three Kingdoms Period sites: Imdang and Yean-ri site. The results showed that two populations were grouped into the platymeric category. Moreover, female groups were more platymeric than males. The difference in platymeric index between populations was significant only among female groups with the samples of Imdang site more platymeric than those of Yean-ri site. Meanwhile, pilasteric indexes in two populations were similar level. This study is the first report of the mechanical characteristics in the Three Kingdoms Period population. Yet, for more detailed understanding, it is necessary to investigate more individuals of indicators for biomechanical loading in ancient Korean populations.

Research paper thumbnail of Syphilitic infection in a pre-modern population from South Korea (19th century AD)

Anthropological Science

Recent studies suggest that acquired syphilis evolved in the Old World from a non-sexually transm... more Recent studies suggest that acquired syphilis evolved in the Old World from a non-sexually transmitted treponeme originating in the New World during early European expansion and colonization. However, when and via which route the bacteria were introduced into Asia remains uncertain. This study examined the first paleopathological evidence of syphilitic infection in an individual from the 19th century AD in South Korea. The individuals from a site identified as the middle and late Joseon period were examined for the presence of the skeletal lesions that are indicative of an acquired syphilitic infection. Direct macroscopic observation of the skeletal remains was conducted alongside radiological analysis. One individual displayed extensive pathologies throughout the cranial and postcranial skeleton. Treponematosis is the only disease that best explains the pattern of lytic cranial lesions and widespread bilateral symmetrical periosteal new bone of the postcranial elements. To date, paleopathological evidence of treponemal disease in Asia is severely limited. In this regard, this study provides meaningful data for studying the history of infectious disease in Asia. This study represents the only known archaeological case in South Korea.

Research paper thumbnail of Analytical Review of the Forensic Anthropological Techniques for Stature Estimation in Korea

Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology

Mean of the maximum left femoral lengths of Korean females in Lee et al. [46] † Standard deviatio... more Mean of the maximum left femoral lengths of Korean females in Lee et al. [46] † Standard deviation of the maximum left femoral lengths of Korean females (= 2.3268 cm) in Lee et al. [46] ‡ Calculated by 'estimates by Lee et al. [46]-estimates by Trotter [8]'

Research paper thumbnail of Principles of Archaeogenetics and the Current Trends of Ancient Genome Studies

Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology

Archaeogenetics is an academic discipline that aims to establish scientific facts of human histor... more Archaeogenetics is an academic discipline that aims to establish scientific facts of human history by integrating ancient DNA analyses with archaeological and anthropological evidence. After ancient DNA research was initiated about 30 years ago, it has been innovated so rapidly that the range of analysis has been extended toward the whole genome sequence of ancient genomes in recent 10 years. By this development, researchers have been able to study in detail the origins and migration patterns of hominin species and ancient human populations by approaches of evolutionary genetics. This study has reviewed main principles of the archaeogenetic analysis and the current trends of ancient genome studies with recent achievements. While sampling techniques and statistical analyses have been improved, typical research methods have been established by the findings on hominins and ancient western Eurasia populations. Recently, archaeogenecists have been applying the methods to studying those in other geographical areas. Nonetheless, there is still the lack of ancient genome research about populations in Eastern Asia including the Korean peninsula. This review ultimately aims to predict possibilities and promise of future ancient genome studies of ancient Korean populations.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing the physical and pathological traits of human skeletal remains from cemetery localities at the Rakhigarhi site of the Harappan Civilization

Anthropological Science

The Rakhigarhi site is the location of the ruins of an ancient megacity of the Harappan civilizat... more The Rakhigarhi site is the location of the ruins of an ancient megacity of the Harappan civilization and had not previously been investigated thoroughly. We tried to examine the physical and pathological traits of human skeletons (n = 37) from the cemetery at the site. In our study, a cranial index was calculated from one male skull (dolichocranic; index value = 65.78). The mean statures estimated by long bone length were 175.8 cm (male) and 166.1 cm (female). The indices of femoral diaphyseal shape were 79.8 (males) and 90.31 (females) for the platymeric index; and 113.78 (males) and 112.74 (female) for the pilasteric index. The dental health of the subjects appeared to be good as the overall prevalence of oral pathologies (caries and antemortem tooth loss) was generally low. Periosteal reactions were found in tibias and possible evidence of osteomyelitis was also observed in a femur. Some joint parts showed signs of osteoarthritis. Although various pathologies have been identified, we could not find any specific lesions suggestive of leprosy and tuberculosis in these skeletons. Although our study has added invaluable data to the existing information pool on the health and disease status of Harappan society, more accurate conjecture on the structure of Harrappan society based on bioarchaeological evidence will need additional research based on future excavations at Rakhigarhi cemetery.

Research paper thumbnail of A historical approach to syphilis infection in Korea

Acta medico-historica Adriatica

From the end of the 15th century, syphilis spread worldwide, posing a serious threat to public he... more From the end of the 15th century, syphilis spread worldwide, posing a serious threat to public health. Venereal syphilis has been a major research topic, not only in clinical medicine but also in paleopathology, especially because it is a disease of questionable origin and of high prevalence until the discovery of antibiotics. Syphilis in history has been studied extensively in Europe and the Americas, though less so in Asia. In this review, based on extant historical documents and available paleopathological data, we pinpoint the introduction and trace the spread of venereal syphilis in Korea to the end of the 19th century. This review provides

Research paper thumbnail of Horse-riding accidents and injuries in historical records of Joseon Dynasty, Korea

International journal of paleopathology, 2018

Only a few osteological reports describe bone injuries thought to have been caused by falls from ... more Only a few osteological reports describe bone injuries thought to have been caused by falls from horses. Nevertheless, anthropological study alone is insufficient for establishing the correlates of such equestrian accidents. We therefore reviewed the records in Seungjeongwon ilgi (Diaries of the Royal Secretariat) and Joseon wangjo silrok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty) of the Korea's Joseon period (1392-1910 CE). Although the mechanisms of trauma were diverse, the Joseon documents recorded many injuries caused by horse-riding accidents. During 1625-1872 CE, equestrian-related accidents occurred almost every year, overwhelming other causes of trauma. In all horse-riding accidents (n=142), 37.77% of the records offer detailed data about the traumatic mechanism. Injuries occurred most frequently to the extremities (79.58%), which were followed by the trunk (34.5%) and head (4.92%). Although we do not think that this attempt can explain every paleopathological case, our historical r...

Research paper thumbnail of Archaeological and anthropological studies on the Harappan cemetery of Rakhigarhi, India

PloS one, 2018

An insufficient number of archaeological surveys has been carried out to date on Harappan Civiliz... more An insufficient number of archaeological surveys has been carried out to date on Harappan Civilization cemeteries. One case in point is the necropolis at Rakhigarhi site (Haryana, India), one of the largest cities of the Harappan Civilization, where most burials within the cemetery remained uninvestigated. Over the course of the past three seasons (2013 to 2016), we therefore conducted excavations in an attempt to remedy this data shortfall. In brief, we found different kinds of graves co-existing within the Rakhigarhi cemetery in varying proportions. Primary interment was most common, followed by the use of secondary, symbolic, and unused (empty) graves. Within the first category, the atypical burials appear to have been elaborately prepared. Prone-positioned internments also attracted our attention. Since those individuals are not likely to have been social deviants, it is necessary to reconsider our pre-conceptions about such prone-position burials in archaeology, at least in the...

Research paper thumbnail of Dental Pathologies in the Three Kingdoms Period Population from Imdang Site, Gyeongsan, Korea

Korean Journal of Physical Anthropology

Dental pathology has the potential to provide insight into the interpretation of the health and l... more Dental pathology has the potential to provide insight into the interpretation of the health and life style of past population. In particular, dental pathologies are strongly correlated to subsistence pattern, diet habits and food-preparation techniques. For this reason, my studies have focused on analyses of dental diseases (e.g., caries, abscesses, ante-mortem tooth loss, enamel hypoplasia, dental attrition, and periodontal diseases). The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of dental pathologies of the Imdang population dating to between A.D. 3rd and A.D. 7th centuries (Three Kingdoms Period). In this study, through a macroscopic observation of dental remains from 138 individuals of the Imdang site, the prevalence of caries, abscess and ante-mortem tooth loss was examined. The association between sex, age and the frequencies of pathology was analyzed by the Chi-square tests. The results showed that the frequency of dental pathologies was consistently low level in Imdang population. Caries prevalence in the Imdang population was higher in females (6.15%) that in males (4.89). Among dental pathologies, abscess prevalence (0.7%) was lowest in Imdang population. Meanwhile, AMTL prevalence was 10.81% in males and 3.8% in females. There is a statistically significant difference between the anterior teeth of males and females (p<0.05). This study revealed that the rate of dental caries, abscess and AMTL in the Three Kingdoms Period population was relatively low level. This study is the first report of the patterns of dental pathologies in the Three Kingdoms Period population. It is necessary to investigate more number of pathologic markers that needed for deeper understanding of the multi-faceted nature of dental pathologies of ancient populations.