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A Possible Case of Scurvy in Byzantine Skeletal Remains from Khirbet el-Bediyah Archaeological Site, Jordan

Article

Last updated: 25 Feb 2025

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Tags

ARCHAEOLOGY

Abstract

Scurvy, a disease resulting from vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency, leaves distinct skeletal markers that are well-documented in bioarchaeological studies, providing valuable insights into the characteristics of this metabolic disorder. This research investigates the osteological indicators and manifestations of scurvy in a young individual from the Byzantine period at the Khirbet el-Bediyah archaeological site in Jordan. While scurvy has been identified globally in archaeological contexts, few cases have been reported in Jordan, making this study particularly valuable for understanding the broader health and nutritional patterns of the region during the Byzantine era.  The skeletal analysis revealed several diagnostic features of scurvy, including subperiosteal new bone formation (SPNB) on the long bones, porosity on the cranial bones, and cortical abnormalities on the mandible. The study applies established diagnostic criteria for scurvy, offering a comprehensive assessment of the lesions. The results highlight the significance of scurvy as a health condition in Byzantine Jordan and contribute to the growing body of knowledge on nutritional deficiencies, health disparities, and their socio-cultural implications in ancient Mediterranean societies.

DOI

10.21608/shedet.2025.326543.1273

Keywords

Scurvy, Byzantine Period, osteological evidence, Khirbet el-Bediyah, Jordan

Authors

First Name

Ahmad

Last Name

Abu Dalou

MiddleName

Yosuf

Affiliation

Department of Anthropology Yarmouk University - Jordan

Email

aabudalou@yu.edu.jo

City

-

Orcid

aabudalou@yu.edu.jo

First Name

Zeidoun

Last Name

Al-Muheisen

MiddleName

H.

Affiliation

Department of Archaeology Yarmouk University Irbid - Jordan

Email

muheisen@yu.edu.jo

City

Irbid - Jordan

Orcid

-

First Name

Anna

Last Name

Knudson

MiddleName

Kjær

Affiliation

Globe Institute Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Copenhagen, Denmark

Email

hchroeder@sund.ku.dk

City

Copenhagen, Denmark

Orcid

-

First Name

Yuejiao

Last Name

Huang

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Globe Institute Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Copenhagen, Denmark

Email

hschoeder@sund.uk.dk

City

Copenhagen, Denmark

Orcid

-

First Name

Hannes

Last Name

Schroeder

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Global Institute Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Email

hschroeder@sund.ku.dk

City

Denmark

Orcid

-

First Name

Khader

Last Name

Otum

MiddleName

W.

Affiliation

Department of Anthropology Yarmouk University Irbid - Jordan

Email

khader.a@yu.edu.jo

City

Irbid - Jordan

Orcid

-

First Name

Ali

Last Name

Khwaileh

MiddleName

M.

Affiliation

Department of Anthropology Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology Yarmouk University Irbid-Jordan

Email

khwaileh@yu.edu.jo

City

Irbid - Jordan

Orcid

-

First Name

Abdulla

Last Name

Al-Shorman

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Anthropology Yarmouk University Irbid-Jordan

Email

alshorman@yu.edu.jo

City

Irbid - Jordan

Orcid

-

Volume

14

Article Issue

14

Related Issue

53108

Issue Date

2025-01-01

Receive Date

2024-10-08

Publish Date

2025-01-01

Page Start

462

Page End

479

Print ISSN

2356-8704

Online ISSN

2536-9954

Article File

SHEDET_Volume 14_Issue 14_Pages 462-479.pdf

PDF . 1.3MB

Link

https://shedet.journals.ekb.eg/article_411022.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=411022

Order

411,022

Type

research articles

Type Code

1,264

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Shedet

Publication Link

https://shedet.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

A Possible Case of Scurvy in Byzantine Skeletal Remains from Khirbet el-Bediyah Archaeological Site, Jordan

Details

Type

Article

Created At

25 Feb 2025