2003 Summer NSF Student Projects
Julia Jennings [Tulane University] & Joelle Inman [UC-Berkeley]
ABSTRACT -- This study examines the presence Allenís Fossa, Plaque, Poirierís Facet and the Posterior Cervical Imprint, which are non-metric traits of the proximal femoral neck.  The femora examined came from the Byzantine St. Stephenís Jerusalem, a monastic group dating to the 5th through 7th century.  These traits, although non-metric, have been associated with various biomechanical models.  The bilateral asymmetry in the presence of Plaque indicates a differential use pattern by side.  This is consistent with the historical and liturgical accounts of repeated kneeling and genuflection at this site. .
Andrea Hatch [University of Puget Sound] & Brittany Hayden [Washington University]
ABSTRACT -- The study of musculoskeletal stress markers (MSM) as indicators of activity patterns has at times been hindered by the lack of simple, standardized scoring methods. In the current study, we have developed such a method, and applied it to markers on the innominates (n=298) and proximal femora (n=215) of an urban monastic community from 5th century St. Stephen's monastery in Jerusalem.  We chose sixteen muscle markings, each part of a muscle group performing one of the four major motions of the hip: extension, flexion, adduction, or abduction.  Only adult males were used in this study.  We selected texture and elevation as variables to measure robusticity, producing a composite score used to grade robusticity as minimal, moderate, or maximal.   Fifteen of the sites examined for the St. Stephen's collection demonstrated greater robusticity than expected, indicating a group utilizing the lower limb extensively. The muscles of both the extensor and adductor groups showed significantly more (p<0.05) robusticity than the others. This indicates possible activity patterns including repetitive stair- or hill-climbing, horseback riding, and deep flexion of the knee.  When combined with non-metric postcranial data and analysis of osteoarthritic response from the femur, tibia, talus, and calcaneus as well as the liturgical records for the site and period, a strong circumstantial case can be made for postural gestures associated with worship such as kneeling for prayer and genuflection.  .
Courtney Prutzman [George Washington University] & Lauren Castro [UC-Berkeley]
ABSTRACT -- In many respects, the calcaneus is the neglected stepchild of the osteological family ? despite its vital function in essential movements such as walking and standing, not much research has been conducted on the etiology of its pathologies, especially in relation to how such pathologies would manifest themselves upon hard tissue. Furthermore, scholars in the field of biological anthropology have yet to arrive on a consensus as to whether pathology can even be truly understood in an osteological setting. The causation and formation of enthesopathies (lesions of muscular insertion, as referred to by Dutour 1986) have yet to be intensively studied, and without such research there will be no resolution on the validity of MSM study. Thus, recording and studying the calcaneal enthesopathies of a Byzantine monastic ossuary proved to be challenging, especially given the lack of current scholarly clarification in the field. However, it is the hope of our team to inspire future work to be done in the areas of pathology and enthesopathy of the calcaneus so that more light can be shed by our findings.   .
Nate Boyless [Northern Arizona University] & Jennifer Cummings [Utah State University]
ABSTRACT -- The skeletal remains of Byzantine St. Stephenís provide a very important glimpse into the past lives of the inhabitants.  By targeting specific portions of the skeleton, such as the vertebral column, evidence of pathologies might prove useful in aiding the reconstruction of habitual activity patterns, trauma, and/or disease.  Studies have focused on the vertebral column because of easily recognized and scored changes due to degenerative disease (Jurmain, 1990).  This paper in turn targets the vertebral column specifically scoring the frequency and location of Schmorlís nodes, and the frequency and degree of hypertrophic lesions of the vertebral bodies called osteophytes (the growth of which is referred to as osteophytosis).  Because both pathologies have been attributed in greater or lesser degree to occupational stresses and habitual activity patterns, this study focuses on their prevalence in order to potentially reconstruct the behavioral patterns and lifestyles of the inhabitants of Byzantine St. Stephenís.  .
Lily Doan [Cal State] & Mike Balestreri [University of Wisconsin]
ABSTRACT -- The goal of this project is to examine musculoskeletal stress markers and hypertrophic bone growth of the elbow joint to contribute to the Byzantine St. Stephenís biocultural model of reconstructing daily monastic life.  Since the objective of this project is to inspect the elbow joint, the features examined were on the distal end of the humerus and the proximal ends of the radius and ulna.  By looking at asymmetry at attachment sites of muscles of similar movement (extension, flexion, and pronation), it may be possible to use this biological information to supplement historical and archaeological information to reconstruct possible daily activity patterns and behaviors of the monks at St. Stephenís.  .
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