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A shortened and deformed humerus from early modern Lithuania (16th/17th century A.D.) : an unusual case of amputation in childhood?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 1997

WOLF-RÜDIGER TEEGEN
Affiliation:
Zentrum Anatomie, Universität Göttingen, Kreuzbergring 36, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
MICHAEL SCHULTZ
Affiliation:
Zentrum Anatomie, Universität Göttingen, Kreuzbergring 36, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
RIMANTAS JANKAUSKAS
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology, University of Vilnius, Ciurlionio 21, Vilnius LT2009, Lithuania
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Abstract

During archaeological excavations in the early modern cemetery in Kernavé, Lithuania, a complete skeleton of a presumed adult male individual was found (grave 108). This skeleton showed a short right humerus and missing radius, ulna and hand. Other parts of the skeleton appeared to be normal, characteristic of a robust constitution. The skeletal material was analysed by macroscopic and radiological techniques. Sex and age were determined following the suggestions of the European Association of Anthropologists (Ferembach et al. 1980), measurements were recorded according to Martin (1928) and Bräuer (1988), and the pathological alterations according to Schultz (1988). The robustness and the measurements indicate a male individual, whose age was put at 40–45 y using the combined method (cf. Ferembach et al. 1980; Szilvássy, 1988) of cranial suture closure, spongiosa structure of the proximal humerus and femur and structure of the pubic symphysis. Skeletal elements analysed included both humeri, clavicles and scapulae.

Type
Correspondence
Copyright
© Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1997

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