Interpretation of a probable case of poliomyelitis in the Romani-British social context. In: In sickness and in health: Interdisciplinary approaches to the study of disease and deformity in past populations.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Interpretation of a probable case of poliomyelitis in the Romani-British social context. In: In sickness and in health: Interdisciplinary approaches to the study of disease and deformity in past populations.

AU - Castells Navarro, Laura

AU - Southwell-Wright, William

AU - Manchester, Keith

AU - Buckberry, Jo

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - In this paper, individual 131 (hereafer K131) from the Romano-British cemetery of 76 Kingsholm, Gloucester (UK, 20/87; fg. 1) will be evaluated and interpreted as a case report. Tis individual has already been the subject of initial studyby Roberts et al. (2004). A diagnosis of unilateral lef club foot deformity was suggested, arguing that it was not possible to diferentiate whether the deformation had a congenital or acquired (poliomyelitis) origin. Te reassessment of K131 using data obtained from bilateral asymmetry studies (e.g. Storm 2009), as well as the analysis of the discrepancy in the muscular insertions and the bone structure, allows for a refned diagnosis of acquired club foot. Instead we propose this may be a case of poliomyelitis. Te case of K131 is signifcant because the individual presents an unusual condition which would have afected their appearance and interaction with wider society. Interestingly, K131 was aforded a normative burial. We argue that whilst it is not possible to know for certain the social atitudes which this individual faced during life, the burial evidence suggests that the the disability might not have afected K131’s ability to fulfll expected social requirements

AB - In this paper, individual 131 (hereafer K131) from the Romano-British cemetery of 76 Kingsholm, Gloucester (UK, 20/87; fg. 1) will be evaluated and interpreted as a case report. Tis individual has already been the subject of initial studyby Roberts et al. (2004). A diagnosis of unilateral lef club foot deformity was suggested, arguing that it was not possible to diferentiate whether the deformation had a congenital or acquired (poliomyelitis) origin. Te reassessment of K131 using data obtained from bilateral asymmetry studies (e.g. Storm 2009), as well as the analysis of the discrepancy in the muscular insertions and the bone structure, allows for a refned diagnosis of acquired club foot. Instead we propose this may be a case of poliomyelitis. Te case of K131 is signifcant because the individual presents an unusual condition which would have afected their appearance and interaction with wider society. Interestingly, K131 was aforded a normative burial. We argue that whilst it is not possible to know for certain the social atitudes which this individual faced during life, the burial evidence suggests that the the disability might not have afected K131’s ability to fulfll expected social requirements

M3 - Article

SN - 0261-4332

VL - 32

SP - 34

EP - 52

JO - Archaeological Review from Cambridge

JF - Archaeological Review from Cambridge

IS - 1

ER -