Ġehorsian

What this skeleton told us: Evidence

An older woman and 158 cm tall (5 feet 2 inches). Plaque was present on teeth and there was pronounced thinning of the enamel (enamel defects, or hypoplasia). One of the upper molar teeth is impacted against the adjacent one and this has led to a wear facet to develop. There are squatting facets on the shin bones (tibias), identified by the presence of small extensions to the joint surfaces at the bottom of the bones.

Interpretation of the evidence

In Anglo-Saxon Britain, However, we should remember that humans are very good at adapting to challenging times! survived childhood, she could be expected to live into middle-age, provided she maintained good health and did not die during pregnancy or childbirth. This woman was of average height and reached her expected lifespan, indicating that she was well-nourished and in good general health. In common with many of the people buried at the Bowl Hole, dental hygiene appears to have been poor for this woman, and she could have experienced toothache from her impacted upper molar. Her enamel hypoplasia illustrates that in childhood she had a deficient diet or disease. The squatting facets suggest squatting for long periods of time and this might have been related to specific activities she was involved in, such as in farming