Evidence of spina bifida occulta in the necropolis of RH5 (Sultanate of Oman): life expectancy and foot problems

The aim of this study is to evaluate the life expectancy in the necropolis of Ras al Hamra 5, Sultanate of Oman (3800-3300BC) used by fishermen. Given that the spinal defect might affect locomotion patterns, we decided to see if the presence of spina bifida lesions could be correlated with defects of the talus. Of 90 individuals with conserved sacred, 58 (64.4%) are affected with a high frequency of spina bifida, 40 complete spina bifida and 18 partial spina bifida. Spina bifida can be caused by genetic factors or dietary problems during pregnancy (i.e. folic acid deficiency). It is often recognized in past populations as a neural arch defect that involves all of the sacral arches. The evaluation of life expectancy of the three subsamples (individuals without spina bifida, complete spina bifida, partial spina bifida) shows that in the age classes up to 20 years the spina bifida of any type reduces life expectancy by about 20%. From this age the presence of partial spina bifida no longer affects life expectancy, while at 50 years it is reduced by 50% and there are no individuals in the older age groups, to testify that they have all died previously. Of the 90 burials with the sacred 36 had the talus. Of these, 10 did not have spina bifida, of which 7 had talus problems, 8 had partial spina bifida with 8 with talus problems and 18 with total spina bifida of which 13 with problems at the talus, with a slight greater incidence than in the other two categories.