Slavonic burial site at Olomouc-Nemilany (Czech Republic). Anthropological and paleopathological analysis
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2002 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Anthropologie |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Archaeology, anthropology, ethnology |
| Keywords | Bone remains - Slavonic population - Palaeopathology |
| Description | In our research attention is paid to the standard anthropological and palaeopathological analyses of the bone remains of the 54 individuals (39 adult and 15 immature skeletons) dating to the 9th - 10th centuries. These skeletons were found at the Slavonic burial site at Olomouc - Nemilany (Czech Republic). From the total number of the all pathological cases (N=39) 46% were degenerative changes of the joints, metabolic and endocrine diseases made up 23%, congenital bone anomalies represented 10%, traumatic lesions made about 8% and inflammatory processes only 5%. The most valuable finding was the evidence of tumour metastases on one of the skeletons. This investigation includes also study of Slavonic funeral rites. Large majority of all individuals were placed to the grave pits in the dorsal decubitus. Skeletons with the right lateral decubitus, and particularly those with the ventral decubitus, significantly deviate from the above basic pattern. Also exceptional are grave with marks of secondary postmortal interference. There may be different reasons for such deviations, and one of the main reasons usually given in the case of Slavonic burial sites is vampirism. |
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