bān-hring

What this skeleton told us: Evidence

An older woman with tooth decay, plaque, an infected tooth root, and tooth loss during life. Osteoarthritis in her right shoulder, elbow, hand and knee, both hips and left wrist. A well healed Colles fracture is present in her left radius in her forearm. In addition, there were three possible gall or kidney stones recovered from her pelvic area.

Interpretation of the evidence

An older woman. A Colles fracture is a type of fracture that is common in older women who fall on an outstretched hand. She may have had pain, swelling and deformity of the wrist. Tooth decay indicates sugar in her diet, and plaque suggests poor dental hygiene. As might be expected for an older person, she has joint problems (osteoarthritis).