Cleft palate

A case study of disability and survival in prehistoric North America

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4680949
AutoresM Phillips (0000-0002-0906-9085), S M Phillips (0000-0002-1870-4837, Indiana State University, autor de correspondencia), Michelle Sivilich (Indiana State University)
Año2006
Volumen16
Número6
Páginas528-535
Fecha de publicación2006-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.847
OpenAlexW2119434737
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas11
Referencias citadas15

This study presents an analysis of an adult male that demonstrates diagnostic markers of cleft palate. The burial is associated with the Grider Site, Late Woodland context (AD 500 to 1000), located in Pike County, Indiana, USA. The analysis draws on clinical and palaeopathology literature to consider other possible conditions responsible for the skeletal anomalies. Cleft palate occurs in about one in 1000 live births, and is one of the most common defects of the face. Despite the high frequency of cleft palate, few cases are reported from the archaeological record. It is possible that, in the past, few infants survived extreme forms of cleft palate, and such cases are not present to be recorded. Or, it is possible that the lesion simply goes undocumented. This analysis outlines the markers of cleft palate in this individual and demonstrates that a prehistoric culture could overcome the health issues experienced by an infant with the condition (full communication between the oral and nasal cavities) and survive to adulthood. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Archaeology · Biology · Hard palate · Paleopathology · Prehistory · Premolar · Woodland · Cleft Lip and Palate Research · Craniofacial Disorders and Treatments · Dentistry · History · Medicine · Urological Disorders and Treatments