Rib anomalies in a Neolithic period skeleton from Croatia

Clinical Anatomy, 2016

Most congenital conditions have low prevalence, but collectively they occur in a few percent of all live births. Congenital conditions are rarely encountered in anthropological studies, not least because many of them have no obvious effect on the skeleton. Here, we discuss two groups of congenital conditions that specifically affect the skeleton, either qualitatively or quantitatively. Skeletal dysplasias (osteochondrodysplasias) interfere with the histological formation, growth and maturation of skeletal tissues leading to diminished postural length, but the building plan of the body is unaffected. Well-known skeletal dysplasias represented in the archeological record include osteogenesis imperfecta and achondroplasia. Dysostoses, in contrast, interfere with the building plan of the body, leading to e.g. missing or extraskeletal elements, but the histology of the skeletal tissues is unaffected. Dysostoses can concern the extremities (e.g., oligodactyly and polydactyly), the vertebral column (e.g., homeotic and meristic anomalies), or the craniofacial region. Conditions pertaining to the cranial sutures, i.e., craniosynostoses, can be either skeletal dysplasias or dysostoses. Congenital conditions that are not harmful to the individual are known as anatomical variations, several of which have a high and population-specific prevalence that could potentially make them useful for determining ethnic origins. In individual cases, specific congenital conditions could be determinative in establishing identity, provided that ante-mortem registration of those conditions was ensured. Clin.

The anthropological examination of two skeletons, of individuals identified as males, at 30-^0 and 60-65 years, respectively, excavated from the grave complexes of the Necropolis of Big Mound, Cabyle, dated in the late 4 th century AD, revealed abnormalities in the cervical section of the vertebral column, in C 1 st and 2 nd . In the first case (grave N 2,), neural arches of Cl and C2 are fused together by two clearly visible bony bridges at the dorsal side of neural arches. In the second case (grave N 3) both vertebrae are changed, with the dens axis strongly bended to the left, the articulation surfaces with the first vertebra are on different geometrical surfaces, the left one being on a higher position and bended at approximately 90°. The form the first cervical vertebra is adequate to the changes of the second vertebra. A lack of lesions, characteristic of the trauma or the infection is observed. The case from grave N 2 appears easy to be explained with inborn anomaly, as the Clippel-Fiel syndrome. The appearance of fusion, realized by clearly distinguishable bony bridges and clearly divided vertebrae from each other, instead of characteristic of the inborn condition, close, undivided position of neural arches with unclear outlines, the result from abnormality in embryonic development makes it also possible to have the interpretation as a survived trauma in the region. The changes of cervical vertebrae from the individual from grave N 3, could be interpreted as the development in the course of ossification of the centre of the dens axis and these both as halves of atlas during infancy.

European Journal of Anatomy (Spanish), 2011

The aim of the present study is to analyze the unusual occipital condyles and craniovertebral anomalies of skulls from the Late Antiquity period (1st century BC – 3rd century AD) in Armenia to acquire such morphometric data regarding the occipital condyle and classify it according to its shape and size. The results of this study reveal the variability of occipital condyle parameters, including shape, length and width. The shape of the occipital condyles was classified in eight types. The occipital condyles and the foramen magnum were affected by marginal osteophytosis. Most foramina magna were oval- and diamondshaped. The lateral cervical spine in two individuals from the Black Fortress shows an ovoid terminale ossiculum. The skeleton of a young adult woman, whose skull exhibited a remarkable degree of assimilation of the atlas, was found during an archaeological exploration in Beniamin. It is likely that both genetic and environmental factors would have contributed to the etiology of the skeletal defects. Environmental factors, in particular nutritional deficiency and disease, may trigger or enhance the genetic predisposition for developmental defects. The findings of this research reveal a documented list of pathologies that ailed the people in the Late Antiquity period in their daily lives.

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2009

Salivary gland inclusions in the mandible are relatively uncommon in recent as well as archaeological populations. This condition is well known to oral surgeons, but less so to anthropologists, osteologists and skeletal biologists. At present a limited number of reports pertaining to this condition in ancient populations are available in anthropological and palaeopathological literature, although scattered reports of cases in recent populations are found in dental journals. This paper analyses the prevalence of Stafne's bone defect in a large composite Croatian archaeological series (n = 4250 mandibles), and reports on two cases in which computerised tomography was performed, in order to draw the attention of anthropologists, osteologists and skeletal biologists to this condition when faced with differential diagnosis of odontogenic lesions, cysts and neoplasms in the area of the angle of the mandible. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Archives of Oral Biology

The re mains (a mandible and an atlas) of two individuals, from the stratifi ed Upper Paleolithic site Afontova Gora II, dating to 16–12 ka BP, are described. The mandible was from a 14–15-year-old female. Certai n nonmetric traits indicate its anatomical modernity, and the dimensions are closer to those of modern adolescents than to those of Upper Paleolithic individuals of similar age. In com parison, the mandible of the Předmostí-5 female, while being close in biological age, shows a much greater projective length and a higher and wider ramus. Mandibles of Upper Paleolithic children from Sungir are more robust and show a larger intercondylar width and a higher and wider ramus. The moder nity of the dimensions of the Afontova Gora mandible may be due to a diachronic tendenc y toward gracilization. The dimensions of the atlas suggest that it belonged to a female aged 20–25. However, the paucity of data on fi rst cervical vertebrae from Upper Paleolithic humans makes it impossible to evaluate the taxonomic status of that fi nd.

LINCOM Studies in Theoretical Syntax, 2019

Links to complete series of papers (PDFs) available on Academia: <htps://csun.academia.edu/josephgalasso/Minimalist-Perspectves-on-Child-Syntax>... •If there is no recursion, there can be no language. What we are left in its stead is a (Merge-based) broad 'beads-on-a string' sound-to-meaning recurrent function, serial sequenced, combinatory non-conservative and devoid of the unique properties of recursion which make human speech special. It may be 'labeling' (see Epstein et al.)-the breaking of 'combinatory serial sequencing' found among sister-relations-that constitutes the true definition of language since in order to label a phrase one must employ a recursive structure-JG. •If Continuity is allowed to run freely, in all aspects in respect to biology, and is therefore the null hypothesis, then what we may be talking about is a 'function' that matures over time, and not the 'inherent design' (UG) which underwrites the function, since, given strong continuity claims, the design has always been there from the very beginning. It may be that the (Move-based) function 'Recursion' may mature over time, in incremental intervals, leading to stages of child language acquisition, and in the manifesting of pidgin language. But when all is said and done, strong continuity claims don't necessary span across other species or even intermediate phases of our own species. In fact, strong evidence suggest the contrary-that the unique recursive property found specific to our own species, early Homo Sapiens (Cro-Magnon) has in fact no other antecedent that can be retraced past a date of approximately 60kya-JG.

Many farmers, in addition to normal farming activity, have already turned to agritourism as a source of additional farm income and opportunities. There are numerous benefits from the development of agritourism: it may strengthen local economy, create job opportunities and new businesses; develop and promote training and certification programs to introduce young people to agriculture and environment. Agritourism helps preserve rural lifestyles and landscape and also offers the opportunity to provide "sustainable" or "green" tourism. Organic agriculture is a cultural evolution that finds its origins in a environmentalist culture. Furthermore the focus on these products is due to demand on healthy foods with high quality standard limiting chemical substances usage. It’s clear the link of the organic agriculture with agritourism and tourism services. They have a considerable role in the future development of rural areas. The purpose of this paper was to identify and examine those factors that have helped rural communities successfully develop agritourism, in particular organic agritourism and its entrepreneurship opportunities. Several focus groups were conducted with local business persons and leaders about a applicative case of South Italy area.