Preliminary report on the paleopathological research of the skeletal material from the Szeged medieval castle excavation

This study introduces some diseases occurred among the medieval population of Szeged. Hitherto 641 individuals have undergone general anthropological investigations. The identification of abnormal bone conditions was mainly performed by gross examination, but in several cases further investigations were required.One of the most common pathological disorders was spinal osteoarthrosis. There were some skeletal evidences of trauma identifiable; particularly fractures of the ribs and upper limbs. The incidence of developmental defects in our skeletal population is moderate. We observed some cases of widespread skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) as well as localized cranial hyperostosis (HFI) and also traces of osteoporotic processes. Porotic hyperostosis, a skeletal symptom of some nutritional deficiencies and also specific diseases, is a common phenomenon in our material.We could notice traces of non-specific infections like isolated periostitis or osteomyelitis and also that of slight bone alterations that can be indicative of early stage tuberculosis. However, the typical angular kyphosis found in one case proves that TB was present in medieval Szeged. Three skeletons showed bone lesions caused possibly by acquired syphilis. In two cases the radiocarbon and archaeological dating suggested precolumbian origin. These treponemal cases complete the list of evidences of pre-Columbian treponematosis in the Old World

Morphological and paleoradiological studies of Pott’s disease cases

Two human thoracolumbar spine remains showing angular kyphosis have been investigated. Both skeletons come from medieval Hungary; one of them was recovered from the skeletal material of Szeged Castle and the other one from the cemetery of Nyárlôrinc. Both cases show serious bone deformities; on account of a chronic pathological process, several vertebral bodies have been destroyed and have collapsed resulting in a gibbus. Because of the specific character of the lesions, the diagnosis of vertebral tuberculosis (TB) could be rendered probable even after the initial macroscopic observations. As for the spine from Nyárlôrinc, the diagnosis of TB was confirmed by a molecular test too. A comparative paleoradiological analysis has also aided our diagnosis. The radiological picture is consistent with characteristics of Pott’s disease in both cases

Tracing the genetic origin of Europe's first farmers reveals insights into their social organization

Abstract Farming was established in Central Europe by the Linearbandkeramik culture (LBK), a well-investigated archaeological horizon, which emerged in the Carpathian Basin, in today's Hungary. However, the genetic background of the LBK genesis is yet unclear. Here we present 9 Y chromosomal and 84 mitochondrial DNA profiles from Mesolithic, Neolithic Starčevo and LBK sites (seventh/sixth millennia BC) from the Carpathian Basin and southeastern Europe. We detect genetic continuity of both maternal and paternal elements during the initial spread of agriculture, and confirm the substantial genetic impact of early southeastern European and Carpathian Basin farming cultures on Central European populations of the sixth–fourth millennia BC. Comprehensive Y chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA population genetic analyses demonstrate a clear affinity of the early farmers to the modern Near East and Caucasus, tracing the expansion from that region through southeastern Europe and the Carpathian Basin into Central Europe. However, our results also reveal contrasting patterns for male and female genetic diversity in the European Neolithic, suggesting a system of patrilineal descent and patrilocal residential rules among the early farmers