The skeletal biology of two late medieval Eastern Scottish populations recovered from the sites of Carmelite Friaries in Aberdeen and Perth
The skeletal biology of two Late Medieval Scottish populations recovered in the course of the rescue urban excavation of the Carmelite Friaries of Aberdeen and Perth is described. The problems of extracting the maximum information from fragmentary and conmingled remains are discussed. At least ninety three individuals were represented in the Aberdeen series. Of these, thirty nine were immature and fifty four adult. In the Perth series, at least twenty four individuals were represented, two immature and twenty two adult. The skeletal remains represented members of the general population. The material was not markedly different from contemporary European populations in physical size and body build. The incidence of non-metric data was also comparable to other historic groups. It is suggested that the incidence of dental caries was slightly lower than other contemporary British populations. There was some evidence of tuberculosis. Degenerative joint disease was marked in the vertebral column and it was associated with a high incidence of Schmorl's nodes. These pathological conditions are suggestive of a strenuous lifestyle. High levels of childhood morbidity, based on an analysis of transverse lines of increased
Cross, Juliet Fiona
The skeletal biology of two late medieval Eastern Scottish populations recovered from the sites of Carmelite Friaries in Aberdeen and Perth. The skeletal biology of two Late Medieval Scottish populations recovered in the course of the rescue urban excavation of the Carmelite Friaries of Aberdeen and Perth is described. The problems of extracting the maximum information from fragmentary and conmingled remains are discussed. At least ninety three individuals were represented in the Aberdeen series. Of these, thirty nine were immature and fifty four adult. In the Perth series, at least twenty four individuals were represented, two immature and twenty two adult. The skeletal remains represented members of the general population. The material was not markedly different from contemporary European populations in physical size and body build. The incidence of non-metric data was also comparable to other historic groups. It is suggested that the incidence of dental caries was slightly lower than other contemporary British populations. There was some evidence of tuberculosis. Degenerative joint disease was marked in the vertebral column and it was associated with a high incidence of Schmorl's nodes. These pathological conditions are suggestive of a strenuous lifestyle. High levels of childhood morbidity, based on an analysis of transverse lines of increased
skeletal biology late_medieval eastern scottish population recover site aberdeen perth skeletal biology late_medieval scottish population recover course rescue urban excavation aberdeen perth describe problem extract maximum information fragmentary remains discuss least individual represent aberdeen series adult perth series least individual represent immature twenty_two adult skeletal_remain represented member general_population material markedly_different contemporary european population physical size body build incidence non metric data also comparable historic group suggest incidence dental caries slightly low contemporary british population evidence tuberculosis degenerative joint disease mark column associate high incidence pathological condition suggestive strenuous lifestyle high_level childhood morbidity base analysis line increase