Skeletal manifestations of tuberculosis in modern human remains

Paleopathologists study the presence of diseases in the past and as such have a vast knowledge of skeletal changes associated with different conditions. Tuberculosis is one of the most studied diseases and still remains a major health problem today. Its manifestations in past populations have been extensively described, but less is known about its bony involvement in the post-antibiotic era. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and manifestations of skeletal lesions in the post-antibiotic era in a South African sample and compare it to that found before the introduction of antibiotics. Skeletons of 205 individuals from modern skeletal collections and who are known to have died from TB were assessed. It was found that 39.2% of all individuals dying in the post-antibiotic era showed skeletal changes that could be associated with TB, while another 27.5% showed nonspecific changes. The highest incidences were found in individuals who died after 1985, when coinfection with HIV and drug resistance became common. While, as expected, vertebral and rib changes were the most common, the number of individuals who showed changes to the skull, and specifically intracranially, was surprising. These could most probably be associated with TB meningitis, although this specific cause of death was noted in only a few individuals. It seems that individuals may be living longer as a result of long-term antibiotic use, leaving more time for lesions to develop.The research of M. Steyn is supported by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF).http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1098-23532017-10-31hb2017Anatom

Dental health of the late 19th and early 20th century Khoesan

This paper presents the results of the dental analysis performedon a Khoesan skeletal sample representing the late 19th and early20th century Cape Colony in southern Africa. Skeletal material fromtwo European collections (Vienna and Paris) was selected to com-pile a total sample of 116 specimens. Dental pathology frequencieswere calculated for caries (28.4%), antemortem tooth loss (37.9%),periapical abscesses (29.3%), periodontal disease (26.7%), calculus(44.0%) and impacted canines (4.3%). Attrition scores indicated thatthe group under study had an average rate of attrition compared toother southern African populations. Frequency and intensity datawere compared to several other samples from both the pre-contactand contact phases by means of chi-squared analysis. The outcomeof the study suggested that the group under study was most likelyin a state of transition between a diet and lifestyle of hunting-and-gathering and agriculture. Results were also consistent with thoseof groups from a low socio-economic status.SANPAD.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jchb2016-06-30hb201

A test of the Lamendin method of age estimation in South African canines

Age estimation in unknown adult skeletons remains a considerable problem in forensic anthropology. In 1992, Lamendin et al. published a non-destructive method of age estimation on single rooted teeth. With this method, periodontosis and root transparency are judged against root height, and these are then used in regression formulae to estimate age. The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of the Lamendin method on a large sample of canines of South Africans, and if necessary to adapt the formulae for this population. A sample of known sex, age and population group was used. This included 537 upper and lower canines from 498 skulls, and included black males, black females, white males and white females. The age of the individuals ranged from 20 to 90 years. The original formulae gave relatively poor results, and in an attempt to obtain better accuracy the formulae were adapted with the current data. Even after adaptation of the formulae, the highest correlation between estimated age and actual age remained low (R2 = 0.41), with mean errors ranging between 12 and 15 years. Periodontosis was better correlated with age than root transparency. The accuracy of the method was found to be much lower than what was originally published, but probably reflects biological reality and is on a par with other methods of adult age estimation.National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/forsciinthb2014ay201

Chinese indentured mine labour and the dangers associated with early 20th century deep-level mining on the Witwatersrand gold mines, South Africa

Trauma analysis in archaeological human remains can aid our understanding of cultural practices, socioeconomic status, environmental and social conditions, and even aspects of a person’s occupation. For this reason, fracture patterns and frequencies can be useful in making inferences about the environment people lived and worked in. This is especially true for the 20th century mining industry where unskilled migrant labourers were often subjected to harsh working and living conditions. In this study, the skeletal remains of 36 Chinese indentured mine labourers, who worked and died on the Witwatersrand mines, South Africa, during the period AD 1904–1910, were assessed for evidence of trauma. Historical information suggests that these indentured Chinese labourers were unfamiliar with the workings of deep-level mines and as a result sustained many work-related injuries. Analyses suggest low frequencies of ante-mortem trauma. In the few instances where they occurred, these healed fractures most probably reflect injuries already sustained in China, some time before Chinese indentured employment on the Witwatersrand mines. A high frequency of traumatic lesions, specifically peri-mortem fractures, however, suggests a drastic shift in their working environment attesting to the hazardous working conditions associated with deep-level mining in the early 20th century.National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-12122017-07-30hb2016Anatom

Robusticity of Bovidae skeletal elements from southern Africa and their potential in species identification

Faunal analysis is crucial in the investigation of the complexity of caves and archaeological sites. Osteological measurements are often used for human remains as a means of identification, and can also be used for animal bones. Sometimes measurements constitute the only method of accurate identification and can be used to distinguish between similar species.The aim of this study was to assess measurements reflecting robusticity in bovids, in order to establish whether this could be used for identification of unknown animal bones, or at least indicate bovid size class. In total, 846 femora, tibiae, and metatarsals of bovids in the various size classes classified as proposed by Brain (1974) were measured.The maximum long bone length and smallest shaft circumference of modern southern African specimens were used. In order to assess the robusticity of the bones, a robusticity index was calculated for each bone.The calculated indices for the three hind limb bones showed that there is a large degree of overlap between most of the species on all three bones.There are, however, a few species that could be identified purely on their index values if the Bovid size class were known. Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) showed almost no overlap with any other species and was the most robust in all three long bones. Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekeii) femur and tibia were the least robust, whereas springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) had the most gracile metatarsal.Bov classes I and II were overall less robust than Bov classes III and IV in all three bones. With further studies and a larger specimen database, specific values may prove to be important in identifying the different Bovid size classes and possibly give some insight into lifestyle adaptations in mammals

A palaeopathological assessment of the late 19th and early 20th century Khoesan

Since the arrival of Dutch colonists in the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, Khoesan populations were subjectedto severe political and economic marginalisation and often fell prey to racial conflict. These circumstancespersisted until the early 20th century, during which an astonishing number of Khoesan skeletons weretransported from South Africa to various locations in Europe, as at the time, different institutions competed toobtain these remains. The purpose of this study was to assess the health status of the late 19th and early 20thcentury Khoesan. Skeletal remains housed in two different European institutions were studied. The samplecomprised 140 specimens from the Rudolf Pöch Skeletal Collection in Vienna, Austria, and 15 specimens fromthe Musée de l’Homme in Paris, France. These individuals represent both sexes and were aged betweennewborn and 75 years, with 54 being younger than 20 years of age. Results indicated high levels of typicaldisease conditions associated with groups under stress, such as periostitis, cribra orbitalia and porotichyperostosis. Treponemal disease, rickets, osteoarthritis and trauma were also encountered amongst other morespecific indicators of health and disease. This study provided additional knowledge on the health status and livesof the Khoesan people during this turbulent period and created new awareness regarding a group of severelymistreated individualsSANPAD and the research of M. Steyn is funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-12122017-03-31hb2017Anatom

Investigation into the accuracy and reliability of skull-photo superimposition in a South African sample

One of the aims of forensic science is to determine the identities of victims of crime. In some cases the investigators may have ideas as to the identities of the victims and in these situations, ante mortem photographs of the victims could be used in order to try and establish identity through skull-photo superimposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a newly developed digital photographic superimposition technique on a South African sample of cadaver photographs and skulls. Forty facial photographs were selected and for each photo, 10 skulls (including the skull corresponding to the photo) were used for superimposition. The investigator did not know which of the 10 skulls corresponded to the photograph in question. The skulls were scanned 3-dimensionally, using a CyberwareTM Model 3030 Colour-3D Scanhead scanner. The photos were also scanned. Superimposition was done in 3D Studio Max and involved a morphological superimposition, whereby a skull is superimposed over the photo and assessed for a morphological match. Superimposition using selected anatomical landmarks was also performed to assess the match. A total of 400 skull-photo superimpositions were carried out using the morphological assessment and another 400 using the anatomical landmarks. In 85% of cases the correct skull was included in the possible matches for a particular photo using morphological assessment. However, in all of these cases, between zero and three other skulls out of 10 possibilities could also match a specific photo. In the landmark based assessment, the correct skull was included in 80% of cases. Once again, however, between one and seven other skulls out of 10 possibilities also matched the photo. This indicates that skull-photo superimposition has limited use in the identification of human skeletal remains, but may be useful as an initial screening tool. Corroborative techniques should also be used in the identification process.The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) and NAVKOM.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/forsciin

Visualising trends in dentition to lip mouth morphology using geometric morphometrics

Linear measurements taken from bony landmarks are often utilised in facial approximation (FA) to estimate and plan the placement of overlying soft tissue features. This process similarly guides craniofacial superimposition (CFS) practices. Knowledge of how hard and soft tissue features spatially relate around the mouth region is, however, limited. Geometric morphometric techniques have thus been used to investigate size and shape variation in dentition-to-lip mouth morphology in a South African population. Twenty landmarks (twelve dentition, eight lips) were digitised, using cone-beam CT images of the anterior craniofacial complex in a Frankfurt/Frankfort position, for 147 individuals aged between 20 and 75 years. Principal Component Analysis and Canonical Variate Analysis established that much shape variation exists. A two-way ANOVA identified significant (p < 0.0001) population and sex variation with mouth shape. Black individuals presented with thicker lips, with the oral fissure aligning closely to the dental occlusion. Oral fissure position for white individuals corresponded to the inferior one-quarter (females) or one-sixth (males) of the maxillary central incisor crowns. Males presented larger dimensions than females, but females had a greater lip-to-teeth height ratio than their male counterparts. A pooled within-group regression analysis assessed the effect of age on the dentition and lips and found that it had a significant (p < 0.0001) impact on mouth shape. Ageing was associated with a reduced lip and teeth height, increased mouth width, and a lowered oral fissure and cheilion placement. The generated mean shape data, with metric guides, offer a visual and numerical guide that builds on existing FA and CFS standards, enhancing our understanding of hard and soft tissue relationships

Comments on Mpeta et al. (2018): Black living standards in South Africa before democracy

Mpeta et al. recently published a paper in which they used secular trends in stature of South Africans to make inferences about living standards. The use of documentation of living standards and the fluctuations thereof as a result of economic growth to explain the secular changes observed in height is a viable approach. The authors gave an excellent review of the history of South Africa and the differences in living conditions that existed between the population groups. However, we believe the biological data were incorrectly used, in order to support inferences regarding the socio-economic situation. The average stature of a population group indeed has a direct relationship with the living conditions and the per capita income of the individuals. For example, decreased stature may be an indicator of nutritional deprivation as a result of a lower income. However, it is important to note that there are many other factors that can influence stature. The size and shape of human bodies vary considerably among population groups across the world and body size is not fixed. Changes in height are continually taking place. In this study the authors repeatedly imply that the living standards can be explained by differences and changes in height, e.g. ‘by analysing the mean height…, we shed light on the standard of living’ (p. 1); ‘black living standards as measured by height’ (p. 1). Height should not be used simplistically to indicate the standard of living or socioeconomic status as it is influenced by too many other variables such as climate, diet, genetics/gene flow, family size and urbanisation. Rather, standard of living should be used, as one of many possible factors, to explain the observed differences in height.http://www.sajs.co.zaam2019Anatom

Geometric morphometric assessment of sexually dimorphic characteristics of the distal humerus

A number of recent studies investigated the use of morphological characteristics of the distal humerus to estimate the sex of unknown individuals. Using visual assessment, accuracies ranging from 74% to more than 90% were reported. The aim of this study was to assess these traits with geometric morphometrics, in order to determine if they corroborate the findings described with pure visual assessment. A total sample of 155 female and 175 male humeri of South Africans were used. All humeri were photographed in standardized positions from a posterior and inferior view, and homologous landmarks assigned. Olecranon fossa shape, angle of the medial epicondyle and trochlear symmetry were assessed. Males and females could be separated with accuracies ranging from 78% to 91%. The results of this study confirm the existence of these traits and their usability in assessment of sex from skeletal remains, and the observed anatomical characteristics largely agree with what have been described by visual assessment.National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF)http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jchbhb2014ay201