Jamestown Rediscovery
  Home: Resources: Journal: Volume 1: Owsley: 2.2.3 Pathology
Recovery and Analysis of Jamestown Rediscovery South Churchyard Burials from the 1999 Field Season
Douglas Owsley, Karin Bruwelheide, and Rebecca Kardash
 
2.2.3 Pathology

Distortion of the left mandibular condyle is moderately severe due to the loss of mandibular teeth and subsequent remodeling. Corresponding changes in the temporo-mandibular joint are present. There is arthritis on the occipital condyles. Additional degenerative changes are noted on the vertebrae in the form of slight lipping of the articular facets and vertebral bodies. This evidence suggests that the individual under study engaged in strenuous labor. The first and second lumbar vertebrae have slight small Schmorl’s nodes centrally located on their superior endplates. The other bodies of the lumbar vertebrae are fragmentary but show slight concavity of their endplates.

A small round area of lytic destruction is present on the superior ventral aspect of the right femoral neck. This lesion measures 6 mm in diameter and is 5 mm in depth. The cavitation is smooth-walled with a well-defined margin. A proximal hand phalanx has a small lytic cavitation on the margin of the proximal joint. It measures approximately 5 mm in length and 2 mm in width. Its cause is unknown.


 



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