Paleopathology and Nutritional Analysis of a South German Monastery Population

The monastery of Attel, Upper Bavaria, which was founded in AD 1030, harbours a series of crypt burials from the time period between AD 1700 and 1750. Due to a restoration of the church, 16 crypts had to be removed and were subjected to an extensive anthropological-paleopathological and isotope anal...

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Main Authors: Andreas G. Nerlich, Alfred Riepertinger, Ralph Gillich, Stephanie Panzer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2015-01-01
Series:BioMed Research International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/486467
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spelling doaj-2461fc2fae2d45608f16d91808755e082020-11-24T21:06:46ZengHindawi LimitedBioMed Research International2314-61332314-61412015-01-01201510.1155/2015/486467486467Paleopathology and Nutritional Analysis of a South German Monastery PopulationAndreas G. Nerlich0Alfred Riepertinger1Ralph Gillich2Stephanie Panzer3Division of Paleopathology, Institute of Pathology, Academic Clinics München-Bogenhausen and München-Schwabing, 81925 Munich, GermanyDivision of Paleopathology, Institute of Pathology, Academic Clinics München-Bogenhausen and München-Schwabing, 81925 Munich, GermanyDivision of Paleopathology, Institute of Pathology, Academic Clinics München-Bogenhausen and München-Schwabing, 81925 Munich, GermanyDepartment of Radiology, Murnau Trauma Center, 82418 Murnau am Staffelsee, GermanyThe monastery of Attel, Upper Bavaria, which was founded in AD 1030, harbours a series of crypt burials from the time period between AD 1700 and 1750. Due to a restoration of the church, 16 crypts had to be removed and were subjected to an extensive anthropological-paleopathological and isotope analysis. The 16 crypts contained 19 burials in open wooden coffins. All bodies were covered by an extensive layer of calcium carbonate. Despite this “treatment,” bone and teeth were excellently preserved (mean degree of conservation > 75%, completeness > 85%). The anthropological investigation revealed a mean age of 38.5 years and a body height of 1.71 m. Paleopathologically, a surprisingly high rate of trauma was seen (13 injuries in 7 different individuals, i.e., 36.8% of individuals affected), 2 cases presented signs of extensive arthritis urica (gout), and several monks were affected by arthrosis of shoulder and knee joints. Extensive dental attrition, numerous foci of dental caries, and dentogenic abscesses coincided with considerable dental calculus indicating poor oral hygienic conditions. Stable isotope analysis showed adequate mixed carnivore-herbivore nutrition, comparable to that of contemporaneous upper class individuals. This extensive combined analysis provides considerable insight into the nutrition and disease pattern of a middle-class monastery of early 18th century South Germany.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/486467
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Andreas G. Nerlich
Alfred Riepertinger
Ralph Gillich
Stephanie Panzer
spellingShingle Andreas G. Nerlich
Alfred Riepertinger
Ralph Gillich
Stephanie Panzer
Paleopathology and Nutritional Analysis of a South German Monastery Population
BioMed Research International
author_facet Andreas G. Nerlich
Alfred Riepertinger
Ralph Gillich
Stephanie Panzer
author_sort Andreas G. Nerlich
title Paleopathology and Nutritional Analysis of a South German Monastery Population
title_short Paleopathology and Nutritional Analysis of a South German Monastery Population
title_full Paleopathology and Nutritional Analysis of a South German Monastery Population
title_fullStr Paleopathology and Nutritional Analysis of a South German Monastery Population
title_full_unstemmed Paleopathology and Nutritional Analysis of a South German Monastery Population
title_sort paleopathology and nutritional analysis of a south german monastery population
publisher Hindawi Limited
series BioMed Research International
issn 2314-6133
2314-6141
publishDate 2015-01-01
description The monastery of Attel, Upper Bavaria, which was founded in AD 1030, harbours a series of crypt burials from the time period between AD 1700 and 1750. Due to a restoration of the church, 16 crypts had to be removed and were subjected to an extensive anthropological-paleopathological and isotope analysis. The 16 crypts contained 19 burials in open wooden coffins. All bodies were covered by an extensive layer of calcium carbonate. Despite this “treatment,” bone and teeth were excellently preserved (mean degree of conservation > 75%, completeness > 85%). The anthropological investigation revealed a mean age of 38.5 years and a body height of 1.71 m. Paleopathologically, a surprisingly high rate of trauma was seen (13 injuries in 7 different individuals, i.e., 36.8% of individuals affected), 2 cases presented signs of extensive arthritis urica (gout), and several monks were affected by arthrosis of shoulder and knee joints. Extensive dental attrition, numerous foci of dental caries, and dentogenic abscesses coincided with considerable dental calculus indicating poor oral hygienic conditions. Stable isotope analysis showed adequate mixed carnivore-herbivore nutrition, comparable to that of contemporaneous upper class individuals. This extensive combined analysis provides considerable insight into the nutrition and disease pattern of a middle-class monastery of early 18th century South Germany.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/486467
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