Mara Tesorieri
PhD Thesis: Health in the Medieval World: Regionality and the Bioarchaeology of Ireland and Britain
Abstract:
This study assess regional health patterns in early medieval Ireland and Britain by analysing and interpreting palaeopathological indicators of stress. This was achieved by incorporating the results of demographic and palaeopathological study into the specific historical contexts. Although relatively small islands, both are home to unique and diverse cultural, physical, and political landscapes, which could potentially affect the general health of the population in different ways. To accurately answer the research question, a bioarchaeological survey of six regions within both islands was carried out, specifically analysing and comparing the demographic profile and general health trends within each region with one another.
Results from the analysis have demonstrated significant differences within and between the islands. Inferring that even the more subtle differences observed within the cultural, physical, and political landscapes can and do affected general health trends. The health of early medieval Ireland and Britain appears to have been significantly affected by the physical landscape, specifically a north/south divide. The most northerly regions, Scotland South and Ireland North, manifested higher rates of stress indicators when compared to the more southerly positioned regions. Although it can only be hypothesised what factors within these regions are causing, enhancing or buffering stress, the study has established the potential and necessity for regional work to be continued when interpreting the historical past of these two islands.
Supervisors: Dr Barra Ó Donnabháin
Abstract:
This study assess regional health patterns in early medieval Ireland and Britain by analysing and interpreting palaeopathological indicators of stress. This was achieved by incorporating the results of demographic and palaeopathological study into the specific historical contexts. Although relatively small islands, both are home to unique and diverse cultural, physical, and political landscapes, which could potentially affect the general health of the population in different ways. To accurately answer the research question, a bioarchaeological survey of six regions within both islands was carried out, specifically analysing and comparing the demographic profile and general health trends within each region with one another.
Results from the analysis have demonstrated significant differences within and between the islands. Inferring that even the more subtle differences observed within the cultural, physical, and political landscapes can and do affected general health trends. The health of early medieval Ireland and Britain appears to have been significantly affected by the physical landscape, specifically a north/south divide. The most northerly regions, Scotland South and Ireland North, manifested higher rates of stress indicators when compared to the more southerly positioned regions. Although it can only be hypothesised what factors within these regions are causing, enhancing or buffering stress, the study has established the potential and necessity for regional work to be continued when interpreting the historical past of these two islands.
Supervisors: Dr Barra Ó Donnabháin
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Over 3,000 individuals including both adults and non-adults from six different sub-regions in Ireland and Britain were included within the study and analysed for non-specific stress indicators. Results from the analysis have demonstrated statistically significant differences within and between the islands, inferring that even the more subtle differences observed within the cultural, physical, and political landscapes can and do affect general health trends. The health of early medieval Ireland and Britain appears to have been significantly affected by the physical landscape, specifically a north/south divide. The most northerly regions, including the sub-regions of Northern Ireland and South-eastern Scotland, manifested higher rates of stress indicators when compared to the more southerly positioned regions. Although it can only be hypothesised what factors within these regions are causing, enhancing or buffering stress, the study has established the potential and necessity for regional work to be continued when interpreting the historical past of these two islands.
A project website has been established–
http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/INSTAR/peopleofprehistoricireland
This live, online database contains details of some 1437 excavated sites in Ireland to have produced human remains. A revised version of the online database will go live in November 2010. As of 25 September 2010, details of some 730 radiocarbon dates have been captured and will also be part of the updated database. The project has commissioned 45 new radiocarbon dates from samples of human bone obtained from collections in Ireland. To date, 21 new dates have been returned and work is on-going at the radiocarbon facility to process the remainder of these samples. Details of the new dates have been incorporated into the new radiocarbon date pages of the project database.
A library of published and as yet unpublished osteological reports has also been created thanks to the co-operation of many osteologists working on prehistoric human remains from Ireland. The volume of reports included in the final project library (complete versions of which will be housed in both QUB and UCC) will undoubtedly mean that it will be an invaluable resource for students and other individuals interested in undertaking further research on Irish prehistoric human remains. Furthermore, the volume of material amassed will help ensure that the associated synthesis study of the data is as comprehensive as possible.
Assessing a population’s or region’s overall health has been possible through the study of dental and skeletal stress indicators produced by the body’s adaptive response to stresses such as malnutrition and disease. While physiological disruptions caused by stress cannot be directly measured in skeletal remains, their effect can be studied to provide a general health pattern of a population or region. These effects have been divided into three categories by Goodman and colleagues (1984): cumulative stress; episodic stress; and stress associated with specific diseases.
To date, over 1,200 individuals including both subadults and adults, from over 10 different early medieval cemeteries have been analysed for occurrence rates of non-specific stress indicators, including but not limited to; cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, dental enamel hypoplasia, and tibial periostitis, all of which have been observed and associated with disease and malnutrition in modern populations.
Statistical examination of the findings have shown there to be significant regional differences, with northern populations appearing to have higher frequencies of ill-health than their southern counterparts. Concurrently, differences between the stress indicators in question have appeared, suggesting cultural and environmental factors impact each stress indicator differently. These indicators have provided an insight into regional patterns in health in early historic Ireland.
Projects by Mara Tesorieri
http://www.ucc.ie/en/archaeology/research/researchgroups/biologicalanthropologyandbioarchaeology/thespikeislandproject/#d.en.283157
Osteological Reports by Mara Tesorieri
Over 3,000 individuals including both adults and non-adults from six different sub-regions in Ireland and Britain were included within the study and analysed for non-specific stress indicators. Results from the analysis have demonstrated statistically significant differences within and between the islands, inferring that even the more subtle differences observed within the cultural, physical, and political landscapes can and do affect general health trends. The health of early medieval Ireland and Britain appears to have been significantly affected by the physical landscape, specifically a north/south divide. The most northerly regions, including the sub-regions of Northern Ireland and South-eastern Scotland, manifested higher rates of stress indicators when compared to the more southerly positioned regions. Although it can only be hypothesised what factors within these regions are causing, enhancing or buffering stress, the study has established the potential and necessity for regional work to be continued when interpreting the historical past of these two islands.
A project website has been established–
http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/INSTAR/peopleofprehistoricireland
This live, online database contains details of some 1437 excavated sites in Ireland to have produced human remains. A revised version of the online database will go live in November 2010. As of 25 September 2010, details of some 730 radiocarbon dates have been captured and will also be part of the updated database. The project has commissioned 45 new radiocarbon dates from samples of human bone obtained from collections in Ireland. To date, 21 new dates have been returned and work is on-going at the radiocarbon facility to process the remainder of these samples. Details of the new dates have been incorporated into the new radiocarbon date pages of the project database.
A library of published and as yet unpublished osteological reports has also been created thanks to the co-operation of many osteologists working on prehistoric human remains from Ireland. The volume of reports included in the final project library (complete versions of which will be housed in both QUB and UCC) will undoubtedly mean that it will be an invaluable resource for students and other individuals interested in undertaking further research on Irish prehistoric human remains. Furthermore, the volume of material amassed will help ensure that the associated synthesis study of the data is as comprehensive as possible.
Assessing a population’s or region’s overall health has been possible through the study of dental and skeletal stress indicators produced by the body’s adaptive response to stresses such as malnutrition and disease. While physiological disruptions caused by stress cannot be directly measured in skeletal remains, their effect can be studied to provide a general health pattern of a population or region. These effects have been divided into three categories by Goodman and colleagues (1984): cumulative stress; episodic stress; and stress associated with specific diseases.
To date, over 1,200 individuals including both subadults and adults, from over 10 different early medieval cemeteries have been analysed for occurrence rates of non-specific stress indicators, including but not limited to; cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, dental enamel hypoplasia, and tibial periostitis, all of which have been observed and associated with disease and malnutrition in modern populations.
Statistical examination of the findings have shown there to be significant regional differences, with northern populations appearing to have higher frequencies of ill-health than their southern counterparts. Concurrently, differences between the stress indicators in question have appeared, suggesting cultural and environmental factors impact each stress indicator differently. These indicators have provided an insight into regional patterns in health in early historic Ireland.
http://www.ucc.ie/en/archaeology/research/researchgroups/biologicalanthropologyandbioarchaeology/thespikeislandproject/#d.en.283157