Evidence of activity : a comparative study of activity induced skeletal stress markers among three medieval Irish populations
The aim of the present study is to identify the presence of multiple skeletal markers of âactivityâ (MOA), in the upper limbs and vertebrae, which are considered to represent the impact of mechanical stress. For this purpose entheseal changes, osteoarthritis, os acromiale, and Schmorl's nodes were analysed. The main question posed is; are these skeletal conditions useful indicators of activity among different socio-political communities and, if so, what implications might this suggest? Three medieval Irish agricultural populations, which are considered to have practised different subsistence economies were selected for analysis and a total of 553 adult skeletons were examined. The intra-population analysis revealed no indications of asymmetry in any of the populations, suggesting that agricultural populations used both their arms relatively equally in order to perform activities which required symmetrical strength. The analysis of sex demonstrated statistically significant MOA among males in all three populations, whereas females demonstrated no significant differences in the prevalence of these conditions. The age groups analysis revealed higher prevalence rates among middle adults in comparison to young
O'Reilly, Roisin A. B.
Evidence of activity : a comparative study of activity induced skeletal stress markers among three medieval Irish populations. The aim of the present study is to identify the presence of multiple skeletal markers of âactivityâ (MOA), in the upper limbs and vertebrae, which are considered to represent the impact of mechanical stress. For this purpose entheseal changes, osteoarthritis, os acromiale, and Schmorl's nodes were analysed. The main question posed is; are these skeletal conditions useful indicators of activity among different socio-political communities and, if so, what implications might this suggest? Three medieval Irish agricultural populations, which are considered to have practised different subsistence economies were selected for analysis and a total of 553 adult skeletons were examined. The intra-population analysis revealed no indications of asymmetry in any of the populations, suggesting that agricultural populations used both their arms relatively equally in order to perform activities which required symmetrical strength. The analysis of sex demonstrated statistically significant MOA among males in all three populations, whereas females demonstrated no significant differences in the prevalence of these conditions. The age groups analysis revealed higher prevalence rates among middle adults in comparison to young
evidence activity comparative_study activity induce skeletal_stress marker among medieval irish population aim_present study identify presence multiple skeletal marker activity upper limb consider represent impact mechanical stress purpose change osteoarthritis analyse main_question pose skeletal condition useful indicator activity_among different socio_political community implication might suggest medieval irish agricultural population consider different subsistence_economy select analysis total adult_skeleton examine intra population analysis_reveal indication asymmetry population suggest agricultural population use arm relatively equally order perform activity require strength analysis sex demonstrate statistically_significant among male population whereas female demonstrate significant_difference prevalence condition age_group analysis_reveal high_prevalence rate among middle adult comparison young