Description
Research into the unprovenanced skeletal material of the Elliot Smith collection in Manchester, was able to identify skulls which had been excavated during the First Archaeological Survey of Nubia of 1907-11.Examination of these skulls revealed some pathological and traumatic conditions, which will be discussed in this paper. Two of the skulls demonstrated cribra orbitalia possibly indicative of iron-deficiency anaemia, although more recent research has implicated other chronic conditions, a topic that will be explored. Two other skulls showed discrete lesions in the cranium, whilst another skull displayed pitting, trauma and unusual cranial deformation.
The incidence of tooth wear, caries and periodontal disease found in the teeth of these skulls follow the general pattern seen in other larger collections of skulls from ancient Egypt and Nubia. It is tooth wear caused by abrasive particles in the diet rather than caries which was the major problem.
Finally the unusually high frequency of damage seen in the bones of the middle cranial fossa, without there being evidence of excerebration, is also considered.
| Period | 22 Apr 2008 |
|---|---|
| Event title | 3rd Annual Workshop of Biological Anthropology |
| Event type | Workshop |
| Location | Cairo, EgyptShow on map |