Projects: Geographical Overview
Harbour Necropolis, Tomb 1. Individual II, male, 22–24 years old. Well-healed fracture of the right collar bone (above), notably shorter in comparison with the healthy left bone
Harbour Necropolis, Tomb 2. Individual XVII, male, 30–50 years old. Four flat, well-healed injuries to the coronal bone (red arrows) and an incompletely healed fracture of the temporal bone (yellow arrows)
Harbour Necropolis, Tomb 4. Individual II, male, 40–55 years old. Severe arthritic alterations of the left foot, some of the joints ankylosed
To see more pictures, please click on one of the images shown here.
Anthropology and Paleopathology in Ephesos
The task of the anthropological and paleopathological investigations exists in the analysis of human skeletal remains, which have been discovered and excavated either intentionally (from known burial sites or necropoleis) or accidentally (individual finds, accidental finds, destroyed tombs) during the archaeological excavations. Since 2009, investigations of two large groups of material are underway: the skeletons from the Roman Imperial necropolis at the Harbour Channel, and the skeletons which have been found during the course of excavations at the ›Byzantine Palace‹. In addition, according to need, other groups are also analysed. It is expected that the evaluation of the skeletal remains from the necropolis at the Harbour Channel should be carried out until the year 2012.
In addition to macroscopic and magnifying-microscopic investigations on site, additional evaluations in the laboratory also belong to the methods applied. Radiological (conventional X-ray as well as computer tomography) and microscopic (light- and electron-microscope) methods, as well as analyses of bone protein or DNA, count amongst these laboratory analyses.
By means of anthropological investigation, information concerning the age, sex, and general constitution of the buried individuals can be acquired. This information enables conclusions to be drawn regarding the living conditions of the society, for example relating to child mortality rates or to paleodemography. Paleopathology, with the aid of methods of medicine, can identify pathological conditions which are manifested in the skeleton. Owing to circumstances, between 10–20% of diseases which affect humans can be identified in the bones. To these belong, amongst others, infectious and tumorous processes, diseases caused by poor nutrition (for example anemia, scurvy, and rickets), pathological alterations of the joints (arthrosis and arthritis), injuries, or a variety of deformities.
The results of anthropological and paleopathological investigations provide insights into the living conditions of past populations and provide valuable evidence regarding the general living circumstances of the era. Next to the other research trajectories, these investigations represent just one of the mosaic stones in research into the history of Ephesos.
Financing
OeAI
Cooperation
Center of Anatomy, University of Göttingen
Bibliography
- J. Nováček – K. Scheelen, Anthropological and paleopathological investigation of Roman Age skeletons from Ephesus, Turkey. Program and Abstracts. 18th European Meeting of the Paleopathology association. Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, 23.–26. August 2010 (Wien 2010) 183.