rome and Joint-Diseases

The increasing attention of archaeological and anthropological research towards palaeopathological studies has allowed to focus the examination of many skeletal samples on this aspect and to evaluate the presence of many diseases afflicting ancient populations. This paper describes the most interesting diseases observed in skeletal samples from five necropolises found in urban and suburban areas of Rome during archaeological excavations in the last decades, and dating back to the Imperial Age. The diseases observed were grouped into the following categories: articular diseases, traumas, infections, metabolic or nutritional diseases, congenital diseases and tumors, and some examples are reported for each group. Although extensive epidemiological investigation in ancient skeletal records is impossible, palaeopathology allowed highlighting the spread of numerous illnesses, many of which can be related to the life and health conditions of the Roman population.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child, Preschool; Communicable Diseases; Congenital Abnormalities; Female; History, Ancient; Humans; Joint Diseases; Male; Metabolic Diseases; Middle Aged; Mummies; Paleopathology; Rome; Wounds and Injuries; Young Adult

A Roman skeleton (T.130) from the roman necropolis of Casalecchio di Reno has been studied in order to understand if the hypothesis of crutch use, suggested by the severe articular degeneration at the hip joint that caused evident reduction of his locomotory possibilities, could be supported by the morphological alterations of other bones and joints. The pathological changes and muscular development of the upper limbs and shoulder girdle bones suggest that these parts were submitted to a great mechanical stress. The observations are consistent with the hypothesis of crutch use that would have involved a new weight-bearing function of the upper limbs in order to help locomotion, even though it is difficult to assess the number and type of the crutches. The comparison with other possible cases of crutch use reported in literature gives an additional support to the interpretation of the findings.

Topics: Biomechanical Phenomena; Crutches; Gait; Hip; History, Ancient; Humans; Joint Diseases; Male; Paleopathology; Rome; Stress, Mechanical

Topics: Aphasia; Central Nervous System Diseases; Eye Diseases; General Surgery; Geriatrics; Hemiplegia; History of Medicine; Humans; Joint Diseases; Necrosis; Parkinson Disease; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Rome; Ulcer