48 



E. TRINKAUS ETAL. 



The Axial Skeleton 



The Vertebral Column 



The indications of age-at-death in the vertebral column, as preserved 



and as observable given the partial articulation of the remains 



(originally for museum display), are as follows: 



C6 or 7: Posterior tubercle of spinous process unfused. 



Tl: Posterior tubercle unfused. 



T2 or 3: Posterior tubercle unfused. 



Til: Posterior tubercle appears to be unfused. 



T12: Posterior tubercle unfused, annular ring of the inferior surface 

 is not fully fused. 



LI: Posterior tubercle appears to be unfused. 



L2: The tubercle of the spinous process is fused but the epiphyseal 

 line is still open along its superior margin. The epiphyseal line 

 between the secondary center of ossification of the inferior annu- 

 lar ring and the centrum is also evident (but is mostly closed and 

 was undergoing obliteration at the time of death). 



L3 : The tip of the spinous process is fused but the epiphyseal line is 

 still open along its superior edge. The inferior and superior 

 annular rings appear to be fully fused to the centrum, with the 

 epiphyseal lines completely obliterated. 



S 1-S2: Between the S 1 and S2, the ventral bodies are fully separate, 

 with a maximum gap between them of 2.3mm. Laterally and 

 dorsally they remain unfused but the bone surfaces are in contact 

 with each other. 



S2-S3: There is clear contact but no evidence of fusion between S2 

 and S3 bodies. 



S3-S4: There is clear contact but no evidence of fusion between S3 

 and S4 bodies. 



S4-S5: The S4 and S5 bodies are fully fused, but the line between 

 them is readily apparent. 



S5-Cxl : There is no evidence of any bridging between the S5 and 

 Cxi bodies. 



Summary. The secondary center of ossification for the inferior 

 annular ring of the twelfth thoracic vertebra is unfused, and the 

 inferior annular ring of the second lumbar vertebra is fused but the 

 epiphyseal line remains visible. The superior and inferior annular 

 rings of the third lumbar vertebra are clearly fused, and the epiphy- 

 seal lines are obliterated. Post-mortem damage to the bones and the 

 presence of reconstructive materials and adherent matrix make the 

 evaluation of the developmental state of the other vertebrae difficult. 

 The dorsal tubercles of the spinous processes of the sixth cervical, 

 first, second, eleventh and twelfth thoracic and first lumbar vertebrae 

 are clearly unfused, suggesting a relatively young age at death for 

 this individual. 



Secondary centers of ossification in the vertebrae appear around 

 puberty, and with the exception of the epiphyseal rings of the 

 centra, are usually fused by the age of 18 years (Steele & 

 Bramblett, 1988). Maturation of the annular rings usually begins 

 prior to age 17 and is complete by the age of 25 (Steele & 

 Bramblett, 1988). However, a considerable amount of individual 

 variation exists in ages of fusion of the annular rings and other 

 secondary centers in the vertebrae (McKern & Stewart, 1957). 

 None of the preserved vertebrae shows any signs of osteophyte 

 development, arthritis to the articular surfaces, or Schmorl's nodes 

 (on the centra that can be examined), consistent with the death of 

 this individual during the third decade. 



The pattern and degree of fusion of the sacral vertebral bodies is 

 normal for a young adult, and by reference to Euroamerican males 

 indicates an age-at-death in the mid twenties (McKern & Stewart, 

 1957). 



The Costal Skeleton 



4 Right: The surface of the head is rough and irregular, likely 

 representing the subchondral surface of the unfused secondary 

 center of ossification for the head. 



5 Right and Left: The secondary centers of ossification for the heads 



are only partially fused (and portions are missing). 



6 Right and Left: The heads are incompletely fused and portions of 



them are missing. 



7 Left: The secondary center of ossification for the head of the left 



rib is unfused and missing. 



8 Right: The head is unfused and missing. 



9 Right and Left: The centers of ossification for the heads are 

 unfused and missing. 



1 1 Right and Left: The heads are unfused and missing. 



12 Right: The head appears to be unfused. 



Summary. Most of the ribs preserving the proximal end have 

 unfused or partially fused heads. The secondary centers of ossifica- 

 tion for the articular tubercles are, without exception, fully fused in 

 all the ribs retaining this region. Secondary centers for the head and 

 tubercle generally appear around puberty and fuse between the ages 

 of 1 8 and 24 (McKern & Stewart, 1 957 ), beginning in the upper and 

 lower end ribs and progressing towards the middle. Apparently the 

 articular tubercles followed a more accelerated schedule of fusion 

 than the rib heads in the Gough's Cave 1 skeleton. The developmen- 

 tal state of Cheddar Man's ribs suggests that he died in his late teens 

 or early in his third decade. 



The Upper Limbs 



No degenerative changes are evident in any of the preserved upper 

 limb articular surfaces, and all of the age-at-death indications are 

 associated with the fusion and obliteration of the epiphyseal lines. 



The Claviculae 



Both lack the sternal epiphysis but have well preserved metaphyseal 

 surfaces, making it clear that the sternal secondary centers of ossifi- 

 cation were unfused. 



The Right Scapula 



All of the observable secondary centers of ossification are fully 

 fused, and the epiphyseal lines are obliterated. These include the 

 subcoracoid center, the infraglenoid center, the acromial center, and 

 the vertebral border center (at least at the root of the spine - the only 

 place this center can be evaluated). It is possible that the vertebral 

 border - inferior angle center of ossification was not fully fused 

 along its entire length, and that the preserved portion of the inferior 

 angle represents an epiphyseal surface. Reconstructive materials 

 obscure observation of the inferior angle, making evaluation of the 

 state of fusion of the growth center difficult. 



The Humeri 



There is a very slight trace of an epiphyseal line on the anterior and 

 medial surfaces of the proximal metaphysis just below the lesser 

 tubercle and the articular surface of the head. The line is more 

 apparent on the right humerus than on the left. On both humeri the 

 line is largely obliterated on the dorsal and lateral surfaces. Even 

 though the line is visible, the head is fully fused and the lines are near 

 obliteration. Radiographically, a faint sclerotic line can be made out 

 between the metaphysis and proximal epiphysis on the right hu- 

 merus (despite considerable trabecular radio-opacity in the area). No 

 such line can be distinguished amongst the trabeculae on the left 



