Theoretical and methodological issues in paleopathology • 1 1 



bone is poorly understood (Richman, Ortncr. and Schulter- 

 Ellis 1979). Use of this potential source ot data will require 

 basic research on the biological significance of these features 

 and on standards for distinguishing normal histological pat- 

 terns from abnormal. 



There are, of course, practical limits on what we can say 

 about major processes, including diseases that affect human 

 populations. Almost certainly there are new diseases today 

 that were not present in antiquity and vice versa. It is also 

 likely that the skeletal response in some disease processes has 

 changed. The evolutionary tendency for infectious agents to 

 become less virulent with time (Cockbum 1963) will in- 

 crease the probability that older diseases will be more chronic 

 in their relationship to the host. Infectious diseases that prog- 

 ress to a chronic phase are more likely to affect the skeleton. 

 This means that some skeletal disease processes apparent in 

 archeological specimens will have minimal impact on overall 

 biological function or longevity, and may not be the primary 

 cause of death. A response to the question regarding the 

 broad meaning of our descriptive data will require careful 

 thought about the implications of this and other similar facts. 



Paleopathology has at least the potential to contribute to 

 our understanding of several important processes including: 

 { 1 ) the biological and evolutionary role of disease in human 

 societies, particularly as reliable data on disease prevalence 

 accumulates. (2) the complex relationships between disease 

 and the epochal social changes that took place in human 

 history, such as sedentism and urbanism. and (3) the bio- 

 medical response of the skeleton to disease. 



To achieve this added insight, however, we must get our 

 methodological and theoretical house in order. We will need 

 to avoid easy assumptions based on inadequate knowledge of 

 pathological processes in bone tissue. As we develop a great- 

 er research emphasis on hypothesis testing and theory devel- 

 opment in paleopathology, we must deal more effectively 

 with the broad theoretical implications of our research. We 

 must give more careful thought to the biological significance 

 of evidence for infectious and other diseases in the skeleton 

 and their significance for population morbidity. While en- 

 lightened speculation may be helpful . it is very easy to careen 

 down scientifically blind alleys because of ignorance or be- 

 cause we have overextended our data. If we hope to achieve 

 the full potential of research in paleopathology we must avoid 

 doing this. 



Literature cited 



Angel. J.L. 1966. Porotic Hyperostosis. Anemias, Malarias and 

 Marshes in the Prehistoric Eastern Mediterranean. Scieme. 

 153:760-763. 



Cockbum. A. 1963. The Evolution and Eradictilion oj Infectious 

 Diseases. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 



Cohen, M.N.. and G.J. Armclagos. eds. 1984. Paleopathology at 

 the Orifiins of A^riiuliurc . New York; Academic Press. 



Ortncr. D.J.. and.S. Hunter. 1981. Hematogenous Osteomyelitis in 

 a Pre-Columbian Child's Skeleton Irom Maryland. MASCA Jour- 

 nal. 1:236-238. 



Ortncr, D.J.. and W.G.J. Pulschar. 1981. Identification of Patho- 

 logical Conditions in Human Skeletal Remains. Smithsonian 

 Contributions to Anthropology, 28. Washington. D.C.: Smithso- 

 nian Institution Press. 



Ortncr. D. J. . and G . Theobald. 1 987 . Human Health and Disease in 

 the Mesolithic and Neolithic Ages. Manuscript. 



Ortncr. D.J.. and C.J. Utermohlc. 1981. Polyarticular Inflamma- 

 tory Arthritis in a Pre-Columbian Skeleton from Kodiak Island. 

 Alaska. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 56:23-3 1 . 



Rcsnick. D. . and G. Niwayama. 198 1 . Diagnosis of Bone and Joint 

 Di.sordcrs. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders. 



Richman. K.A., D.J. Ortner, and F.P. Schuller-Ellis. 1979. Differ- 

 ences in Intracortical Bone Remodeling in Three Aboriginal 

 American Populations: Possible Dietary Factors. Calcified 

 Tissue International. 28:209-214. 



Schinz, H.R., W.E. Baensch, E. Friedl, and E. Uehlinger. 1951- 

 1952. Roentgen Diagnostics: Skeleton. 2 volumes. English trans- 

 lation by J.T. Case. New York: Gmne and Stratton. 



Von Endt, D.W., and D.J. Ortner. 1982. Amino Acid Analysis of 

 Bone from a Possible Case of Prehistoric Iron Deficiency Ane- 

 mia. American Jounuil of Physical Anthropology, 59:377-385. 



Summary of audience discussion: Granted the need for a funda- 

 mental change in both the content and methods of palcopathological 

 research, stimulating the necessary changes is a challenging task. 

 Part of the problem is that paleopathologists include anthropologi- 

 cally and medically trained specialists and each type brings a differ- 

 ent knowledge, experience, training, jargon, and methodology to 

 the subject. Both the anthropological and medical disciplines are 

 necessary for palcopathological research, and a good palcopatholo- 

 gist must become as knowledgable as possible about both disci- 

 plines. Equally important is that each type of specialist should 

 cultivate collaborative relationships with specialists in the other 

 discipline. 



Basic to both, however, is a methodology that places a strong 

 emphasis on careful description of the abnormal conditions we see. 

 There will be problems in language but these will be minor if the 

 basic description is done carefully. The paleopathologisi also needs 

 to develop a elassificatory system that lakes lull advantage of the 

 data available in the material being studied. We need ongoing dia- 

 logue between the paleopathologists and medical colleagues to in- 

 sure as much overlap as possible with extant medical lemiinology 

 and elassificatory (diagnostic) categories. 



If significant progress is to be made in paleoepidemiological 

 research much more comprehensive skeletal samples will be needed 

 to provide the data for both synchronic and diachronic research. 

 One person is unlikely to be able to study all the necessary speci- 

 mens, so a carefully considered and generally accepted descriptive 

 and elassificatory methodology is a critical need. 



Zagrtb Paleopathology Symp. 1988 



