Original scientific paper
Vertebral Pathologies and Related Activity Patterns in two Mediaeval Populations from Spain
Sylvia Jiménez-Brobeil
María Roca-Rodríguez
Ihab Al Oumaoui
Philippe du Souich
Abstract
The main aim of this study was to explore the usefulness of several types of vertebral pathology as activity markers in
osteological populations. A total of 2165 vertebrae from 124 individuals were studied. They were derived from cemeteries
in two villages: Villanueva de Soportilla (Burgos, north of Spain), with a Christian population, and La Torrecilla (Granada,
south of Spain), inhabited by Muslims. Degenerative joint diseases, Schmorl’s nodes, compression fractures and
spondylolysis with spondylolisthesis were analysed in individuals and separate vertebral pieces. All pathological conditions,
except compression fractures, were significantly more frequent in males than in females, reflecting more intensive
labour conditions for males. They were significantly more frequent in males from Villanueva, a border population of
peasant-soldiers, than in males from La Torrecilla. They were also significantly more frequent in females from Christian
Villanueva than in those from Muslim La Torrecilla, where the women mainly worked at home. The benefits and limitations
of the study of these vertebral pathologies are discussed.
Keywords
degenerative joint diseases; Schmorl’s nodes; spondylolysis; activity patterns; Middle Ages
Hrčak ID:
84845
URI
Publication date:
10.7.2012.
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