Patterns of long-bone fracture in two nubian cementeries

The analysis of traumatic fractures can provide valuable information concerning the affects of sociopolitical factors upon the health of prehistoric populations. However, such information can only be acquired by implementing a quantitative demographic approach. The present research applies such a method to longbone fractures in two medieval Christian populations excavated from ancient Nubia. Long-bones of two hundred and eighteen individuals from an early (550 to 750 A.D.) Christian cemetery and 188 individuals from a late (750 to 1450 A.D.) Christian cemetery were examined for evidence of traumatic fracture. Analysis included a determination of fracture rates, age and sex related fracture patterns, and rate of fracture per years at risk. The results of this study indicate that the majority of fractures in both cemeteries were likely caused by accidental falls. Fractures resulting from direct (possibly interpersonal) violence were found in both samples, though at a higher frequency in the early Christian population (27% versus 16%). Middle-aged adults (particularly males) of the early cemetery exhibited a higher than expected risk to fractures indicating an activity related cause of injury. In contrast, the late Christian population showed a marked increase in fractures among both children and the elderly. This distribution may reflect changes in health and residential architecture which occurred during the late Christian period.     

Sperm competitive advantage of a rare mitochondrial haplogroup linked to differential expression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation genes

Maternal inheritance of mitochondria creates a sex‐specific selective sieve through which mitochondrial mutations harmful to males but not females accumulate and contribute to sexual differences in longevity and disease susceptibility. Because eggs and sperm are under disruptive selection, sperm are predicted to be particularly vulnerable to the genetic load generated by maternal inheritance, yet evidence for mitochondrial involvement in male fertility is limited and controversial. Here, we exploit the coexistence of two divergent mitochondrial haplogroups (A and B2) in a Neotropical arachnid to investigate the role of mitochondria in sperm competition. DNA profiling demonstrated that B2‐carrying males sired more than three times as many offspring in sperm competition experiments than A males, and this B2 competitive advantage cannot be explained by female mitochondrial haplogroup or male nuclear genetic background. RNA‐Seq of testicular tissues implicates differential expression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) genes in the B2 competitive advantage, including a 22‐fold upregulation of atp8 in B2 males. Previous comparative genomic analyses have revealed functionally significant amino acid substitutions in differentially expressed genes, indicating that the mitochondrial haplogroups differ not only in expression but also in DNA sequence and protein functioning. However, mitochondrial haplogroup had no effect on sperm number or sperm viability, and, when females were mated to a single male, neither male haplogroup, female haplogroup nor the interaction between male/female haplogroup significantly affected female reproductive success. Our findings therefore suggest that mitochondrial effects on male reproduction may often go undetected in noncompetitive contexts and may prove more important in nature than is currently appreciated.     

Fluctuating asymmetry and stress in a medieval Nubian population

Fluctuating asymmetry is commonly used as a bioindicator of developmental stress. This study addresses asymmetry under nutritional/systemic stress in the human craniofacial skeleton and its utility as an indicator of developmental instability. Crania from the diachronic Christian cemeteries at Kulubnarti (Sudanese Nubia) were chosen as a model for nutrition/systemic stress. Previous studies indicate that individuals from the Early Christian cemetery were subjected to greater developmental stress when compared with individuals from the Late Christian cemetery. Therefore, crania from the Early Christian cemetery should display a greater magnitude of fluctuating asymmetry than crania from the Late Christian cemetery. Thirty adult crania of comparable age and sex were selected from each population. Landmark coordinates were digitized in two separate trials and averaged to minimize error. Euclidean distance matrix analysis (EDMA) was used to measure and compare the magnitude of fluctuating asymmetry in each sample. Results indicate that crania from the Early Christian cemetery display greater amounts of fluctuating asymmetry than those from the Late Christian cemetery, as predicted. The degree of fluctuating asymmetry for each linear distance is highly correlated between the cemeteries, suggesting that all humans may share common patterns of fluctuating asymmetry in the skull. In contrast, there is little correlation between magnitude of fluctuating asymmetry and length of linear distance, between-subject variability, or measurement error. These results support the hypothesis that poor nutrition/systemic stress increases developmental instability in the human skull and that increased fluctuating asymmetry constitutes morphological evidence of this stress.     

Population affinities of Neolithic Siberians: a snapshot from prehistoric Lake Baikal

Archaeological evidence supports the inhabitation of the Lake Baikal region since the Paleolithic. Both metric and nonmetric osteological studies suggest that Neolithic Cis-Baikal populations are the ancestors of contemporary inhabitants of the region. To date, ancient DNA data have not been used to corroborate this biological continuity hypothesis. This study presents a temporal snapshot of the Cis-Baikal Neolithic by examining mtDNA diversity in two cemetery populations situated on the Angara River downstream of Lake Baikal. The 800 years separating the use of the two cemeteries is thought to represent a biocultural hiatus in the Cis-Baikal region, one that ended when a new group migrated into the area. To assess the likelihood that genetic continuity exists between these two Neolithic groups, we examined both mtDNA coding region and hypervariable region I (HVI) polymorphisms from skeletal remains excavated from both cemeteries (Lokomotiv and Ust'-Ida). The mtDNA haplogroup distributions of the two cemetery populations differ significantly, suggesting that they were biologically distinct groups. When the biological distance between these Neolithic groups is compared with modern Siberian and other East Eurasian groups, the posthiatus group (Serovo-Glazkovo) generally aligns with contemporary Siberians, while the prehiatus (Kitoi) individuals are significantly different from all but modern Kets and Shorians living in the Yenisey and Ob River basins to the west of Lake Baikal. These results suggest that the Lake Baikal region experienced a significant depopulation event during the sixth millennium BP, and was reoccupied by a new immigrant population some 800 years later.     

Vertebral pathologies and related activity patterns in two mediaeval populations from Spain

The main aim of this study was to explore the usefulness of several types of vertebral pathology as activity markers in osteological populations. A total of 2165 vertebrae from 124 individuals were studied. They were derived from cemeteries in two villages: Villanueva de Soportilla (Burgos, north of Spain), with a Christian population, and La Torrecilla (Granada, south of Spain), inhabited by Muslims. Degenerative joint diseases, Schmorl's nodes, compression fractures and spondylolysis with spondylolisthesis were analysed in individuals and separate vertebral pieces. All pathological conditions, except compression fractures, were significantly more frequent in males than in females, reflecting more intensive labour conditions for males. They were significantly more frequent in males from Villanueva, a border population of peasant-soldiers, than in males from La Torrecilla. They were also significantly more frequent in females from Christian Villanueva than in those from Muslim La Torrecilla, where the women mainly worked at home. The benefits and limitations of the study of these vertebral pathologies are discussed.     

Outside St. Jørgen: leprosy in the medieval Danish city of Odense

Leprosy was a common and dreaded disease in the Danish Middle Ages (AD 1050-1536). Starting in the second half of the 13th century, leprosaria were established in many Danish towns and cities. In the city of Odense (on the island of Funen, Denmark), the cemetery of the leprosarium was totally excavated, and four nonleprosarium medieval and early modern cemeteries have been partly excavated. This paper explores the frequency of leprosy in the nonleprosarium cemeteries in Odense, and looks for evidence of selective exclusion from the ordinary population. The analyses are based on 733 skeletons from four cemeteries in Odense: the Gray Friars monastery, St. Albani parish church, St. Knuds cathedral, and Black Friars monastery. Seven lesions are scored and, based on known epidemiological properties (i.e., specificity and sensitivity) of these lesions, scores were transformed to statistics characterizing an individual's risk of having suffered from leprosy. This statistical approach remains of primary theoretical value, pending confirmation by independent research groups at other sites. Prevalence of the skeletal manifestation of leprosy at death varied between 0-17% among the different cemeteries in Odense. The highest prevalence was seen in cemeteries with many burials before AD 1400. It is estimated that before AD 1400, between 14-17% of those buried in the nonleprosarium cemeteries suffered from leprosy. In all nonleprosarium cemeteries, there was evidence for selective exclusion of people with facial leprosy lesions. For a short period just up to AD 1300, the cemetery of the Odense leprosarium had, on average, more than 20 yearly burials. The establishment of the leprosarium was followed within a relatively short period by a dramatic decline in the number of sufferers of leprosy in the nonleprosarium cemeteries. The number of yearly burials in the leprosarium cemetery also declined rapidly during the 14th century. The present analyses do not permit conclusions about the reasons for this decline in leprosy prevalence.     

Genetic Diversity among Ancient Nordic Populations

Using established criteria for work with fossil DNA we have analysed mitochondrial DNA from 92 individuals from 18 locations in Denmark ranging in time from the Mesolithic to the Medieval Age. Unequivocal assignment of mtDNA haplotypes was possible for 56 of the ancient individuals; however, the success rate varied substantially between sites; the highest rates were obtained with untouched, freshly excavated material, whereas heavy handling, archeological preservation and storage for many years influenced the ability to obtain authentic endogenic DNA. While the nucleotide diversity at two locations was similar to that among extant Danes, the diversity at four sites was considerably higher. This supports previous observations for ancient Britons. The overall occurrence of haplogroups did not deviate from extant Scandinavians, however, haplogroup I was significantly more frequent among the ancient Danes (average 13%) than among extant Danes and Scandinavians (∼2.5%) as well as among other ancient population samples reported. Haplogroup I could therefore have been an ancient Southern Scandinavian type “diluted” by later immigration events. Interestingly, the two Neolithic samples (4,200 YBP, Bell Beaker culture) that were typed were haplogroup U4 and U5a, respectively, and the single Bronze Age sample (3,300–3,500 YBP) was haplogroup U4. These two haplogroups have been associated with the Mesolithic populations of Central and Northern Europe. Therefore, at least for Southern Scandinavia, our findings do not support a possible replacement of a haplogroup U dominated hunter-gatherer population by a more haplogroup diverse Neolithic Culture.     

Sisters' curse: sexually antagonistic effects constrain the spread of a mitochondrial haplogroup superior in sperm competition

Maternal inheritance of mitochondria creates a sex-specific selective sieve with implications for male longevity, disease susceptibility and infertility. Because males are an evolutionary dead end for mitochondria, mitochondrial mutations that are harmful or beneficial to males but not females cannot respond directly to selection. Although the importance of this male/female asymmetry in evolutionary response depends on the extent to which mitochondrial mutations exert antagonistic effects on male and female fitness, few studies have documented sex-specific selection acting on mitochondria. Here, we exploited the discovery of two highly divergent mitochondrial haplogroups (A and B2) in central Panamanian populations of the pseudoscorpion Cordylochernes scorpioides. Next-generation sequencing and phylogenetic analyses suggest that selection on the ND4 and ND4L mitochondrial genes may partially explain sexually antagonistic mitochondrial effects on reproduction. Males carrying the rare B2 mitochondrial haplogroup enjoy a marked advantage in sperm competition, but B2 females are significantly less sexually receptive at second mating than A females. This reduced propensity for polyandry is likely to significantly reduce female lifetime reproductive success, thereby limiting the spread of the male beneficial B2 haplogroup. Our findings suggest that maternal inheritance of mitochondria and sexually antagonistic selection can constrain male adaptation and sexual selection in nature.     

Pattern of dental eruption,skeletal maturation and stress in a Medieval Population from Sudanese Nubia

The present research represents a comparison of dental and skeletal development as a means for determining nutritional stress in a Medieval Christian population from Nubia’sBatn el Hajar. The sample consists of 21 individuals from an early Christian (c 550–750) and 23 individuals from a late Christian cemetery (c mid-16th century) excavated from the site of Kulubnarti, Sudan. Ages at death ranged from 12 to 23 years. For the combined sample, a large majority (70.5%) of individuals had skeletal ages younger than their dental ages. However, a comparison of those individuals that could be sexed revealed that the pattern was not consistent for males and females. Females showed no difference between skeletal and dental age while males showed significant skeletal retardation. This pattern of sex differences is consistent with that observed for modern living children and subadults experiencing nutritional stress. A comparison by cemetry also suggests a reduction in stress from early to late Christian times with later Christians showing a closer correspondence between skeletal and dental ages. While not statistically significant, this apparent reduction is consistent with previous research on the subadult remains.     

Discrete dental variations and biological distances of nubian populations

During the 1963–1964 field season, the University of Colorado's Nubian Expedition excavated a series of Meroitic, X-Group, and Christian cemeteries from Wadi Halfa Sudan. Recently a joint expedition sponsored by the Universities of Colorado and Kentucky excavated two additional Christian cemeteries from Kulubnarti, some 80 miles south of Wadi Halfa. Earlier analysis of discrete dental variations demonstrated that the Wadi Halfa populations did not differ significantly from one another. Application of the Smith-Grewal multivariate measure of biological divergence, as modified by Sjøvold, and Green and Suchey, corroborates the original conclusion of biological stability and continuity for the Wadi Halfa populations, as well as demonstrating that the Kulubnarti populations are part of that pattern. None of the populations are significantly different from one another.     

Lombards on the Move – An Integrative Study of the Migration Period Cemetery at Szólád,Hungary

In 2005 to 2007 45 skeletons of adults and subadults were excavated at the Lombard period cemetery at Szólád (6^th century A.D.), Hungary. Embedded into the well-recorded historical context, the article presents the results obtained by an integrative investigation including anthropological, molecular genetic and isotopic (δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) analyses. Skeletal stress markers as well as traces of interpersonal violence were found to occur frequently. The mitochondrial DNA profiles revealed a heterogeneous spectrum of lineages that belong to the haplogroups H, U, J, HV, T2, I, and K, which are common in present-day Europe and in the Near East, while N1a and N1b are today quite rare. Evidence of possible direct maternal kinship was identified in only three pairs of individuals. According to enamel strontium isotope ratios, at least 31% of the individuals died at a location other than their birthplace and/or had moved during childhood. Based on the peculiar ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio distribution between females, males, and subadults in comparison to local vegetation and soil samples, we propose a three-phase model of group movement. An initial patrilocal group with narrower male but wider female Sr isotope distribution settled at Szólád, whilst the majority of subadults represented in the cemetery yielded a distinct Sr isotope signature. Owing to the virtual absence of Szólád-born adults in the cemetery, we may conclude that the settlement was abandoned after approx. one generation. Population heterogeneity is furthermore supported by the carbon and nitrogen isotope data. They indicate that a group of high-ranking men had access to larger shares of animal-derived food whilst a few individuals consumed remarkable amounts of millet. The inferred dynamics of the burial community are in agreement with hypotheses of a highly mobile lifestyle during the Migration Period and a short-term occupation of Pannonia by Lombard settlers as conveyed by written sources.     

A western Eurasian male is found in 2000‐year‐old elite Xiongnu cemetery in Northeast Mongolia

We analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y‐chromosome single nucleotide polymorphisms (Y‐SNP), and autosomal short tandem repeats (STR) of three skeletons found in a 2,000‐year‐old Xiongnu elite cemetery in Duurlig Nars of Northeast Mongolia. This study is one of the first reports of the detailed genetic analysis of ancient human remains using the three types of genetic markers. The DNA analyses revealed that one subject was an ancient male skeleton with maternal U2e1 and paternal R1a1 haplogroups. This is the first genetic evidence that a male of distinctive Indo‐European lineages (R1a1) was present in the Xiongnu of Mongolia. This might indicate an Indo‐European migration into Northeast Asia 2,000 years ago. Other specimens are a female with mtDNA haplogroup D4 and a male with Y‐SNP haplogroup C3 and mtDNA haplogroup D4. Those haplogroups are common in Northeast Asia. There was no close kinship among them. The genetic evidence of U2e1 and R1a1 may help to clarify the migration patterns of Indo‐Europeans and ancient East‐West contacts of the Xiongnu Empire. Artifacts in the tombs suggested that the Xiongnu had a system of the social stratification. The West Eurasian male might show the racial tolerance of the Xiongnu Empire and some insight into the Xiongnu society. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Sex differences in periodontal disease in catastrophic and attritional assemblages from medieval london

Periodontal disease is one of the most common chronic diseases in living populations, and most studies that have examined sex differences in periodontal disease have found higher frequencies in men compared to women. This study examines sex differences in periodontal disease in two cemeteries from medieval London: the East Smithfield cemetery (c. 1349–1350), an exclusively Black Death cemetery that represents catastrophic mortality (n = 161), and the St. Mary Graces cemetery (c. 1350–1538), a post‐Black Death attritional assemblage that represents normal medieval mortality (n = 100). The results reveal a significantly higher frequency of periodontal disease, independent of age, among males compared with females in St. Mary Graces, but no significant difference between the sexes in East Smithfield. The sex differences in the attritional assemblage might reflect heightened susceptibility to periodontal disease in the living population or sex differences in frailty. The differences in the sex patterns of periodontal disease between the two cemeteries might be the result of disproportionately negative effects of the Great Bovine Pestilence and consequent decreases in dairy availability on female oral health among victims of the Black Death. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Evidence that a West-East admixed population lived in the Tarim Basin as early as the early Bronze Age

Background

The Tarim Basin, located on the ancient Silk Road, played a very important role in the history of human migration and cultural communications between the West and the East. However, both the exact period at which the relevant events occurred and the origins of the people in the area remain very obscure. In this paper, we present data from the analyses of both Y chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) derived from human remains excavated from the Xiaohe cemetery, the oldest archeological site with human remains discovered in the Tarim Basin thus far.

Results

Mitochondrial DNA analysis showed that the Xiaohe people carried both the East Eurasian haplogroup (C) and the West Eurasian haplogroups (H and K), whereas Y chromosomal DNA analysis revealed only the West Eurasian haplogroup R1a1a in the male individuals.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that the Xiaohe people were an admixture from populations originating from both the West and the East, implying that the Tarim Basin had been occupied by an admixed population since the early Bronze Age. To our knowledge, this is the earliest genetic evidence of an admixed population settled in the Tarim Basin.     

Bilateral asymmetry in skeletal growth and maturation as an indicator of environmental stress.

This study examined the efficacy of bilateral asymmetry in epiphyseal union as an indicator of environmental stress affecting the skeleton. We compared the extent of asymmetry in the postcranial skeleton between two cemetery samples excavated from Medieval Kulubnarti, Sudanese Nubia. Past studies have strongly suggested that these ancient Nubians experienced environmental stress-the early Christian period (550-750 AD) population to a greater extent than the late Christian period (750-1450 AD) population. We hypothesized that if bilateral asymmetry is a reflection of stress, then it should be present or greater in the more stressed population, the early Christian period population, while absent or found to a lesser extent in the less stressed population, the late Christian period population. We computed two mean values, representative of right-side and left-side epiphyseal union, for each individual in both cemetery samples, and tested for significant differences. Bilateral asymmetry was significant in the combined cemetery sample of 90 individuals (P < 0.019). When cemetery samples were tested separately, bilateral asymmetry was significant for the early Christian period sample (P < 0.001), but not for the late Christian period sample. There were no differences attributable to sex. Finally, we discuss why we conclude that environmental stress was favored over a biomechanic explanation as the cause for asymmetry. To the extent that our results support previous findings that early Christian period individuals were more affected by environmental stress than late Christian period individuals, it is reasonable to consider bilateral asymmetry in skeletal growth and maturation a good indicator of environmental stress.     

Increased intrinsic mitochondrial function in humans with mitochondrial haplogroup H

It has been suggested that human mitochondrial variants influence maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max). Whether mitochondrial respiratory capacity per mitochondrion (intrinsic activity) in human skeletal muscle is affected by differences in mitochondrial variants is not known. We recruited 54 males and determined their mitochondrial haplogroup, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity (OXPHOS), mitochondrial content (citrate synthase (CS)) and VO_2max. Intrinsic mitochondrial function is calculated as mitochondrial OXPHOS capacity divided by mitochondrial content (CS). Haplogroup H showed a 30% higher intrinsic mitochondrial function compared with the other haplo group U. There was no relationship between haplogroups and VO_2max. In skeletal muscle from men with mitochondrial haplogroup H, an increased intrinsic mitochondrial function is present.     

Ancient DNA analysis of human neolithic remains found in northeastern Siberia

We successfully extracted DNA from a bone sample of a Neolithic skeleton (dated 3,600 +/- 60 years BP) excavated in northeastern Yakutia (east Siberia). Ancient DNA was analyzed by autosomal STRs (short tandem repeats) and by sequencing of the hypervariable region I (HV1) of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region. The STR profile, the mitochondrial haplotype, and the haplogroup determined were compared with those of modern Eurasian and Native American populations. The results showed the affinity of this ancient skeleton with both east Siberian/Asian and Native American populations.     

Mitochondrial haplogroup N9b is protective against myocardial infarction in Japanese males

Superoxide, which mitochondria mainly produce in vascular endothelial cells, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Accordingly, mitochondrial functional differences are thought to be one of the most important factors for the risk of myocardial infarction among various individuals. In the present study, we surveyed mitochondrial haplogroups associated with myocardial infarction in Japanese subjects. The study population comprised 2,137 unrelated Japanese individuals, including 1,181 subjects with a first myocardial infarction (920 males, 261 females) and the control subjects (522 males, 434 females). Twenty-eight mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphisms of 12 major mitochondrial haplogroups (A, B, D4, D5, F, G1, G2, M7a, M7b, M7c, N9a, and N9b) were determined by use of 28-plex PCR and fluorescent beads combined with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes. After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and prevalence of smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and type 2 diabetes, a significantly (P = 0.0019) lower prevalence of haplogroup N9b was detected in subjects with myocardial infarction than in the controls. Especially, the prevalence of this haplogroup was significantly lower (P = 0.0007) in the male subjects with the disease than in the male controls. In contrast, there were trends towards higher prevalence of the disease in haplogroup G1 for males (P < 0.05). No significant haplogroup-related associations were detected for females. Our data suggest that haplogroup N9b confers resistance against myocardial infarction in Japanese males. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Mobridge Site Cemeteries: Controversy Concerning The Location Of The Over And Stirling Burials

Abstract

During the 1920's, W.H. Over and M.W. Stirling excavated skeletal material from cemeteries at the Mobridge site. Their records are not clear as to the exact location of burial recovery. Mobridge has at least three distinct burial areas (Features 1, 2, and 3), and there are craniometric and temporal differences among them. A comparison of crania from Features 1, 2, and 3 with the Over and Stirling samples gives some insight as to the location of their burials. Burials excavated by Over classify primarily with Feature 2, indicating this to be their point of origin. A few burials from Feature 1 also appear to be represented. Stirling's sample groups with areas 1 and 3. His sample possibly originated there, although it seems more likely that they came from a location north of the village which dates to the same time period as Features 1 and 3 and represents the same population.     

Mitochondrial haplogroup A is a genetic risk factor for atherothrombotic cerebral infarction in Japanese females

Mitochondrion-derived reactive oxygen species possibly play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and atherothrombotic cerebral infarction, because mitochondria in vascular endothelial cells are the major site of superoxide production. In the present study, we surveyed mitochondrial haplogroups associated with atherothrombotic cerebral infarction in 1081 Japanese subjects. Twenty-six mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphisms of 11 major mitochondrial haplogroups (F, B, A, N9a, M7a, M7b, M7c, G1, G2, D4, and D5) were determined by use of 28-plex PCR and fluorescent beads combined with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with adjustment for conventional risk factors revealed that mitochondrial haplogroup A was associated with atherothrombotic cerebral infarction in female subjects (P< 0.05). However, no significant association was detected for males. Our study shows that haplogroup A confers an increased risk of atherothrombotic cerebral infarction in Japanese females. Validation of our findings will require additional studies with independent subject panels.