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Ancient Human Bone Microstructure in Medieval E ngland: Comparisons between Two Socio‐Economic Groups
Author(s) -
Miszkiewicz Justyna J.,
Mahoney Patrick
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the anatomical record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1932-8494
pISSN - 1932-8486
DOI - 10.1002/ar.23285
Subject(s) - osteon , compact bone , confusion , microstructure , bone matrix , human bone , population , univariate , anatomy , cortical bone , biology , medicine , multivariate statistics , mathematics , materials science , composite material , psychology , cartilage , biochemistry , statistics , psychoanalysis , in vitro , environmental health
Understanding the links between bone microstructure and human lifestyle is critical for clinical and anthropological research into skeletal growth and adaptation. The present study is the first to report correspondence between socio‐economic status and variation in bone microstructure in ancient humans. Products of femoral cortical remodeling were assessed using histological methods in a large human medieval sample (N = 450) which represented two distinct socio‐economic groups. Osteonal parameters were recorded in posterior midshaft femoral sections from adult males (N = 233) and females (N = 217). Using univariate and multivariate statistics, intact, fragmentary, and osteon population densities, Haversian canal area and diameter, and osteon area were compared between the two groups, accounting for sex, age, and estimated femoral robusticity. The size of osteons and their Haversian canals, as well as osteon density, varied significantly between the socio‐economic groups, although minor inconsistencies were observed in females. Variation in microstructure was consistent with historical textual evidence that describes differences in mechanical loading and nutrition between the two groups. Results demonstrate that aspects of ancient human lifestyle can be inferred from bone microstructure. Anat Rec, 299:42–59, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.