Physical activity in a documented osteological collection from Argentina

SALEGA, SOLEDAD; DANGELO DEL CAMPO, MANUEL DOMINGO

Congreso; IX Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America; 2024

Universidad Mayor de San Simón

The study aims to present initial findings on the examination of entheseal changes (EC) within a well-documented osteological collection from Argentina. This analysis seeks to ascertain if these changes are linked to routine activities performed by individuals residing in the Necochea district since its establishment in the late 19th century. The sample encompasses 10 adult individuals (5 males, 5 females) selected from a pool of 48 individuals with documented information on sex, age, and occupation retrieved from the Necochea cemetery. EC were assessed in 18 fibrocartilaginous entheses and 14 fibrous entheses, employing two distinct scoring methodologies. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was utilized to assess bilateral asymmetry, while a Fisher exact test was employed to examine potential differences in EC occurrence concerning sex, age, and occupation among individuals. The findings suggest the absence of significant bilateral asymmetry in EC presence. However, notable differences were observed among males in upper limb and hip EC. A considerable proportion of entheses exhibited significant differences in individuals older than 50 years, and, when comparing occupations, particularly within the "laborer" occupation category, followed by the "housewife" category—indicating strenuous activities performed by individuals of both sexes. These initial outcomes align with prior findings from European documented collections of similar chronological periods. While highlighting the demanding activities associated with occupations such as "laborer" and "housewife" among both men and women, it's important to note that these conclusions are preliminary due to the small sample size.