Bioarchaeological analysis of skeletal remains from Early Modern Period (Rad, Slovakia)

Abstract

Background: The archaeological excavation was conducted within the current parish garden of the Roman Catholic rectory in the northeastern part of the village of Rad (Trebisov district, Slovakia), located in the southern part of the Eastern Slovak Lowland. A Minorite monastery stood at this site from 1637 to 1767. A total of sixteen individuals were exhumed, all dating back to the 16th–18th centuries.

Objective: The aim of the anthropological analysis was to establish the biological profile using appropriate anthropological methods and to document all pathological and non-pathological changes and skeletal varieties.

Subjects and Methods: The subject of the study was the relatively well-preserved skeletal remains of an adult individual designated as H6 (H from Slovak word hrob, which means grave and 6 as order of analysed remains from this site). Standard morphoscopic and morphometric methods were employed for sex and age estimation, and Sjøvold’s method was used to estimate stature.

Results: Based on the analyses, the remains were identified as a male, aged 33 to 70 years. The presence of ossified thyroid cartilage suggests an age of over 45 years. Based on the maximum length of the left femur, stature was estimated at 170,385 ± 3,48 cm. Degenerative changes include pronounced osteoarthritis of both knee joints and massive osteophyte formation on the thoracic vertebral bodies (Th5–Th12). Chronic mechanical stress is indicated by enthesopathies observed bilaterally on the forearm bones in the areas of the tuberositas radii et ulnae, as well as the ossification of costal cartilages on five ribs. The presence of cribra orbitalia in both orbits and significant enamel hypoplasia on the canines suggests physiological and nutritional stress during ontogenesis.

Conclusions: The comprehensive findings indicate high physical workload and physiological stress during the growth period. The extent of degenerative changes correlates with the estimated advanced age (maturus/senilis). These results contribute to the knowledge of the demographic and health status of the Minorite monks in Eastern Slovakia during the Early Modern period.