Abstract
Objective: Evaluate the prevalence of DISH through time from the Roman to the post-Medieval period in England
and Catalonia.
Material: 281 individuals from England and 247 from Catalonia were analyzed.
Methods: Adult individuals with at least three well-preserved lower thoracic vertebral bodies were analyzed. DISH
was assessed considering the early stages of development. Diachronic and geographical dietary shifts were
investigated using reported light isotope data, archaeological reports and historical documentation.
Results: Males and older individuals showed consistently higher prevalence of DISH, however, only the English
sample showed a significant difference between males and females in the prevalence of DISH. No significant
difference was found in the prevalence of DISH though time (from Roman to post medieval periods) nor across
regions (England and Catalonia).
Conclusion: The development of DISH is probably influenced by a combination of factors including increasing age
and sex.
Significance: This is the first exhaustive analysis of DISH in ancient Catalan populations and the first that considers
the early stages of DISH.
Limitations: Reduced sample size, particularly in post-medieval samples, as a result of the available excavated
samples and the inclusion criteria adopted.
Future Research: Include rural, religious and high-status samples in the analysis of DISH. Re-assess the prevalence
of DISH in post-medieval populations.
and Catalonia.
Material: 281 individuals from England and 247 from Catalonia were analyzed.
Methods: Adult individuals with at least three well-preserved lower thoracic vertebral bodies were analyzed. DISH
was assessed considering the early stages of development. Diachronic and geographical dietary shifts were
investigated using reported light isotope data, archaeological reports and historical documentation.
Results: Males and older individuals showed consistently higher prevalence of DISH, however, only the English
sample showed a significant difference between males and females in the prevalence of DISH. No significant
difference was found in the prevalence of DISH though time (from Roman to post medieval periods) nor across
regions (England and Catalonia).
Conclusion: The development of DISH is probably influenced by a combination of factors including increasing age
and sex.
Significance: This is the first exhaustive analysis of DISH in ancient Catalan populations and the first that considers
the early stages of DISH.
Limitations: Reduced sample size, particularly in post-medieval samples, as a result of the available excavated
samples and the inclusion criteria adopted.
Future Research: Include rural, religious and high-status samples in the analysis of DISH. Re-assess the prevalence
of DISH in post-medieval populations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 9-22 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | International Journal of Paleopathology |
| Volume | 37 |
| Early online date | 9 Mar 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2022 |
Keywords
- DISH
- age
- sex
- early medieval
- medieval