| dc.description.abstracteng | The health status of a prehistoric population can be determined by palaeopathological investigation. The rate of childhood illness correlates with the prevailing living conditions.
In this research the type, frequency and causes of meningeal reactions in children's skulls from the following three pre-Columbian populations are investigated: 1) of the North American Piedmont, 2) the large central Mexican cultural center Teotihuacán and 3) the Maya-inhabited eastern lowlands of Yucatán (Jaina)
The findings, that were already documented on the diagnostic arches (e.g. skull arches), were entered into the palaeopathology database and evaluated. A poor state of preservation of the skull or skull fragments, however, may limit the evaluation. The cause of disease of some individuals could not be clarified with the macroscopic research alone, so the micro-morphology of these individuals was examined on the basis of thin-ground sections additionally. The distribution of individuals into the age groups fetus, infans Ia, Ib and II illustrates that the majority of individuals died at a young age - possibly as a result of a haemorrhagic or inflammatory meningeal reaction. Conceivable causes of the meningeal reactions are e. g. scurvy, otitis media or a trauma. Taking into consideration the prevailing living conditions in these three populations, the following results on the etiology of meningeal reactions were detected.
1) North American Piedmont: The general health situation of the children of the North American Piedmont was poor during the Late Woodland period. Morphological lesions on the endocranial surfaces and on the impressions of the venous cerebral sinus, arised during a haemorrhagic process, are found frequently (endocranial skull: n = 16/22 = 72.7%; venous cerebral sinus: n = 15/30 = 50%). In eight out of 16 cases the traces of haemorrhagic process at the endocranial surface of the skull are caused by scurvy, while in four out of 16 cases the cause of haemorrhagic process is trauma and in the remaining four of 16 cases it is unknown. By taking the prevailing living conditions under consideration the four individuals with unknown causes of haemorrhagic process scurvy is also conceivable. Archaeological research and written sources indicate that child labor in the fields or in the household was necessary for the survival of the community due to the unfavorable climatic or political situation in the region of the Piedmont for the pre-Columbian period and the early European settlement. In this context may occurred mechanical traumas, which could have led to increased bleeding and increased disease rates among the children. The lack of food resources during the Late Woodland period caused a chronic vitamin C deficiency, which worsened the health of the already sick children by weakening the immune system.
2) Teotihuacán: The high rate of disease among children in Teotihuacán is probably primarily caused by the effects of external trauma. Cerebral haemorrhagic reaction is a possible consequence of birth traumas, accidents at work, falling down, domestic violence (beatings), child maltreatment and also the artificial cranial deformity. In these cases, traces of haemorrhagic reactions can be found at the endocranial surfaces (n = 29.7 / 32.7 = 90.8%), while traces of an unspecific inflammatory process can almost exclusively be found at the impressions of the venous cerebral sinuses (n = 9.3 / 10 = 93%). The traces of haemorrhagic and inflammatory reactions can be explained by traumas. During the prehistoric time most of the children were born in a squatting position. The associated possible fall on to the head of the newborn could lead to death through a haemorrhage into the skull - already in the first months of life (Infans Ia: n = 96.3 / 151.7 = 63.5%). The cause of the high number of abortion (fetus: n = 40.4 / 151.7 = 26.6%) can be found in the heavy physical work of pregnant women, for example in the construction of large buildings (e. g. temples).
3) Jaina: In the child population of Jaina, the number of traces of haemorrhagic reactions on the endocranial surfaces is noticeable (n = 12/26 = 44.8%); these are mostly caused by artificial cranial deformation (n = 8/12 = 66.7%). In many pre-Columbian populations, artificial cranial deformity has been performed to represent cultural values. The inflammatory reactions on the endocranial surfaces (n = 14.8 / 26.8 = 55.2%) are probably consequences of chronic, progressive inflammations of the middle ear region and the paranasal sinuses. These inflammations had also reached the venous cerebral sinus and in several cases caused a life-threatening sinus phlebitis at that time (n = 10/10 = 100%).
At all times, there have been connections between human health and the various factors of external living conditions such as nutrition, climate, hygiene, political and economic situation, and social and cultural aspects. As an example, can be called the children from the pre-Columbian populations of North American Piedmont and also children from the Grasshopper Pueblo in Arizona who had scurvy. An unfavorable climate may negatively affect crop yields and promote immunodeficiency through malnutrition (see pre-Columbian Piedmont and Teotihuacán). The development of diseases can also be a result of inadequate hygiene (see pre-Columbian Grasshopper and Germany of the 19th century). Political unrest can negatively influence crop yields or lead into poverty and cause higher disease rates, for example in pre-industrial times in Europe. Examples of how social and cultural structures strongly influence the disease rate of a population are the artificial skull deformation in Teotihuacán, Jaina and Grasshopper, the bandaged girls’ feet in China in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as the physical strain during the construction of sacred sites in Teotihuacán, child labor on the fields in Piedmont during the Woodland period or in developing countries today. | de |