Paleopathology and Taphonomy in Southern Patagonia. Structural analysis of human bones with DEXA and pQCT.

SUBY JA; GUICHÓN RA; FUGASSA MH; CASALI R; RODRIGUEZ MARTIN C; FERRETTI JL

Fira, Santorini, Grecia

Congreso; 16th European Meeting of the Paleopathology Association; 2006

Paleopathology Association

Paleopathology and Taphonomy in Southern Patagonia Structural Analysis of Human Bones with DEXA and pQCT   Suby JA, Guichón RA, Fugassa MH, Casalli R, Rodriguez Martin C y Ferretti JL.   Since 2003 we have been working in a Scientific Collaboration Program between the Instituto de Bioantropología de Canarias (Spain) and the Universidad Nacional del Centro (Argentine), which studies the paleopathologies and extinction processes of human populations of Southern Patagonia. This program includes the analysis of diseases dispersion between European and native populations, bone pathologies, paleoparasitological and historical sources, and the recognition of record features among its aims. In this work, we will place a special emphasis in bone structure analysis for taphonomical and pathological interpretations of human record. We are highlighting that the taphonomical integrity of bioarchaeological record is a key in paleoepidemiological evaluations. Moreover, the human bone structure analysis (mineral mass, architectonical design and mechanical resistance) is strongly related to taphonomic history, and to the paleopathology, life style and forensic identifications.   We studied volumetric BMD of one postcraneal human skeleton from Southern Patagonia by peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT) and derived from areal BMD by DEXA, in order to make methodological approaches for differential preservation analysis of bioarchaeological record. Furthermore, the cortical area and second moment of inertia data offered by pQCT could be useful in paleopathology and forensic anthropology. In this sense, we started analysing these variables in the only five skeletons recovered from Nombre de Jesus archaeological site, the first Spanish population in Southern Patagonia dated from 1584. The first results showed a reduced cortical area and low bone mineral density, supported by  other historical, biological and paleoparasitological sources, compatible with the hypothesis of malnutrition in that population.