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Leprosy in medieval Denmark: Exploring life histories through a multi‐tissue and multi‐isotopic approach
Author(s) -
Brozou Anastasia,
Fuller Benjamin T.,
Grimes Vaughan,
Lynnerup Niels,
Boldsen Jesper L.,
Jørkov Marie Louise,
Pedersen Dorthe Dangvard,
Olsen Jesper,
Mannino Marcello A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.24339
Subject(s) - danish , radiocarbon dating , rib cage , leprosy , skeleton (computer programming) , isotope analysis , archaeology , biology , geography , ecology , anatomy , philosophy , linguistics , immunology
Abstract Objectives By focusing on two Danish leprosaria (Næstved and Odense; 13th–16th c. CE) and using diet and origin as proxies, we follow a multi‐isotopic approach to reconstruct life histories of patients and investigate how leprosy affected both institutionalized individuals and the medieval Danish community as a whole. Materials and Methods We combine archaeology, historical sources, biological anthropology, isotopic analyses (δ 13 C, δ 15 N, δ 34 S, 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) and radiocarbon dating, and further analyze bones with different turnover rates (ribs and long bones). Results The δ 13 C, δ 15 N and δ 34 S results indicate a C 3 terrestrial diet with small contributions of marine protein for leprosy patients and individuals from other medieval Danish sites. A similar diet is seen through time, between males and females, and patients with and without changes on facial bones. The isotopic comparison between ribs and long bones reveals no significant dietary change. The δ 34 S and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr results suggest that patients were local to the regions of the leprosaria . Moreover, the radiocarbon dates show a mere 50% agreement with the arm position dating method used in Denmark. Conclusions A local origin for the leprosy patients is in line with historical evidence, unlike the small dietary contribution of marine protein. Although only 10% of the analyzed individuals have rib/long bone offsets that undoubtedly show a dietary shift, the data appear to reveal a pattern for 25 individuals (out of 50), with elevated δ 13 C and/or δ 15 N values in the ribs compared to the long bones, which points toward a communal type of diet and reveals organizational aspects of the institution.