The skull is affected by different porosities, being physiological, pathological, or alterations difficult to classify in terms of aetiology such as that related to the vermiculate pattern (VP). The VP is a distinct alteration morphologically characterized by grooves and pitting, and it has been described on the cortical surface of the brow region of fossil hominids, modern human populations from identified osteological collections , and non-human primates. Considering the poor knowledge of VP and its aetiology as well as the scarce existing research on this topic, the aim of this study is to analyze the VP for the first time in a historical archaeological population. A sample of 118 adults from the medieval rural site of Pieve di Pava (Tuscany, 10th -12th century CE) was chosen. Gross examination of superciliary arches, supraorbital margins, and zygomatic bones revealed VP was significantly present (X2=25.124, d.f.=1, p < 0.001) among the male subsample (94.0%, n=67) compared to the female subsample (54.9%, n=51); VP was present in both sexes across all age groups but it was more frequently observed among individuals aged 35+ (84.9%, n=73). No clear trend was found when testing its correlation with other cranial lesions like cribra orbitalia (r=0.13) or chronic maxillary and frontal sinusitis (r=0.07 and r=0.15, respectively). Although further studies on imaging and histology of VP are needed to understand the underlying mechanism responsible for this alteration, this preliminary research represents one the first attempt to investigate this condition in the osteoarchaeological material.
Beneath the surface of eyebrows: investigating the vermiculate pattern in medieval central Italy.
Riccomi G.;Tocco G.;Bareggi A.;Giuffra V.
2023-01-01
Abstract
The skull is affected by different porosities, being physiological, pathological, or alterations difficult to classify in terms of aetiology such as that related to the vermiculate pattern (VP). The VP is a distinct alteration morphologically characterized by grooves and pitting, and it has been described on the cortical surface of the brow region of fossil hominids, modern human populations from identified osteological collections , and non-human primates. Considering the poor knowledge of VP and its aetiology as well as the scarce existing research on this topic, the aim of this study is to analyze the VP for the first time in a historical archaeological population. A sample of 118 adults from the medieval rural site of Pieve di Pava (Tuscany, 10th -12th century CE) was chosen. Gross examination of superciliary arches, supraorbital margins, and zygomatic bones revealed VP was significantly present (X2=25.124, d.f.=1, p < 0.001) among the male subsample (94.0%, n=67) compared to the female subsample (54.9%, n=51); VP was present in both sexes across all age groups but it was more frequently observed among individuals aged 35+ (84.9%, n=73). No clear trend was found when testing its correlation with other cranial lesions like cribra orbitalia (r=0.13) or chronic maxillary and frontal sinusitis (r=0.07 and r=0.15, respectively). Although further studies on imaging and histology of VP are needed to understand the underlying mechanism responsible for this alteration, this preliminary research represents one the first attempt to investigate this condition in the osteoarchaeological material.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.