A macroscopic assessment of porosity and new bone formation on the inferior pars basilaris: normal growth or an indicator of scurvy?

Eggington, J., Pitt, R. and Hodson, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3408-2871 (2024) A macroscopic assessment of porosity and new bone formation on the inferior pars basilaris: normal growth or an indicator of scurvy? International Journal of Paleopathology, 45. pp. 62-72. ISSN 1879-9825 doi: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2024.05.001

Abstract/Summary

Objectives This research aims to determine the aetiology of porosity and subperiosteal new bone formation on the inferior surface of the pars basilaris. Materials A total of 199 non-adult individuals aged 36 weeks gestation to 3.5 years, from a total of 12 archaeological sites throughout the UK, including Iron Age (n=43), Roman (n=12), and post-medieval (n=145) sites, with a preserved pars basilaris. Methods The pars basilaris was divided into six segments, with porosity (micro and macro) and subperiosteal new bone formation recorded on the inferior surface in scorbutic and non-scorbutic individuals. Scurvy was diagnosed using criteria from the palaeopathological literature that was developed using a biological approach. Results There was no statistically significant difference in microporosity between scorbutic and non-scorbutic individuals in four out of the six segments analysed. There was a significant negative correlation between age and microporosity in non-scorbutic and scorbutic individuals. A significant difference in subperiosteal new bone formation was observed between scorbutic and non-scorbutic individuals. Conclusions Microporosity on the inferior pars basilaris should not be considered among the suite of lesions included in the macroscopic assessment of scurvy in non-adult skeletal remains (less than 3.5 years). Significance This study highlights the risk of over diagnosing scurvy in past populations. Limitations It is difficult to distinguish between physiological (normal) and pathological (abnormal) bone changes in the skeleton of individuals less than one year of age. Suggestions for further research Future research should focus on the analysis of individuals over 3.5 years of age.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/116733
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.ijpp.2024.05.001
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Archaeology
Publisher	Elsevier
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