Skeletal markers of occupational stress in the toes

A case report from Alcabideche (Cascais, Portugal)

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6136247
AutoresHoracio Cardoso (0000-0003-1338-101X, San Antonio College), L Lopes (0000-0002-5132-9258, San Antonio College), Luis A Lopes
Año2002
Volumen19
Páginas19-28
Fecha de publicación2002-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAntropologia Portuguesa (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0870-0990 • E-ISSN: 2182-7982
EditorialCoimbra University Press (PUBLISHER • PT)
DOI10.14195/2182-7982_19_2
OpenAlexW2503010064
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas6

The analysis and interpretation of skeletal markers of occupational stress play an important role in the reconstruction of activity patterns and socio-economic life of prehistoric and historic populations. In this paper, skeletal markers on the phalanges of the feet are described in an adult skeleton recovered from the archaeological excavation carried out in the churchyard of the S. Vicente Church (12 t h -19 t h centuries) in Alcabideche (Cascais, Portugal). These markers refer to well-developed flexor ridges on the proximal phalanges of the lateral four toes. The morphology and location of these alterations indicate strong flexor tendons and suggests that they were probably produced by stress brought about by frequent or repeated plantarflexion of the toes. Considering that farming and gardening would be frequent activities in this rural population, the authors suggest that the use of a hoe might be the regular or habitual activity that might have produced these alterations

Archaeology · Geography · Phalanx · Population · Prehistory · Skeleton (computer programming · Sociology · Demography · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Medicine · Paleopathology and ancient diseases · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Anatomy