Indicators of motherhood? Sacral preauricular extensions and notches in identified skeletal collections.

The sacral preauricular extension (SPE) and sacral preauricular notch (SPN) are morphological changes at the ventral apex of the sacrum. We recently specified their shapes and appearances and suggested a scoring system based on prehistoric Austrian skeletal assemblages. We hypothesized that these specific pelvic changes relate to past pregnancies and parturitions, a hypothesis that we now tested on a subsample of individuals from the Simon Identified Skeletal collection in Geneva (n = 62) and the Christ Church, Spitalfields collection in London (n = 27) linked to historical information on deliveries. We found SPE and SPN in low frequencies and only in female individuals with at least two children in both collections, and a significant association between the emergence of SPE and first births by 25 years. SPN was found only in two females in the Simon collection, but both with a very high number of recorded parturitions including twin births. Based on these results, we are confident in our assumption that at least SPE, and possibly also SPN, result from increased compression forces at the sacroiliac joint, and especially at the ventrosuperior margin, in recurring (complicated) birth events, the interaction of enhanced pelvic joint mobility that is highest up to age 25, and postural changes related to weight gain during pregnancy. Pelvic shape, dimensions, body proportions, biomechanical issues and hormonal levels may also play a role in their emergence.

Sacral preauricular extensions and notches as parts of a 'Pelvic Pattern' may provide information on past pregnancies and parturitions.

During the analyses of several hundred prehistoric individuals from Austria, we observed that some women display a "Pelvic Pattern" at the innominate bones and the sacrum, i.e. specific combinations of pronounced expressions of pelvic features. We recorded classic pelvic features (dorsal pubic pitting, preauricular sulcus, extended pubic tubercle) as well as new ones (SPE: sacral preauricular extension, a ventrally pointing flat bone formation at the ventrosuperior margin of the ala ossis sacri; SPN: sacral preauricular notch, a loss of convexity at the same location; CF: corresponding facets at the ilium), and some less well-known features, i.e. the margo auricularis groove, ventral pubic exostoses and lesions. To quantify the assessed features, we developed a specific formula to calculate the 'Pelvic Pattern Index' (PPI). As pregnancies and/or parturitions are suspected to contribute to or be at least partly causative of the occurrence of pelvic features, we analyzed 48 well-preserved female individuals and 15 males from identified skeletal collections with obstetric information in Geneva and London. In these collections, we found a pelvic pattern of at least four out of ten distinctly expressed pelvic features only in multiparous females, but not in nulli- or primiparous females or in males. This pattern was found in 40.6% of the multiparous females and 29.2% of all females from the identified collections, compared to 56.1% of well-preserved prehistoric females with unknown parity status from Austria (n = 41). The mean PPI of the multiparae from the identified collections is 0.25, compared to a mean PPI of 0.19 for all women from the identified collections, and 0.28 for the prehistoric female individuals. We conclude from this that a high PPI (≥ 0.30), especially in cases where SPE or SPN are present, can give insights into past motherhood.

Anatomic basics and technical approaches: sacral preauricular extensions, preauricular sulci and dorsal pubic pits in modern anatomical specimens.

The aim of this study is the evaluation of three selected osseous pelvic features in modern anatomical specimen - the sacral preauricular extension, the preauricular sulcus and pits on the dorsal side of the pubic bone laterally to the symphysis. The specificity and significance of these features are under debate and their genesis is largely unclear. Descriptive data of specific soft tissue structures surrounding the anterior sacroiliac joint gap and the pubic symphysis were generated by assessing 20 fresh pelves and 12 embalmed hemipelves from human body donors. Computed tomography (CT) was performed on all specimens and three-dimensional (3D) surface models were generated and analysed. Afterwards, all the specimens underwent anatomical dissection and finally maceration. During dissection, it became apparent that the anterior sacroiliac ligament, due to its position, shape and potential impact on the sacroiliac joint and adjacent osseous structures, requires a detailed analysis of its dimension. The most promising result, in terms of the sacral preauricular extension, was that the measurements of the triangular part of the anterior sacroiliac ligament were significantly longer in females than in males. Pelvic floor muscle fibres and fascial parts were directly connected to this ligament in some specimens, which is an important starting point for a larger in-depth study. The evaluation of the anatomic structures in connection to dorsal pitting refutes the assumption that the pelvic floor muscles or fasciae could exert influence on its formation. A histological evaluation of the ligaments of the pubic symphysis, especially the dorsal pubic ligament, would be expedient to clarify the etiology of this feature.

Child murder in the Early Bronze Age: proteomic sex identification of a cold case from Schleinbach, Austria.

The identification of sex-specific peptides in human tooth enamel by nanoflow liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) represents a quantum leap for the study of childhood and social relations more generally. Determining sex-related differences in prehistoric child rearing and mortality has been hampered by the insufficient accuracy in determining the biological sex of juveniles. We conducted mass spectrometric analysis to identify sex-specific peptides in the dental enamel of a child from a settlement pit of the Early Bronze Age settlement of Schleinbach, Austria (c. 1950-1850 bc). Four perimortal impression fractures on the skull of a 5-6-year-old child indicate an intentional killing, with a co-buried loom weight as possible murder weapon. Proteomic analysis, conducted for the first time on prehistoric teeth in Austria, determined the child's sex as male. While we cannot conclusively determine whether the child was the victim of conflicts between village groups or was slain by members of his own community, we suggest that contextual evidence points to the latter. A possible trigger of violence was the follow-on effects of an uncontrolled middle ear infection revealed by an osteological analysis. The boy from Schleinbach highlights the potential for further investigation of gender-biased violence, infanticide and child murder based on the recently developed method of proteomic sex identification.

The Early Mediaeval manorial estate of Gars/Thunau, Lower Austria: An enclave of endemic tuberculosis?

In recent decades, an increasing number of studies have aimed to shed light on the origin and spread of tuberculosis in past human populations. Here we present the results of a systematic palaeodemographic and palaeopathological survey of the Early Mediaeval population of Gars/Thunau (Lower Austria), which - at this stage - includes 373 individuals recovered at two archaeological sub-sites: a fortified settlement (including a necropolis) at the top of a hill - probably reserved for social and military elites; and a large riverine settlement at the foot of the hill, a so-called 'suburbium', where burials and an area of 'industrial' character were discovered. We recorded a great number of pathological alterations and a variety of 'classical' features of tuberculosis, such as vertebral destructions (Pott's disease) and joint destructions, and other pathological (unspecific) features probably linked with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (e.g. new bone formation at the inner surface of the ribs, endocranial alterations in the form of 'pits', and new bone formation at the cranial base). We hypothesize that the two contemporaneous (∼900-1000 AD) populations of Gars/Thunau differed not only in their social affiliation/condition, but also in the type and frequencies of their population-density-related infectious diseases (in particular tuberculosis). Moreover, we investigated the molecular genetic evidence of the causative organism in a few selected immatures exhibiting pathological changes at the inner wall of the cranium and discuss these findings in regard to the macroscopic features observed. Finally, we analysed carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of both populations and strontium isotope ratios of the hill-top inhabitants in order to reconstruct certain aspects of diet and mobility to test our hypothesis concerning the specific social and/or military character of the site.