2 research outputs found
Paleopathology and osteobiography of the people of Peñuelas, Chile's semiarid north
The Museo de La Serena, IV Region, Chile has collections of skeletal
remains representing the agricultural Diaguita people of 500 years ago
excavated in the 1980s from the sites Peñuelas 21 and 24, Chile's
semiarid north. Their excellent preservation has permitted an
osteobiographical and radiographic analysis to better understand the
patterns of the disease. This research continues the osteological
analyses begun in 1989 by Rosado that seek to understand the impact the
transition to and adoption of farming had on the health of prehistoric
populations. Because of the significance of paleopathology in the
understanding of cultural and biological adaptations, it has also
become necessary to assess the preservation status and design a
conservation protocol to protect and document the remains. The
objectives of this communication are to: establish demographic patterns
of the skeletal samples and identify and diagnose skeletal
paleopathologies via photography and radiographs. Intentional cranial
alteration, limb and cranial fractures, dental wear, and dental
abscesses and caries are among the interesting paleopathologies so far
documented. Intentional cranial alteration is very common and is
manifested as tabular erect in both males and females. The high
frequency of carious lesions indicates a diet that emphasized
carbohydrates. Skeletal radiographs are available for several of the
individuals in the sample and this has afforded a more detailed
description of the paleopathologies originally documented via
photography