Craniofacial morphology of Jews from the Hellenistic period

Nineteen skulls of an ancient Jewish population from Ein-Gedi, were studied cephalometrically. The material dated to the 1st century AD and most skulls showed some damage. Thus, only eleven parameters could be measured. The results were compared with those obtained from a later local Arab population from the 17th to 18th centuries and with contemporary population standards. Significantly different measurements were obtained for almost all the linear parameters for the three groups: the highest values were found in the contemporary population, followed by the Ein-Gedi population with the smallest values in the Arab sample. The dimensional linear differences can best be explained by different levels of environmental stress leading to growth retardation. Unlike the linear measurements the differences in the angular parameters were less marked, probably reflecting similar growth patterns.     

Brief communication: neurotraumatological aspects of head injuries resulting from sharp and blunt force in the early medieval period of southwestern Germany

Approximately 10% (33 of 304) of the predominantly male skulls from the 6th through 8th centuries in southwestern Germany exhibit cranial fractures derived from blunt or sharp force trauma. No evidence of fracture healing characterizes 24% (n = 8) of these individuals. All nonhealed fractures were caused by sharp force, and four of these wounds cross the sagittal sinus. The lengths of these straight-edged wounds, produced exclusively by sword blows, measure around 8.0 cm for fatal, and about 5.0 cm for nonfatal wounds. Seventy-six percent (n = 25) of these skulls exhibit some healing, which indicates that these injuries did not lead to immediate death. In this group are all depressed fractures resulting from blunt force blows. Two thirds of the 45 cranial injuries noted on these 33 skulls are located on the left side of these individuals, with a concentration in the frontoparietal region. Bony indications of wound infection occur in four cases (12%). Three crania exhibit circular trepanations in association with fractures. These phenomena are discussed in the context of modern neurotraumatological knowledge.     

2 trephined skulls from Schleswig-Holstein

In Schleswig-Holstein two trephined skulls are found, one belonging to a man deceased in the first half of adult age, who was buried in a stone grave of Middle Neolithic Age from Nebel on the isle of Amrum (published by Schaefer 1958, 1961). Another well preserved one, but without known site in Schleswig-Holstein, is the calvarium of a young adult presumably male showing a circular trephination without any tendency of healing. There is no symptom of a pathological change at the inner vault of the skull, but for the coronal suture gap . Striking are the grooves at both sides of the frontal bone which are quite unknown in this country. They are sulci arteriosi or nervi as is proved by Spanish skulls from Santa Cruz de Teneriffe and cases presented by Dixon (1904). EPIGENETIC TRAITS: 1. One sutural ossicle. 2. Incisura orbitalis r. 3. Threefold foramen supraorbitale 1. 4. Sulci arteriosi on the frontal bone. 5. Aplasia of left right molar (X-ray). PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES: 1. Hypoplasia of frontal sinuses. 2. Closing alveoli of first right molar. The case of a skull from Bremen (Domsdüne) demonstrates by the applied tool, that there are also trephinations in the Middle Neolithic Age.     

The protected flora of long‐established cemeteries in Hungary: Using historical maps in biodiversity conservation

The role of anthropogenically influenced habitats in conserving elements of the original wildlife has increased worldwide simultaneously with the disappearance of natural sites. Burial places are able to conserve original elements of the wildlife, and this fact has been known for at least a century. To this day, little is known about long‐time changes and the effect of long‐time management methods in cemeteries on the flora they harbor. The utility of historical maps in research focused on natural values, as well as in answering questions related to conservation was recently demonstrated, but the use of digitized historical maps in biodiversity research of the Carpathian Basin is very limited. In the present paper, we aimed to predict the conservation potential of long‐established and newly established cemeteries of Hungarian settlements with various population sizes based on the digitized maps of the 2nd Military Survey of the Austrian Empire (1819–1869), by categorizing cemeteries into 3 distinct (anthropogenic habitat, cemetery, or natural habitat) types. To build our models, we used records of the protected flora from Hungarian cemeteries, based on data of thematic botanical surveys of 991 cemeteries. Out of the surveyed cemeteries, 553 (56%) harbored protected plants, totaling 306.617 estimated individuals of 92 protected species, belonging to 28 plant families. These species represent 12% of the entire protected flora of Hungary. Hungarian cemeteries play a key role mainly in preserving steppe and dry grassland plant species. Long‐established and large cemeteries harbor more protected plant species than small and newly established ones. Human population size of the settlements correlated negatively with the number of protected species and individuals. Moreover, woodland cover and proportion of grassland also significantly positively affected the number of protected plant species in cemeteries.     

Identification of family relationships by epigenetic traits

In analyzing family burials, it is often necessary to establish the nature of the family relationship. This study examines 18 skulls from the 14th and 15th century, presumptively assigned to the family of the Counts of Celje from the territory of present-day Slovenia. Though DNA analysis is the identification method of choice, it is not always possible to apply it. In our case we were unable to isolate the genetic material and had to use classical identification methods. After determining sex and age, we established the kinship by comparison of X-ray images of paranasal cavities (frontal and maxillary sinuses, and also orbital and nasal cavities), the shape and size of which are autosomal dominant inherited characters. The comparison also extends to numerous other likewise inherited epigenetic trait similarities on the skulls. We identified all skulls, compared them with historical and genealogical data, grouped them into nuclear families--one of them is presented in this article-, and proved that they belong to the assigned family. This multidisciplinary work, based on latest epigenetic research, is highly relevant for modern non-genetic identification studies and verification of kinship by skulls collectively interred and can be applied in similar cases where isolation of DNA is no longer possible, even though the skeletal remains may not be old.     

Genotyping success of historical Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx L.) samples

Historical samples, like tanned hides and trophy skulls, can be extremely important for genetic studies of endangered or elusive species. Selection of a sampling protocol that is likely to provide sufficient amount and quality of DNA with a minimum damage to the original specimen is often critical for a success of the study. We investigated microsatellite genotyping success of DNA isolated from three different types of Eurasian lynx historical samples. We analysed a total of 20 microsatellite loci in 106 historical samples from the endangered Dinaric lynx population, established from re-introduction of three pairs of lynx in 1973 from Slovakian Carpathians. Of the three tested sample types, turbinal bone and septum from the nasal cavity of the trophy skulls had the lowest percentage of samples successfully genotyped for all 20 microsatellite loci. Footpad samples, collected using a cork drill, exhibited better results in polymerase chain reaction amplification and genotyping than samples of footpad epidermis cut with a scalpel. We report simple and efficient sampling protocols, which could be widely applied for future studies utilizing historical samples.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in Hungary. Results with a revolutionary new method in surgical oncology

This review deals with results attained by Hungarian authors in the field of sentinel nodes and presents the current status of sentinel lymphadenectomy in Hungary. After a short historical overview, results with melanoma and breast cancer are summarized, and feasibility studies on other possible sites (gastrointestinal tract, thyroid gland) are also mentioned. Pathological aspects are also dealt with in a separate section. The summary of these results suggests that Hungarian authors have investigated several facets of sentinel node biopsy, their results are in keeping with international results. Despite the favourable results, the method still needs time to be more widely accepted and reflected in the literature.     

Comparison of lactase persistence polymorphism in ancient and present-day Hungarian populations

The prevalence of adult-type hypolactasia varies ethnically and geographically among populations. A C/T-13910 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) upstream of the lactase gene is known to be associated with lactase non-persistence in Europeans. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of lactase persistent and non-persistent genotypes in current Hungarian-speaking populations and in ancient bone samples of classical conquerors and commoners from the 10th-11th centuries from the Carpathian basin; 181 present-day Hungarian, 65 present-day Sekler, and 23 ancient samples were successfully genotyped for the C/T-13910 SNP by the dCAPS PCR-RFLP method. Additional mitochondrial DNA testing was also carried out. In ancient Hungarians, the T-13910 allele was present only in 11% of the population, and exclusively in commoners of European mitochondrial haplogroups who may have been of pre-Hungarian indigenous ancestry. This is despite animal domestication and dairy products having been introduced into the Carpathian basin early in the Neolithic Age. This anomaly may be explained by the Hungarian use of fermented milk products, their greater consumption of ruminant meat than milk, cultural differences, or by their having other lactase-regulating genetic polymorphisms than C/T-13910. The low prevalence of lactase persistence provides additional information on the Asian origin of Hungarians. Present-day Hungarians have been assimilated with the surrounding European populations, since they do not differ significantly from the neighboring populations in their possession of mtDNA and C/T-13910 variants.     

Une médecine du fonds des âges : trépanations,amputations et tatouages thérapeutiques au Néolithique

The first shepherds and peasants of the European Neolithic period, between VIth century and IIth millennium BC, had acquired serious medical knowledge. The cranial trepanations and the amputation of members accomplished successfully testify perfectly controlled surgical techniques, which indicate a transmissible knowledge. Tattoos towards a therapeutic end reveal however that the medicine of this time still remained under the influence of rituals and magic.     

A study of the Bodrogköz population in north-eastern Hungary by Y chromosomal haplotypes and haplogroups

We have determined the distribution of Y chromosomal haplotypes and haplogroups in population samples from one of the most important areas in north-eastern Hungary from many villages in the Bodrogköz. The Bodrogköz region was chosen due to its isolated nature, because this area was a moorland encircled by the Tisza, Bodrog, and Latorca Rivers and inhabitants of this part of Hungary escaped from both Tatar and Ottoman invasions, which decimated the post-Hungarian Conquest populations in many parts of the country. Furthermore, in the first half of the tenth century, this region served as the Palatial Centre and burial grounds of the Hungarian tribes. It has thus been assumed that the present population in this area is likely to be more similar to the population that lived in the Conquest period. We analysed male-specific markers, 23 Y-STRs and more than 30 Y-SNPs, that reflect the past and recent genetic history. We found that the general haplogroup distribution of the samples showed high genetic similarity to non-Bodrogköz Hungarians and neighbouring populations, despite its sheltered location and historical record. We were able to classify the Y-chromosomal haplogroups into four large groups based on STR mutation events: pre-Roman/Roman ancient lineage, Finno-Ugric speakers arriving into the Carpathian Basin, Migration period admixture, and post-Hungarian Conquest admixture. It is clear that a significantly larger database with deep haplogroup resolution, including ancient DNA data, is required to strengthen this research.     

Representation in life sciences (6). Cultural images of the body: Organism and flesh

In the social and historical plan, the ??body?? is not still a datum of evidence. This formulation with a dualist connotation does not appear in all the human societies, certain do not distinguish the man from his flesh. The body is rather a question than an answer, a misleading evidence which reveals a multitude of different representations which assign to it a position determined within the general symbolism of the society, dependent on a social status, on a vision of the world, and inside this last one on a definition of the person. The body is a changeable reality from a society to an other one?: the images which define it, the systems of knowledge which clarify its nature, the accomplished performances are strickingly diverse, contradictory. The body is a symbolic construction. It seems to be obvious, but nothing is more imperceptible.     

The Gepiden of Viminacium during population migration. An anthropological contribution

The archaeological excavations at the cemetry Vise Grobalja on Viminacium were finished in the year 1985. Altogether 94 skeletons which were attributed to the Gepiden were examined anthropologically. The graveyard was dated about the middle of the 6th century. Of special importance were the 31 artificial deformed skulls. The deformation was done with a circular bandaging which is graphically illustrated. Farkas (1973), Winkler (1979) and Schr?ter (1988) identified the same type of bandaging on skulls of the ethnic migration period. The anthropological examination identified 46 as male and 27 as female skeletons: 16 were determined as infants and juveniles. About 5 skeletons were indeterminable because of their bad state of preservation. There was a deficit of women and infants. The average lifespan was less than 33 years. The influence or the presence of other anthropological types was not identified. But there should be further proof why, for example these groups of Gepiden from Viminacium have disappeared relatively rapidly from the historical stage and the Balkan.     

Craniometry of the Slovak northeastern beavers (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Castor fiber</Emphasis>) in comparison with the Ukrainian and Polish populations and contribution to the knowledge of the enamel thickness of beaver’s incisors

Like in most European countries, the population of the European beaver (Castor fiber) in Slovakia became extinct in the nineteenth century. Thanks to reintroduction of beavers in neighboring states, after a long break the beaver returns also to the territory of Slovakia. This has particularly affected the present distribution of beavers in the Slovak Republic. The first aim of the work was to find phylogenetic similarities of the northeastern Slovak population with the Ukrainian and Polish ones comparing their adult skulls and mandibles on the basis of craniometric measurements. A total of 28 measurements were taken on each skull and mandible. The statistical evaluation showed that the most similar were the Slovak and Ukrainian skulls, while in 8 cranial parameters the Ukrainian and Polish populations were found to be significantly different. The second aim was related to their ability to fell trees. The enamel thickness of incisors in the jaw and mandible were compared within the Slovak sample by measuring for 18 teeth, which were previously scanned by the X-Ray Computer Tomography. The results showed that the average thickness of incisors enamel in the mandible was 0.34 mm, while the incisors of the maxilla had enamel approximately 0.29 mm thick.     

Size factor as one of the problems in the sex estimation of skulls: upper palaeolithic sample from Predmostí (Czech Republic) as an example

In this study we estimate sex and population affinity of Gravettian Predmostí (P) skulls using linear and geometric discriminant analysis (DA), and compare them with results of 2D geometric morphometrics (GM). We used the measurements of P3 and P9 males, P4 and P10 females, as originally estimated by Matiegka (1934), as well as two databases--the recent skull database of Howells and the fossil data of Henke. DA classifies the P skulls as robust and belonging to the "male" region, loosing the sensitivity of inter-population differences influenced by size factor. That is why this approach could not be applied. The geographic inter-population differences according to DA do not define P skull shapes as extreme. The influence of geographic variability could be stronger than the inter-sexual differences. Despite the chronological differences between databases and Gravettian skulls, these differences are a component of regional inter-population variability. According to our results, GM is more successful methodological approach than DA. Our previous sex estimation of P skulls with help of GM is completely in accordance with the classical morphoscopic estimation. However, an appropriate reference database is necessary in both the GM and DA approaches. For the sexing of skull with unknown population affinity, and with absence of appropriate reference database, we suggest to use the application of more subjective visual scoring methods.     

Nasal region polymorphism frequencies in the FrankfurtPan troglodytes verus collection

The results of a morphometric study on the mid-facial region in a collection of 278Pan troglodytes verus skulls are reported. Upwardly divergent nasal bones were found in 35 of the 124 specimens (28.2%) in which this feature could be analyzed. Appreciable separation (1 cm. or more) between nasion and glabella characterized 13 of the 154 skulls (8.4%) in which both these osteometric points could be observed. These findings document the wide ranges of variation that are normally to be found in modest-sized population samples of hominoid primates, and point to the inherent unreliability of cladistic analyses based on the hypothesis that hominoid primate taxa are monomorphic for these character states in the nasal region.     

Bioanthropological analysis of human occipital condyles using geometric morphometric method

Sex differences are present in all parts of the body, including the skeletal system. Several methods are used to analyze the sex differences of skeleton, while more recently, a new method called geometric morphometry has been used. The aim of this study was to examine the sexual dimorphism of occipital condyles on human skulls originating from the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina using the geometric morphometric method.Material and methodsThe study was conducted on 214 human skulls of known gender from Bosnian population. For analysis of sexual dimorphism of occipital condyles, we used geometric morphometry, where all the skulls were scanned to obtain three-dimensional skull models. On the obtained models, we marked anthropometric points on occipital condyles in a Landmark Editor program from which we exported data in the form NTSYS file and analyzed it in MorphoJ program.ResultsFirst principal component PC1 describes 26.917% of total variability, the second principal component PC2 describes 20.992% of total variability, while the first eight principal components together describe 100% of total variability. The greatest variability between the male skulls and female skulls was present in the anterior-posterior diameter (length of occipital condyles). Discriminant functional analysis of the shape and size of the occipital condyles was possible with 69.50% accuracy for male skulls and with 60.27% accuracy for female skulls. The size of the occipital condyles showed a statistically significant effect on sexual determination. Discriminant functional analysis of the shape of the occipital condyles without affecting size enabled the determination of gender with with 65.96% accuracy for male skulls and with 63.01% accuracy for female skulls.ConclusionAnalysis of sexual dimorphism of occipital condyles using geometric morphometry showed statistically significant differences in the shape and size of occipital condyles between the sexes. The accuracy of sex determination based on occipital condyles was higher for male gender.     

Evolution in populations of Swedish sand lizards: genetic differentiation and loss of variability revealed by multilocus DNA fingerprinting

The Swedish sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) is a relict species from the period of warmth following the last glacial episode and has a fragmented distribution in central Sweden and a more continuous distribution in the southern part of the country. We used this model system of colonization–extinction for a study of genetic variability within and among Swedish populations from different parts of the distribution range using multilocus DNA fingerprinting. The results from the Swedish populations are then contrasted with those from a large Hungarian population in the centre of the species geographical distribution range, which is likely to closely resemble the ancestral founding population of Sweden. Swedish populations have a low level of genetic variability compared with the Hungarian reference population, which showed a genetic variability within the range described for outbred populations. Within the Swedish populations, the average bandsharing was 0.61, the mean heterozygosity 0.45 and the estimated number of alleles 2.7. The figures for the Hungarian population were a bandsharing of 0.19, a heterozygosity of 0.89 and an estimated number of alleles of 9.8. A population bottleneck, common to all Swedish sand lizards, is indicated by less than 20% of the alleles in the Hungarian population being retained in the Swedish populations, and higher bandsharing similarity between different Swedish populations (0.33) as opposed to the Hungarian population (0.19). The limited variability found in Swedish sand lizards is strongly subdivided between populations, with an average F_ST of 0.32, indicating a very limited gene flow between the isolated populations, as well as between populations in the region where the sand lizard has a more or less continuous distribution (F_ST = 0.41).     

Prevalence of skull pathologies in European harbor seals (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoca vitulina</Emphasis>) during 1981–2014

Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) inhabit the seas surrounding Denmark and are an important top predator in the marine food chain. This trophic position exposes them to environmental contaminants with disease epidemics and hunting being additional threats to this population. It is therefore important to study how environmental pollution at the current order of magnitude affects the health of the population. Earlier studies have shown that occurrence of periodontitis could be linked to the amount of pollution the seals were subjected to. In order to investigate this further, 380 skulls and 141 mandibles of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the Wadden Sea, the Limfjord, and Kattegat collected during the period 1970–2014 were examined. The skulls were examined for pathological lesions. The Hounsfield Units (HU) which are correlated to the bone mineral density (BMD) were measured in a subsample (n = 34) using CT scans. The macroscopic examination revealed (with the exception of the Swedish part of Kattegat) a significant increase of pathological lesions over the study period of 1981–2014. The examination of HU showed that median HU measured at multiple sites was highest in the healthy skulls compared to the skulls with one or more of the lesions. A discriminant analysis allowed high discriminatory capacity to separate healthy skulls from the skulls with pathologies, simply by the utilization of the HU data. Former studies of BMD in marine mammals have shown that exposure to environmental chemicals alter BMD and cause periodontitis. The present study, based on temporal and spatial trends in BMD, confirms the results of previous studies.     

Historical data as a baseline for conservation: reconstructing long-term faunal extinction dynamics in Late Imperial–modern China

Extinction events typically represent extended processes of decline that cannot be reconstructed using short-term studies. Long-term archives are necessary to determine past baselines and the extent of human-caused biodiversity change, but the capacity of historical datasets to provide predictive power for conservation must be assessed within a robust analytical framework. Local Chinese gazetteers represent a more than 400-year country-level dataset containing abundant information on past environmental conditions and include extensive records of gibbons, which have a restricted present-day distribution but formerly occurred across much of China. Gibbons show pre-twentieth century range contraction, with significant fragmentation by the mid-eighteenth century and population loss escalating in the late nineteenth century. Isolated gibbon populations persisted for about 40 years before local extinction. Populations persisted for longer at higher elevations, and disappeared earlier from northern and eastern regions, with the biogeography of population loss consistent with the contagion model of range collapse in response to human demographic expansion spreading directionally across China. The long-term Chinese historical record can track extinction events and human interactions with the environment across much longer timescales than are usually addressed in ecology, contributing novel baselines for conservation and an increased understanding of extinction dynamics and species vulnerability or resilience to human pressures.