Early farmers from across Europe directly descended from Neolithic Aegeans

Farming and sedentism first appeared in southwestern Asia during the early Holocene and later spread to neighboring regions, including Europe, along multiple dispersal routes. Conspicuous uncertainties remain about the relative roles of migration, cultural diffusion, and admixture with local foragers in the early Neolithization of Europe. Here we present paleogenomic data for five Neolithic individuals from northern Greece and northwestern Turkey spanning the time and region of the earliest spread of farming into Europe. We use a novel approach to recalibrate raw reads and call genotypes from ancient DNA and observe striking genetic similarity both among Aegean early farmers and with those from across Europe. Our study demonstrates a direct genetic link between Mediterranean and Central European early farmers and those of Greece and Anatolia, extending the European Neolithic migratory chain all the way back to southwestern Asia

Investigating the sex-related geometric variation of the human cranium

Accurate sexing methods are of great importance in forensic anthropology since sex assessment is among the principal tasks when examining human skeletal remains. The present study explores a novel approach in assessing the most accurate metric traits of the human cranium for sex estimation based on 80 ectocranial landmarks from 176 modern individuals of known age and sex from the Athens Collection. The purpose of the study is to identify those distance and angle measurements that can be most effectively used in sex assessment. Three-dimensional landmark coordinates were digitized with a Microscribe 3DX and analyzed in GNU Octave. An iterative linear discriminant analysis of all possible combinations of landmarks was performed for each unique set of the 3160 distances and 246,480 angles. Cross-validated correct classification as well as multivariate DFA on top performing variables reported 13 craniometric distances with over 85% classification accuracy, 7 angles over 78%, as well as certain multivariate combinations yielding over 95%. Linear regression of these variables with the centroid size was used to assess their relation to the size of the cranium. In contrast to the use of generalized procrustes analysis (GPA) and principal component analysis (PCA), which constitute the common analytical work flow for such data, our method, although computational intensive, produced easily applicable discriminant functions of high accuracy, while at the same time explored the maximum of cranial variability. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

“What and how should we share?” An inter-method inter-observer comparison of measurement error with landmark-based craniometric datasets

The present study evaluates the precision and accuracy of photogrammetric 3D modeling of human crania in landmark acquisition and explores the limitations of combining datasets acquired by different observers and different measurement methods. Our working sample comprises 50 adult human crania, which were modeled with 3D photogrammetry. 3D coordinates of 56 landmarks were collected from the 3D models with Meshlab software and an existing corresponding dataset digitized with Microscribe-3DX has been utilized. Measurement error for landmark configurations and Inter Landmarks Distances (ILDs) for each type of landmarks has been assessed through least root mean squared deviation and mean absolute error respectively. Inter-observer error has been assessed on a sub-sample of 20 crania, which was also used for caliper measured ILDs. Between-methods Technical Error Measurement (TEM) based on ILDs has been calculated for evaluating the interchangeability for different datasets. Photogrammetric 3D models and Microscribe-3DX share identical rated accuracy regarding craniometric applications and both methods show increased accuracy in locating type I landmarks as opposed to types II and III. However, photogrammetric 3D models perform better in terms of inter-observer error sug-gesting higher reliability of measurements. Furthermore, ILDs are less prone to measurement error than landmark configu-rations. Finally, ILDs exhibit similar relative TEM of about 1.5% between Microscribe, caliper and 3D model based measurement methods. Combining datasets of landmark coordinates acquired from photogrammetric 3D models does not compromise the statistical integrity in terms of measurement error, which also applies to pooling ILD datasets from multiple methods. Nevertheless, compiling 3D datasets from multiple methods for 3DGM analysis should be done cautiously. © 2019 E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany

Trepanations in the ancient Greek colony of Akanthos: Skull surgery in the light of Hippocratic medicine

Objective: The study presents seven new cases of trepanations on four individuals from the ancient Greek colony of Akanthos (5th - 1st c. BC) and juxtaposes the paleopathological observations with the Hippocratic treatises. Materials: A meta-analysis of 42 published trepanations on 27 individuals from Greece. Methods: Trepanations from Akanthos were observed macroscopically, stereoscopically and by computer tomography. The meta-analysis considers the demographic, geographical and temporal distribution, the techniques, associated pathology, and survival rate. Results: Trepanations were observed on four females in Akanthos. Three trepanations were performed with scraping and four with drilling. Two individuals exhibited significant signs of healing, and two survived shortly after the operation. In two cases, trepanation was practiced for treating cranial injuries. In Greek antiquity trepanation was performed predominantly in males, principally as a surgical treatment of cranial injuries. The survival rate was 62.9 %. Scraping was the oldest, most frequent and successful technique. Conclusions: Trepanation performed systematically in Greece since the Bronze Age (ca. 2,000 BC). Hippocrates who rationally conceived medicine, codified the pre-existing empirical knowledge. The trepanations from Akanthos show technical similarities but also discrepancies from the Hippocratic recommendations, confirming the mental and technical readiness of the ancient surgeon. Significance: The synchronous to Hippocrates trepanations from Akanthos, provide the opportunity to compare physical evidence with the written sources. Limitations: The frequency of trepanations is affected by the representativeness and the state of the skeletal preservation. Suggestions for future research: Trepanations published in previous decades, need to be reassessed with new imaging modalities. A standard recording methodology is fundamental for data comparison. © 2021 Elsevier Inc

Palpable Mass on the Head after Minor Trauma

Temporal artery is superficially exhibited and easily traumatized. Rarely, a minor and blunt trauma, especially in elderly who are under anticoagulants, can cause a pseudoaneurysm. Diagnosis should be based, primarily, on history and physical examination and secondarily on duplex ultrasound scanning which will lead to confirmation and preoperative planning. The therapeutical plan consists of surgical ligation and excision of the aneurysm. Surgery can be performed under local anesthesia with no postoperative major or minor complications. Endovascular approach consists of catheter embolization and remains a second option due to the risk of complications and the inconclusive results. On this review, authors present a case of an 80-year-old male with a pseudoaneurysm of superficial temporal artery

Indications of embalming in Roman Greece by physical, chemical and histological analysis

The partially mummified remains of a high-status female (ca. 1700 BP, Thessaloniki, Greece) were found inside a Roman-type marble sarcophagus containing a lead coffin. The individual was positioned on a wooden pallet, wrapped in bandages, and covered with a gold-embroidered purple silk cloth. Besides the clothes, remnants of soft tissue as well as the individual's original hair style and eyebrows were exceptionally well preserved. In addition to the macroscopic examination, microscopic and biochemical analyses were undertaken. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were applied to examine the tissue preservation and probable mechanisms of mummification. The presence of chemical components, such as sesquiterpenes, triterpenoids, and diterpenoids, originating from coniferous and pistacia resins, myrrh, and other spices, verify ancient information on preparation methods of the dead in Greek and Roman times. These chemical components are thought to have played a prominent role in the mummification mechanism in this particular case. The potential effect of the lead coffin in the mummification process was also examined. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis failed to detect lead penetration into the tissues, suggesting that the coffin played a limited role in the preservation of soft tissue

ATHsENSe: An experiment in translating urban data to multisensory immersive artistic experiences in public space

This paper presents ATHsENSe, a multisensory interactive installation art project employing ubiquitous computing technologies, various sensors, virtual reality interfaces, multi-channel audio displays and interactive light structures. The project explores the concept of a smart city, through creatively translating the urban data produced by the environment of Athens and by its citizens. ATHsENSe is implemented through ubiquitous computing infrastructure, combining the use of sensors, location-based technology and mobile devices, in order to form a network of human and non-human sensors across the city. This structure enables the acquisition of rich urban data, which are eventually creatively translated in different artistic multisensory representations, displayed in physical and virtual space. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019