scholarly journals Traumatic Injuries in the Late Medieval and Early Modern Population from Łekno, Poland

2012 ◽  
Vol III (2/2012) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Myszka ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Late Medieval ◽  
Traumatic Injuries ◽  
Modern Population

scholarly journals Osteoarthritis – a problematic skeletal trait in past human populations. Osteoarthritic changes vs. entheseal changes in the late medieval and early modern population form Łekno

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-161
Author(s):  
Anna Myszka ◽  
Janusz Piontek ◽  
Jacek Tomczyk ◽  
Marta Zalewska
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Modern ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Scoring Systems ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Late Medieval ◽  
Modern Population ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Entheseal Changes

AbstractAccording to medical knowledge, physical activity plays a role in osteoarthritic changes formation. The impact of occupation on osteoarthritic changes development in past human populations is not clear enough, causing problems with interpretation. The aim of the current study is to examine the relationship between osteoarthritis and entheseal changes. Skeletal material comes from the late medieval, early modern population from Łekno (Poland). The sample consists of 110 males and 56 females (adults only). Osteophytes, porosity and eburnation were analyzed in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle. Entheses on the humerus, radius, femur, and tibia were examined. Standard ranked categorical scoring systems were used for the osteoarthritic and entheseal changes examination.Males with more developed osteophytes in the shoulder have more “muscular” upper limbs (higher values of muscle markers). Males with more developed osteophytes in the hip and knee are predicted to have more “muscular” lower limbs. Males with more developed osteoarthritis in the shoulder, wrist, hip, and knee exhibit more developed entheseal changes. Males with more developed entheses tend to yield more developed osteophytes (all joints taken together) and general osteoarthritis (all changes and all joints taken together). Females with more developed entheses have more developed osteoarthritis in the elbow, wrist, and hip. Individuals with more developed entheses have much more developed osteophytes. When all the three types of changes are taken together, more “muscular” females exhibit more developed osteoarthritis. The lack of uniformity of the results, wild discussions on the usage of entheses in activity patterns reconstruction and other limitations do not allow to draw unambiguous conclusions about the impact of physical activity on the osteoarthritis in past populations and further studies are needed.

Hard numbers? The long-term decline in violence reassessed. Empirical objections and fresh perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Gerd Schwerhoff ◽  
Benjamin Seebröker ◽  
Alexander Kästner ◽  
Wiebke Voigt
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Historical Research ◽  
Population Estimates ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Homicide Rates ◽  
Late Medieval ◽  
Source Criticism ◽  
Modern Population ◽  
Empirical Foundation

AbstractOver the last decades social scientists have alleged that violence has decreased in Europe since late medieval times. They consider homicide rates a valid indicator for this claim. Thorough source criticism, however, raises serious doubts about the decline thesis having any substantial empirical foundation. Forms and contents of the sources are immensely heterogeneous and a closer look at the alleged richness of the data uncovers remarkable gaps. Furthermore, medieval and early modern population estimates are highly unreliable. Thus, we argue that historical research on violence should return to focus on specific historical constellations, accept the need for painstaking source criticism and pay careful attention to the contexts of violence.

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