Advertisement

International Journal of Anthropology

, Volume 6, Issue 1, pp 1–20 | Cite as

The human skeletons of herculaneum

  • C. Bisel
Article

Abstract

Skeletons of 139 Herculaneans trapped by the vulcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79 were studied by observation, measurement and chemical analysis. A cross section of the population suggests that reproduction may not have been sufficient to maintain population numbers, a hypothesis corroborated by parity statistics as well as contemporaty literature.

In general, this population had excellent teeth with few lesions and edge-bite occlusion. Twenty-seven percent had some degree of hypoplastic lines in the dental enamel, suggesting that childhood illnesses were common.

The ancient population was taller than modern Neopolitans, but shorter than modern Americans. Also, their children grew at a slower rate than Americans of the same ages.

Biochemical analysis suggests that their diet was more dependent on sea fish than on red meat. Lead analysis shows slightly higher values for the adult male population than for the females.

Some degree of arthritis was apparent in 42% of the population. Traumata occurred to 22.7% of these people. Signs of healed anemia in any degree are present in 34.1%; etiology could have been nutritional deficiency or heterozygotic thalassemia. Two individuals and their pathologies are presented: one case of congenital bilateral hip dysplasia and the other of healed rickets.

Key words

Human skeletons Roman history Ancient nutrition Ancient health age 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Adams P., 1969.The effects of experimental malnutrition on the development of long bones. Biblioteca «Nutritio et Dieta», 13, Basel, pp. 69–73.Google Scholar
  2. Angel J.L., 1966.Porotic hyperostosis, anemias, malarias and marshes in the prehistoric eastern Mediterranean. Science, 153: 760–763.Google Scholar
  3. Angel J.L., 1972.Ecology and population in the eastern Mediterranean. World Archaeology, 4: 88–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Angel J.L., 1976.Personal communication.Google Scholar
  5. Bisel S.C., 1980.A pilot study in aspects of juman nutrition in the ancient Mediterranean, with particular attention to trace minerals in several populations from different time periods. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.Google Scholar
  6. Bisel S.C., 1987.The people of Herculaneum. Pliny the Elder, a Witness to his Time, Pigeaud, J., ed. Nantes, France.Google Scholar
  7. Bisel S.C., in press.Nutrition in first century Herculaneum. Anthropologie.Google Scholar
  8. Bisel S.C. & Angel J.L., 1985.Health and nutrition in Mycenaen Greece: A study in human skeletal remains. Contribution to Aegean Archeology, Wilkie, N.C. and E.D.C. Coulson, eds., pp. 197–210. Minneapolis.Google Scholar
  9. Brashear H.R. & Raney R.B., Sr., 1986.Handbook of Orthopaedic Surgery, 10th ed., pp. 19–34. St. Louis.Google Scholar
  10. Brown A.B., 1973.Bone strontium as a dietary indicator in human skeletal populations. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.Google Scholar
  11. Buxton L.H.D., 1938.Platymeria and platycnemia. Journal of Anatomy, 73: 71–36.Google Scholar
  12. Clement A.J., 1963.Variations in the microstructure and biochemistry of human teeth. Dental Anthropology, D.R. Brothwell, ed., pp. 245–269. New York.Google Scholar
  13. D’Amore C., Carfagni M. & Maratese G., 1964.Definizione antropologica della popolazione adulta di un comune della provincia di Napoli. Riedizione dell’Accademia di Scienze Fisiche e Matematiche della Società Nazionale di Scienze, Lettere ed Arte in Napoli, Serie 4, XXXI.Google Scholar
  14. Fisk C.H. &Subbarow Y., 1925.The colorimetric determination of phosphorus. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 66: 375–400.Google Scholar
  15. Gilfallon S.C., 1965.Lead poisoning and the fall of Rome. Journal of Occupational Medicine, 7: 53–60.Google Scholar
  16. Greulich W. &Thomas H., 1938.The dimensions of the pelvic inlet of 780 white females. Anatomical Record, 72: 45–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Howells W.W. 1941.The early Christian Irish: The skeleton at Gallen Priory. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, C46: 103–219.Google Scholar
  18. Jaffe H.L., 1972.Metabolic, Degenerative and Inflammatory Diseases of Bones and Joints, pp. 381–447. Philadelphia.Google Scholar
  19. Janes J.M., McCall J.T. & Kniseley R.N., 1975.Osteogenic sarcoma: Influence of trace minerals in experimental induction. Trace Substances in Environmental Health, pp. 433–439. Missouri.Google Scholar
  20. Koob S., 1982.Personal communication.Google Scholar
  21. Lindsay W.L. &Norvall W.A., 1978.Soil Science Society of America Proceedings, 42: 421–428.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Logan W.H.G. &Kronfeld R.J., 1933.Development of the human jaws and surrounding tissue from birth to age of 15 yrs. Journal of the American Dental Association, 20: 379–427.Google Scholar
  23. McCall J.T., 1982.Personal communication.Google Scholar
  24. McKern T.W. & Stewart T.D., 1957.Skeletal Age Changes in Young American Males, Analyzed from the Standpoint of Age Identification. Quartermaster Research and Development Command, Environmental Protection Division, Technical Report EP-45. Natich, Mass.Google Scholar
  25. Mankin H.J., 1974.Rickets, osteomalacia, and renal osteodystrophy. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 56A: 101–128.Google Scholar
  26. Martin R. & Saller K., 1959.Lehrbuch der Anthropologie, ed. 3. Stuttgart.Google Scholar
  27. Maresh M.N., 1955.Linear growth of long bones of extremities from infancy through adolescence. American Journal of Diseases of Children, 89: 725–742.Google Scholar
  28. Mellanby M., 1934.Diet and the Teeth: An Experimental Study. Medical Research Council, Special Report Series 191. London.Google Scholar
  29. Perkin-Elmer Corporation, 1971.Analytical Methods for Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry.Google Scholar
  30. Rosenthal H.L., 1963.Uptake, turnover and transfer of bone-seeking elements in fishes. New York Academy of Science Annals, 109: 278–293.Google Scholar
  31. Reinhold J.G., 1972.Phytate concentration of leavened and unleavened Iranian breads. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 1: 187–192.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Schour I. &Poncher H.G., 1940.Chronology of Tooth Development. Evansville, Indiana: Mead Johnson Co.Google Scholar
  33. Sillen A &Kavanaugh M., 1982.Strontium and paleodietary research: A review. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology, 25: 67–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. Stewart T.D., 1957.Distortion of the public symphyseal surface in females and its effect on age determination. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 15, 1: 9–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Stini W.A., 1974.Adaptive strategies of human population under nutritional stress. Biosocial Interelations in Population Adaptation, Johnson, ed. The Hague.Google Scholar
  36. Todd T.W., 1920.Age changes in the pubic, bone: Part 1, the male white pubis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 3: 285–334.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. Todd T.D. 1921.Age changes in the pubic bone: Part 3, the pubis of the white female. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 4: 1–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. Todd T.W. &Lyon D.W., 1924.Endocranial suture closure, its progress and age relationship: Part 1, adult males of white stock. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 7: 325–384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. Tonnis D., 1987.Congenital Dysplasia and Dislocation of the Hip, pp. 123–125. Berlin, New York.Google Scholar
  40. Trotter M. &Gleaser G., 1958.A re-evaluation of estimation of stature taken during life and of long bones after death. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 16: 79–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. U.S. Soil Conservation Service, 1979.Soil Survey Labaratory Methods and Procedures for Collecting Soil Samples, p. 24. Soil investigation report no. 1, method, 5A6. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
  42. Waldron H.A. & Stofen D., 1974.Subclinical Lead Poisoning, pp. 123–125. New York.Google Scholar
  43. Weinberg E.G., 1974.Iron and susceptibility to infectious disease. Science, 184: 952–956.Google Scholar

Classical References

  1. Augustus. Ius Trium Liberorum,Oxford Classical Dictionary, ed. 2. Oxford, 1978.Google Scholar
  2. Celsus. De Medicina V.: 27, W. G. Spenser, trans. London, 19038.Google Scholar
  3. Columella.De Re Rustica XII. XIX: 1, E.S. Foster, trans. London, 1955.Google Scholar
  4. Dioscorides.De Materia Medica, IV: 19, J. Goodyer, trans. New York, 1959.Google Scholar
  5. Ovid. On painting the face.The Art of Love, P. Nixon, trans. London, 1957.Google Scholar
  6. Plautus.The Haunted House, P. Nixon, trans. London, 1957.Google Scholar
  7. Pliny the Elder.Natural Histories XIV: XXXIII: 139, XXXIII:XXIV: 102, XXXIV: L, XXIX: LIV, H. Rackham, trans. London, 1945, 1952.Google Scholar
  8. Soranus of Ephesus.Gynaecology I: XIX, II: X, II: XL, O. Temkin, trans. Baltimore, 1956.Google Scholar
  9. Vitruvius.De Architectura VIII: CVI: 10–11, F. Granger, trans. London, 1934.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Editrice Il Sedicesimo 1991

Authors and Affiliations

  • C. Bisel
    • 1
  1. 1.RochesterUSA

Personalised recommendations