The Longobard necropolis of Povegliano Veronese dates from the 6th to the 8th centuries AD. Among the 164 tombs excavated, the skeleton of an older male shows a well-healed amputated right forearm. The orientation of the forearm fracture suggests an angled cut by a single blow. Reasons why a forearm might be amputated include combat, medical intervention, and judicial punishment. As with other amputation cases reported in literature, this one exhibits both healing and osteoblastic response. We argue that the forelimb stump morphology suggests the use of a prosthesis. Moreover, dental modification of RI2 shows considerable wear and smoothing of the occlusal surface, which points to dental use in attaching the prosthesis to the limb. Other indications of how this individual adjusted to his amputated condition includes a slight change in the orientation of the right glenoid fossa surface, and thinning of right humeral cortical bone. This is a remarkable example in which an older male survived the loss of a forelimb in pre-antibiotic era. We link archaeological remains found in the tomb (buckle and knife) with the biological evidence to show how a combined bioarchaeological approach can provide a clearer interpretation of the life history of an individual.

Survival to amputation in pre-antibiotic era: a case study from a Longobard necropolis (6th-8th centuries AD) / Micarelli, Ileana; Paine, Robert; Giostra, Caterina; Tafuri, Mary Anne; Profico, Antonio; Boggioni, Marco; Di Vincenzo, Fabio; Massani, Danilo; Papini, Andrea; Manzi, Giorgio. - In: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES. - ISSN 1827-4765. - ELETTRONICO. - 96:(2018), pp. 1-16. [10.4436/jass.96001]

Survival to amputation in pre-antibiotic era: a case study from a Longobard necropolis (6th-8th centuries AD)

Micarelli, Ileana
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
Paine, Robert
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
Giostra, Caterina
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Tafuri, Mary Anne
Writing – Review & Editing
;
Profico, Antonio
Formal Analysis
;
Di Vincenzo, Fabio
Formal Analysis
;
Massani, Danilo
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Manzi, Giorgio
Project Administration
2018

Abstract

The Longobard necropolis of Povegliano Veronese dates from the 6th to the 8th centuries AD. Among the 164 tombs excavated, the skeleton of an older male shows a well-healed amputated right forearm. The orientation of the forearm fracture suggests an angled cut by a single blow. Reasons why a forearm might be amputated include combat, medical intervention, and judicial punishment. As with other amputation cases reported in literature, this one exhibits both healing and osteoblastic response. We argue that the forelimb stump morphology suggests the use of a prosthesis. Moreover, dental modification of RI2 shows considerable wear and smoothing of the occlusal surface, which points to dental use in attaching the prosthesis to the limb. Other indications of how this individual adjusted to his amputated condition includes a slight change in the orientation of the right glenoid fossa surface, and thinning of right humeral cortical bone. This is a remarkable example in which an older male survived the loss of a forelimb in pre-antibiotic era. We link archaeological remains found in the tomb (buckle and knife) with the biological evidence to show how a combined bioarchaeological approach can provide a clearer interpretation of the life history of an individual.
2018
medieval; italy; amputated forearm; prosthesis; humeral cross-section
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Survival to amputation in pre-antibiotic era: a case study from a Longobard necropolis (6th-8th centuries AD) / Micarelli, Ileana; Paine, Robert; Giostra, Caterina; Tafuri, Mary Anne; Profico, Antonio; Boggioni, Marco; Di Vincenzo, Fabio; Massani, Danilo; Papini, Andrea; Manzi, Giorgio. - In: JOURNAL OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES. - ISSN 1827-4765. - ELETTRONICO. - 96:(2018), pp. 1-16. [10.4436/jass.96001]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1119515
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