brego

What this skeleton told us: Evidence

A young adult around 18 to 25, likely female, and 164 cm tall (5 feet 5 inches). There is widespread new bone on all long bones of the arms and legs (humerus, radius, ulna, femur, tibia and fibula), skull, the pelvis, shoulder blades (scapulae) and heel bones (calcanea). A possible compression fracture (break) is evident on one of the thoracic vertebrae.

Interpretation of the evidence

Compression fractures of the spine generally occur from pressure on the vertebral body coming through the spine, often from jumping from a height and landing on the feet or on the buttocks. The new bone formation suggests a systemic infection (one that has spread around the body via the blood).