44 • Ann Stirland 



Figure 2. Bilateral osteochondritis dissecans. 



Figure 1 . Gross enlargement of lower tho- 

 racic apophyseal joints (arrows). (All speci- 

 mens illustrated in this paper are courtesy of 

 the Mary Rose Trust.) 



Figure 3. Pits in femoral heads. 



These have also been identified as osteochondritis dissecans 

 (I. Watt 1984, pers. comm.), although an alternative diag- 

 nosis of avascular necrosis has been suggested (D. Birkett 

 1986, pers. comm.). Eleven left and 12 right tibiae exhibit 

 Osgood-Schlatter's disease. Some are very young with new- 

 ly fused epiphysis and in some cases it is bilateral (Figure 4). 



Os acromiale is a rare anomaly which has already been 

 described for this group (Stirland 1987). The data in this 

 earlier paper have now been updated and the frequency is 

 12.5%. With a normal frequency of from 2% to 6%, the 

 values for this sample are high. It is argued that os acromiale 

 in this case may be related to long-term use of the very heavy 

 longbows by the professional archers on the ship. The per- 

 sistent use of this weapon, with its draw weight of about 57 

 kg ( 125 lb), from a very early age was responsible for long- 

 term shearing stresses on the acromion which inhibited fu- 

 sion of the final element. The inflammatory nature of the 

 unfused elements suggests the surfaces were subjected to 

 such stresses in these cases (Figure 5). 



A defect in the rim of the acetabulum, usually in the pos- 

 terior portion, has been called an acetabular flange lesion 

 (Knowles 1983). In the absence of other serious pathology of 

 the acetabulum or the femoral head its etiology is unclear. It 



has been suggested that it is produced by a "transient, in- 

 complete, upward dislocation of the femoral head" (Knowles 

 1983:65), which does not affect the femur. Eleven innomi- 

 nates, four left and seven right, from this group are affected 

 by this lesion (Figure 6). Another suggestion offered is that it 

 is a defect in the fusion of the pelvic elements (I. Watt 1986, 

 pers. comm.). The appearance of these particular innomi- 

 nates, however, where there is pitting of the affected rim, 

 suggests a traumatic origin associated with activity but not 

 serious enough to be permanently disabling. 



Enthesopathies are widespread in the burials from the 

 Mary Rose. These range from development of the linea as- 

 pera, gluteal ridge, and hypotrochanteric fossa on the pos- 

 terior femur (Figure 7) to lesions at the insertions of pec- 

 toralis and teres major on the humerus and of biceps on the 

 radius (Figure 8). There are many other examples and all are 

 widespread throughout the sample. Enthesopathies also oc- 

 cur in the form of spurring, especially of the trochanters, 

 calcaneus and , to a lesser extent , the olecranon process of the 

 ulna. Some syndesmoses, particularly of the costoclavicular 

 ligament, show similar changes (Figure 9), with lesions and 

 some bony buildup. The exuberant nature of these changes, 

 which far exceed those normally .seen in archeological mate- 

 rial, must be explained in terms of processes. 



Zagreb Paleopalholony Symp. 19SH 



