Forensic Facial Approximation of Achondroplastic Dwarf from Medieval Cemetery in Central Europe (original) (raw)
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Skeletal dysplasia of an adult male from medieval Łekno in Poland, Central Europe
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2022
The skeletal dysplasias are a group of more than 450 heritable disorders that affect bone and cartilage, along with muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Achondroplasia is one of the most common skeletal dysplasias in both current and past populations. It can be transmitted intergenerationally, or it can result from a mutation. This paper aims to describe the lesions visible on the skeleton of a 30–45 year old male with achondroplasia, who lived during the 9th–11th centuries AD (medieval period) in Łekno, Poland. The Łekno settlement complex (Site 3) includes a cemetery with approximately 400 burials of monks and local lay people. Macroscopic examination facilitated a differential diagnosis that identified a probable case of achondroplastic dwarfism, combined with Léri–Weill dyschondrosteosis and ulnar hemimelia. This is the first case of dwarfism in the bioarchaeological literature that had been documented and visualized using 3D modelings, which were used to show quantitative differences in articular surface areas between the achondroplastic individual and contemporaries of normal stature. Ulnar hemimelia is most commonly seen today as a component of skeletal dysplasias. The right ulna of this male was significantly shorter than the right radius and the left ulna. It is probable that he had multiple skeletal dysplasia (achondroplasia, Léri–Weill dyschondrosteosis) as well as ulnar hemimelia as a component of achondroplasia. The combination of these disorders has not been previously reported in the bioarchaeological literature, and this individual is also the first case of achondroplasia and Léri–Weill dyschondrosteosis from the medieval period in Central Europe. As such, this example is used here to provide insights on a variety of different diseases, syndromes, and conditions in Polish medieval populations and that will help in future identification of rare diseases from archaeological sites.
https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.3155 The skeletal dysplasias are a group of more than 450 heritable disorders that affect bone and cartilage, along with muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Achondroplasia is one of the most common skeletal dysplasias in both current and past populations. It can be transmitted intergenerationally, or it can result from a mutation. This paper aims to describe the lesions visible on the skeleton of a 30-45 year old male with achondroplasia, who lived during the 9th-11th centuries AD (medieval period) in Łekno, Poland. The Łekno settlement complex (Site 3) includes a cemetery with approximately 400 burials of monks and local lay people. Macroscopic examination facilitated a differential diagnosis that identified a probable case of achondroplastic dwarfism, combined with Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis and ulnar hemimelia. This is
New evidence from Le Moustier 1: Computer‐assisted reconstruction and morphometry of the skull
The Anatomical Record, 1999
In this study, we present a new computerized reconstruction of the Le Moustier 1 Neanderthal skull and discuss its significance for Neanderthal growth and variability. Because of the precarious state of preservation of the original material, we applied entirely noninvasive methods of fossil reconstruction and morphometry, using a combination of computed tomography, computer graphics, and stereolithography.
Osteological evidence of achondroplasia in an individual from medieval Reusel, the Netherlands
Archaeological excavations in Reusel (North-Brabant, the Netherlands) revealed a medieval church and a cemetery (10th-15th century AD) with 493 interments. Among these was an adult individual with severely shortened limb bones resulting in a stature estimate of 112.6 to 117.8 +/- 3.27 cm. The bones of this individual were not in anatomical position, suggesting a secondary burial or disturbance of a primary burial when the first gothic church (15th century AD) was built. As a result, only a femur, humerus, ulna, clavicle, and partial pelvis were recovered. While the long bones of upper and lower limbs are markedly shortened, and have additional morphological alterations, the clavicle is of more normal size and morphology, suggesting the individual was affected by a form of disproportionate dwarfism. A differential diagnosis finds the anomalies are most likely the result of the autosomally dominant mutation achondroplasia, a genetic disorder that occurs in about one in 10,000-40,000 births. Around thirty cases of achondroplasia have been reported in the archaeological record, with this individual being among the shortest yet documented. Examination of this individual contributes to our palaeopathological knowledge of dwarfism and sheds light on how Dutch medieval society regarded such individuals.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2019
The study's goal is to propose a unified descriptive method for analysing artificial cranial deformation (ACD) in order to achieve consistent descriptions as well as to document the modification from a palaeopathological perspective. A number of examinations have dealt with the fact that ACD can either directly cause or predispose the formation of pathological and neurological lesions. The bulk of earlier studies only have focused on one or a few deviations in detail. The basic research aim was to assemble all previously described lesions which could be related to ACD; in addition, a further deviation undescribed as yet is also noted. Present and ongoing studies enable the development of a unified approach for the observation and description of ACD. Authors also suggest a data collector sheet based on previously published morphological alterations. This study makes an attempt to serve as a basis or a first step towards creating a general, standardized method to detect pathological alterations on ACD skulls and to distinguish ACD and non-ACD skulls from each other. In this paper, pathological consequences of ACD in ten individuals excavated from two contemporaneous cemeteries dated to the Hun-Germanic Period (fifth-sixth century AD) were investigated in an attempt to elucidate pathological lesions caused by ACD and to shed light on the possible connections between the type or the extent of deformation and the lesions appearing on ACD skulls. X-ray recordings were used to generate more accurate results, while previously used methods and recommendations were also applied in accordance with special literature.
“Bochdalek’s” skull: morphology report and reconstruction of face
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 2012
The objective of this study was to create a real model of a face using the well preserved ''Bochdalek's skull'' (from an eighteenth Century female aged 18 years) kept in the museum of anatomy (Institute of Anatomy, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University in Prague). The skull had previously been appraised as a deformed skull with an adhesion present on both sides of the jaw, most likely of post-traumatic origin (bilateral syngnathia). In an attempt to find the best description for it, and to identify the spatial relationships between the surface of the facial bones which had changed in shape, as well as the formation of soft tissue on the face, we decided to perform a 3D reconstruction of the face. Due to the necessity of preserving the unique original undamaged skull, we created an exact digital ''casting'' of the facial bone structure on a computer first, which we then converted into a three-dimensional model using a 3D RepRap printer. We needed to take into consideration the fact that we had no portrait of the girl, just the skull. For this reason, we opted for a selected combination of anthropologic steps (the modified Manchester technique), which in our view, allows for optimum creation of the topography of the face in keeping with the deformed skull. The resulting reconstructed face was old in appearance with an overhanging lower lip and flattened surfaces in the areas of the temporalis and masseter muscles.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2021
Facial approximation (FA) is a common tool used to recreate the possible facial appearance of a deceased person based on the relationship between soft tissue and the skull. Although this technique has been primarily applied to modern humans in the realm of forensic science and archaeology, only a few studies have attempted to produce FAs for archaic humans. This study presented a computerized FA approach for archaic humans based on the assumption that the facial soft tissue thickness depths (FSTDs) of modern living humans are similar to those of archaic humans. Additionally, we employed geometric morphometrics (GM) to examine the geometric morphological variations between the approximated faces and modern human faces. Our method has been applied to the Jinniushan (JNS) 1 archaic human, which is one of the most important fossils of the Middle Pleistocene, dating back to approximately 260,000 BP. The overall shape of the approximated face has a relatively lower forehead and robust eye...
An individual aged between 6 and 7 years at death from a 7th to 9th century cemetery at Village Farm, Spofforth, North Yorkshire, presented significant pathological swelling to the left facial bones. The ectocranial surface was bulbous and uneven, and the expanded diploë was densely packed with a mass of thick trabeculae. Radiographic and histological analysis, in combination with the macroscopically observed pathological changes, supported the differential diagnosis of fibrous dysplasia. The skeletal changes to the left face and jaw would have resulted in a significant facial deformity. Examples of individuals with physical impairments or disfigurements from Anglo-Saxon cemeteries are rare. Nevertheless, it seems that a significant proportion are afforded unusual burial practices more often associated with deviancy, for example, at the edge of cemeteries or on a reversed orientation, seemingly indicating that their diminished physical capabilities or altered physical appearance had a detrimental effect on their social status. The child from Spofforth was, however, buried in a normative manner, extended, supine and in a plain earth-cut grave, with no indication that their facial deformity had prompted unusual funerary provision. This example of facial disfigurement contributes to a growing corpus of potentially disabled individuals from early medieval England. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facial reconstruction of a pathological case
Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 2009
In this paper, we describe a forensic paleopathology case using findings obtained from images of a skull with leontiasis ossea. This unique specimen is on display in the National Museum of Anthropology and History in Mexico. The skull shows tissue overgrowth, periosteal bone proliferation, which produced a cortical and diploid thickening involving the entire bone matrix. The study of images, X-rays, and helical computed tomography revealed generalized hyperostosis obliterating the maxillary and sphenoid sinuses, and two exuberant bony masses arising from the maxilla with encroachment of the anterior nasal opening. In order to reconstruct an image of the external appearance in life, a copy was obtained in the first place, using a stereolithography machine, after that, threedimensional (3-D) facial reconstruction technique was applied, thus an approximation of the external appearance of this specimen was obtained. During the process, we encountered several difficulties, mainly when interpreting the cortical topography, the position of eyes and mouth. In this sense, facial reconstruction allows only for a moderate investigation due to the limited information that can be obtained from the skull and the significant alterations observed.