Paleopathological evaluation of Hungarian skeletal remains from the 7th-9th centuries AD

Bibliographic Data

ID6136255
AuthorsErika Molnár (0000-0001-6660-9239), Antónia Marcsik (0000-0002-3121-4365)
Year2002
Volume19
Pages85-99
Publication date2002-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAntropologia Portuguesa (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0870-0990 • E-ISSN: 2182-7982
PublisherCoimbra University Press (PUBLISHER • PT)
DOI10.14195/2182-7982_19_8
OpenAlexW2475759721
LanguageEN
Citations received4

The Avars are one of the most remarkable populations of the Migration Period in the Carpathian basin. The 7 t h -9 t h century series of Szarvas represents an outstanding example of Avar age skeletal populations with gravegoods, like a runic scripted needle-case. Our attention was directed to this series by the relatively high number of linear hypoplasias, detected in a previous study. The macromorphological examination of the 423 skeletons was completed with radiological and, in a few cases, with paleomicrobiological analyses. Special attention was paid to infectious alterations, particularly to TB, which usually has a relatively high prevalence in this period. Our sample also shows a high number of infectious changes, including some potential tuberculous alterations. However, classic, advanced stage TB cases could not be found in the series. The detected alterations are rather atypical, early stage forms, observed mainly in children and young adults, often in association with other post-cranial pathological conditions. However, the diagnosis of tuberculosis was also supported by the biomolecular results in an elderly male individual, showing calcified pleura remains. Besides infections, the presence of some rarely reported pathological conditions, such as butterfly vertebra and hyperostosis frontalis interna, are worth mentioning

Eurasian Exchange Networks · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Paleopathology and ancient diseases