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Objective This study aims to place trepanation in a medieval therapeutic context by addressing its medical use in neurological disorders and by testing the existence of particular dietary care for the sick. Materials Six cases of trepanation found at the St. Cosme priory (La Riche, France) dated from the 12th-15th centuries. Methods Neurological health was explored by geometric morphometrics by comparing the six cases to 68 skulls and 67 endocraniums belonging to individuals from the same period and geographical area. Trepanned diet was investigated by carbon and nitrogen isotopes and compared to 49 individuals from the same site. Results The study of shapes suggests a possible pathological state for four subjects. The diet of the trepanned is not different from the rest of the population. Conclusions The treatment of neurological disorders emerges as the main therapeutic motivation in the corpus, contrary to the reports from the ancient surgical treatises. A specific diet for the sick is not highlighted. Significance Geometric morphometrics is rarely used in paleopathology and the results suggest a potential of this type of analysis in the identification of pathological cases. The results on therapeutic motivations and diet do not fit the descriptions from ancient medical sources. Limitations The study of forms did not lead to definitive diagnosis. The isotopic study does not allow us to appreciate all the aspects of the diet. Suggestions for Further Research : A geometric morphometric study of the skulls and endocraniums of individuals with a known neurological condition would allow a better appreciation of the link between shapes and pathologies. more...

Horse riding, a determinant activity in the history of human cultural evolution, remains unreliably identifiable from the analysis of human skeletal remains due to various sample and methodological limitations. Through a comparison between well-documented series of presumed riders and non-riders, this study aimed to investigate the link between skeletal fractures and that practice in past populations. We relied on a Hungarian Conquest period population (Sarretudvari-Hizofold, Hungary, 10th century CE) known to be composed of mounted archers. We recorded the presence of acute fractures on the main bones of the upper and lower skeleton to analyze their distribution and perform comparisons between the individuals with or without riding-related deposits in their grave and with an out-sample group of presumed non-riders from the documented Luis Lopes Skeletal Collection (Lisbon). We observed more fractures in the Hungarian series and especially higher rates concerning the upper limb, while the distribution of traumas was more homogenous in the documented collection. There were also significantly more clavicle fractures in the Hungarian group with riding deposit than in the non-riders from Lisbon, whose type can be related to a fall from a height. Our results coincide with sports medicine data on equestrians, whose injuries mostly concern the upper limbs. Such traumas, and especially clavicle fractures, are often caused, indeed, by a fall from a horse. Through the use of pertinent anthropological series, this study provides the most reliable association between the presence of skeletal traumas and the practice of horse riding in a past population. more...

Objective Skeletal collections of immature individuals identified by age and sex serve as reference material for studying development in past populations. Several of these collections were established during the Industrial Revolution (IR), a period known for its difficult living conditions in industrial cities. We question if these collections represent useful comparisons from which to explore the natural history of human growth. Materials Immature individuals from two skeletal collections contemporaneous to the IR period were studied: 71 children from the Spitalfields (UK) and 108 from the Strasbourg (F) collections. Among them we selected mandibles of individuals aged from 0 to 30 months, representing 32 and 52 individuals, respectively. Methods We scored the dental development of first and second left deciduous molars according to (Moorrees et al., 1963) stages, from X-rays (Spitalfields) or CT-scans (Strasbourg) data and compared it with the modern reference pattern from the Lewis Growth Records by covariance analysis (ANCOVA). Results Statistical differences exist in the dental development timeline between the 3 samples. This mainly concerns a delay in the root formation in IR samples that related to post-natal living conditions. Conclusions The delay in dental development timeline suggests that growth processes were impacted during IR in England and France, probably due to stressful living conditions. Significance keletal collections dating from the IR period in Europe might be not the most appropriate referencesl for studying the natural history of human growth. Limitations This study focus on dental development only. Suggestions for further research Exploring the skeletal growth pattern in other skeletal collections, pre or post-dating the IR, is advised. more...

International audience; Three-dimensional (3D) imaging is now extensively used for studying ancient human and animal bones. This method has been consensually adopted by palaeoanthropologists, but its interest in palaeopathology has been challenged. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the contribution of 3D reconstructions to retrospective diagnosis in palaeopathology. We selected six palaeopathological cases among our research corpus representing three nosographic categories (trauma, infection and neoplasia) from various periods ranging from the Middle Palaeolithic to the beginning of the Modern Era. For each case, we compared the diagnostic value of plain X-ray, computed tomography (CT) slices, and 3D reconstructions. The latter were performed using TIVMI program, a free software for research use developed by one of us. Reconstructions are obtained by surface extraction that follows a segmentation process. We showed that this 3D method allowed reconstructing/quantifying pathological processes on ancient bones, usefully supplementing conventional radiological analyses and clearly bringing an added value to retrospective diagnosis in palaeopathology. K E Y W O R D S 3D reconstruction, CT scan, palaeoimaging, palaeoradiology, surface extraction more...

La revolution numerique engagee depuis les annees 1980 a touche de nombreux domaines, dont celui des sciences du passe. Parmi les nombreuses disciplines de l’archeologie, celles etudiant l’os ancien, animal ou humain, ont largement beneficie des avancees methodologiques de l’imagerie numerique qui a structure une nouvelle discipline, la paleo-imagerie. Parmi ses diverses methodes, les reconstructions 3D, a partir d’acquisitions tomodensitometriques par rayons X, presentent plusieurs niveaux d’interet en anthropologie biologique : elles permettent d’effacer les dommages taphonomiques, de realiser des moulages de l’endocrâne ou d’autres cavites, de visualiser des structures internes inaccessibles aux moyens classiques d’observation, de reveler l’evolution et le mecanisme de processus pathologiques. En plus de leur interet analytique, ces methodes issues du numerique facilitent, pour la communaute scientifique internationale, l’acces a du materiel de recherche fragile ou rare. Les conservatoires numeriques, « virtotheques » osteologiques, contribuent egalement a la conservation et a la valorisation du patrimoine anthropologique. more...

International audience; The invasion of Russia by the Napoleonic Grande Armée was a complete disaster. The French army was decimated during the retreat from Russia. Thousands of victims were buried in mass graves located near several cities during the retreat. One of these mass graves was discovered in in the centre of Kaliningrad (formerly Königsberg), presently the most occidental oblast of the Russian Federation. Some skeletons revealed evidence of violence related traumatic injuries. Among them, the skeleton C2 belonged to a young male, who had suffered a serious injury to the lower face. The state of post‐traumatic remodelling indicated survival of about 2 months (between more than 6 weeks and less than 3 months).The 3D reconstruction of the mandible and the maxilla contributed additional information about the injury, its cause, and treatment. This permitted pretraumatic reconstruction of the viscerocranium and mandible through the application of two new techniques: virtual osteotomy and virtual bone transplant from another individual and perform an approximation of the face (to recreate the soft tissues) of this unidentified soldier using anthropological facial approximation in three dimensions software. These results highlight the use of 3D methods in paleopathology and forensic anthropology to reconstruct traumatic facial injuries and the pretraumatic facial appearance. more...

Horse riding is a human activity that has particularly interested bioanthropologists and paleopathologists working on the reconstruction of activities from skeletal changes in ancient populations. However, various sample and methodological limitations, such as the absence of direct evidence connecting the individuals and the activity, result in a lack of confidence regarding what changes should be included in the so‐called horse riding syndrome. Focusing on the ovalization of the acetabulum, regularly mentioned in literature, we analyzed comparative samples of presumed riders and non‐riders to evaluate its reliability for the identification of horse riding. We relied on a Hungarian Conquest period collection (10th century CE), including several individuals associated with horse riding equipment or horse bones in the graves. Direct and easily repeatable measurements were used to calculate an index of ovalization of the acetabulum (IOA). The index values were compared according to the presence or absence of archaeological deposit. An extra‐group of presumed non‐riders from the documented Luis Lopes Skeletal Collection (Lisbon) was used for comparison. Early Hungarians buried with horse‐related grave goods exhibited a higher overall IOA compared with the ones without and those known not to ride (p = 0.049 in the latter case, with left and right values combined). Our results suggest that the ovalization of the acetabulum may indeed be a promising indicator to be included in a set of markers for horse riding. The analysis of further different types of pathological and nonpathological skeletal changes (e.g., joint and entheseal changes) will contribute to a more reliable identification of horse riders in anthropological collections. more...

International audience; The aim of this paper is to provide new insights into growth patterns and health of Mousterian huntergatherers dated to ca. 90-100 kyrs B.P. from the Qafzeh site. Materials: An almost complete skeleton, including the mandible from the Qafzeh site (Qafzeh 9). Methods: Micro-CT and medical imaging techniques are used to explore inaccessible inner structures and to assess the etiology of identified lesion. Results: Mandibular and dental conditions appear to be growth-related skeletal disorders. Conclusion: To our knowledge, Qafzeh 9 offers the earliest evidence of associated mandibular and dental pathological conditions (i.e. non-ossifying fibroma of the mandible, pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption and osteochondritis dissecans of the temporomandibular joint) among early anatomically modern humans, and more generally among Middle Palaeolithic hominins in Southwestern Asia. The diagnoses can be added to other growth-related disorders of skulls previously documented from the Qafzeh site (Tillier, 1999; Tillier et al., 2001), suggesting a quite high and exceptional incidence of these conditions compared to those of Palaeolithic populations. Significance: Identification of pathological conditions in subadults from Eurasia dated to the Middle Palaeolithic is documented less often than in adult skeletons. Hence, new results from immature fossil remains are particularly important to our understanding of the past. Suggestions for further research: This research will be extended to the rest of the skeleton, then to all Qafzeh specimens in order to broaden our understanding of this anatomically modern group. more...

International audience; The invasion of Russia by the Napoleonic Grande Armée was a complete disaster. TheFrench army was decimated during the retreat from Russia. Thousands of victimswere buried in mass graves located near several cities during the retreat. One of thesemass graves was discovered in in the centre of Kaliningrad (formerly Königsberg),presently the most occidental oblast of the Russian Federation. Some skeletonsrevealed evidence of violence related traumatic injuries. Among them, the skeletonC2 belonged to a young male, who had suffered a serious injury to the lower face.The state of post‐traumatic remodelling indicated survival of about 2 months(between more than 6 weeks and less than 3 months).The 3D reconstruction of the mandible and the maxilla contributed additional informationabout the injury, its cause, and treatment. This permitted pretraumatic reconstructionof the viscerocranium and mandible through the application of two newtechniques: virtual osteotomy and virtual bone transplant from another individualand perform an approximation of the face (to recreate the soft tissues) of this unidentifiedsoldier using anthropological facial approximation in three dimensions software.These results highlight the use of 3D methods in paleopathology and forensic anthropologyto reconstruct traumatic facial injuries and the pretraumatic facial appearance. more...

International audience; Periosteal reactions are frequently used as a proxy for past populations' health. However, macroscopic evidence of periosteal activity observed on infant's dry bones can be difficult to interpret in terms of normal growth process or pathological changes. This could lead to over-interpretation of a poor health status during childhood in past populations.The aim of our study is to propose new distinctive micro-morphological criteria to differentiate between non-adult dry bones presenting physiological sub-periosteal bone growth and periosteal reaction due to pathological conditions.We sampled 12 perinatal human tibiae from two osteoarcheological collections and proceeded a 3D microstructural analysis of the canal network of cortical bone using micro-CT.3D canal network organization in cortical bone allowed us to distinguish physiological from pathological periosteal reactions. Moreover, our study revealed different types of organization of the cortical bone microstructure corresponding to various stages of bone remodeling.This exploratory study shows the advantages of a non-destructive microscopic analysis using 3D imaging of the cortical canal network organization in order to distinguish between physiological and pathological bone production during early growth. This will contribute to a better understanding of past populations' epidemiology. more...

International audience

International audience

Within the Qafzeh Middle Palaeolithic hominin sample from Lower Galilee, the Qafzeh 25 adult skeletal elements have been severely damaged during fossilization and especially the skull and mandible have been bilaterally compressed. Following advances provided by 3D imaging techniques, in this study we propose a virtual reconstruction of the mandible using computed tomography (CT) scans of the original fossil material. This virtual reconstruction was performed using TIVMI software program and enabled us to provide the first comparative and morphometric analysis of Qafzeh 25 with other Palaeolithic and Epipalaeolithic mandibles from the Mediterranean Levant., Au sein de l’échantillon d’individus de Qafzeh (Basse Galilée), datés du Paléolithique moyen, Qafzeh 25 est représenté par des composants du squelette ayant été sérieusement altérés pendant la fossilisation, et tout particulièrement le bloc crânio-facial et la mandibule compressés bilatéralement. Grâce aux avancées méthodologiques de l’imagerie 3D, nous proposons dans cette étude une reconstitution virtuelle de la mandibule à partir de CT-scans du fossile original. Cette restauration virtuelle réalisée à l’aide du logiciel TIVMI permet de mener une première analyse morphométrique comparative avec les autres mandibules connues au Levant méditerranéen pour le Paléolithique et l’Épipaléolithique., Schuh Alexandra, Dutailly Bruno, Coutinho Nogueira Dany, Santos Frédéric, Arensburg Baruch, Vandermeersch Bernard, Coqueugniot Hélène, Tillier Anne-marie. La mandibule de l’adulte Qafzeh 25 (Paléolithique moyen), Basse Galilée. Reconstruction virtuelle 3D et analyse morphométrique. In: Paléorient, 2017, vol. 43, n°1. pp. 49-59. more...

Human tuberculosis has been considered for a long time as a model of animal infection transmitted to humans, resulting from cattle domestication at the Neolithic period. A decade ago, studies of molecular phylogeny of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) has challenged this dogma, suggesting that this human infection could be as old as the human species and emerged ca 2-3 Myrs ago. Yet, recent studies of molecular clock computations proposed that human tuberculosis could not be older than 6 kyrs BP. In order to bring new data to this debate, we studied the paleopathological evidence of tuberculosis on a large sample of two Neolithic sites from Syria in the Near East, cradle of agriculture and domestication : Dja’de el-Mughara (9310-8290 cal. BC) located in the Middle Euphrates Valley (Northern Syria) and Tell Aswad (8200-7500 cal. BC) in the Central Levant (Southern Syria). Both sites have delivered skeletal remains of more than one hundred individuals deriving from different funeral contexts. We used methods of paleopathology, microstructural analysis (μ-CT) and paleomicrobiology. The paleopathological study gave evidence to the most ancient paleopathological known cases of human TB (one adult and nine immature individuals at Dja’de el-Mughara and one adult at Tell Aswad) predating or accompanying the emergence of animal domestication. Among the eleven cases identified, five individuals from Dja’de el-Mughara have been buried in the House of the Dead, while the other individuals at both sites were found in primary, plural and mixed burials. On the basis of these results, the future challenge would be to understand the close contact between humans and animals role in the evolution of MTBC and the mechanisms of modern human tuberculosis strains emergence and spread. For this reason, the Levant is a crucial region as a key center for domestication and sedentism origins., La tuberculose a été considérée, pendant longtemps, comme une zoonose transmise à l’homme par des bovins, notamment lors du processus de domestication de l’aurochs au Néolithique. Des travaux de phylogénie moléculaire récents ont remis en question ce dogme, montrant que le complexe Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTBC) a existé comme pathogène humain depuis environ trois millions d’années. Cependant, des études récentes basées sur deux horloges moléculaires différentes ont proposé que la tuberculose humaine date de moins de 6 000 ans. Afin d’apporter de nouvelles données à ce débat, nous avons étudié les marqueurs paléopathologiques de la tuberculose sur des restes humains découverts dans le berceau proche-oriental de la Néolithisation, sur les sites de Dja’de el-Mughara (9310-8290 cal. BC) dans la moyenne Vallée de l’Euphrate (Syrie du Nord) et de Tell Aswad (8200-7500 cal. BC) au Levant central (Syrie du Sud). Ces deux sites ont livré chacun les restes squelettiques de plus d’une centaine d’individus qui ont fait l’objet de pratiques funéraires diverses. Les résultats obtenus par différentes approches (paléopathologie, micro-tomodensitométrie, paléomicrobiologie) confirment que ces vestiges constituent les plus anciens cas de la tuberculose humaine (un adulte et neuf immatures à Dja’de el-Mughara et un adulte à Tell Aswad) précédant et accompagnant l’émergence de la domestication des bovins au Proche-Orient. Parmi les onze cas identifiés, cinq individus ont été enterrés dans la Maison des Morts à Dja’de el-Mughara, les autres étaient inhumés dans des sépultures primaires, plurielles et mixtes. Sur la base de ces résultats, le futur défi serait de comprendre le rôle du contact étroit entre les humains et les animaux dans l’évolution du MTBC et les mécanismes d’émergence et de diffusion des souches modernes de la tuberculose humaine. Dans cette perspective, le Levant apparaît comme une région clé pendant les premières phases de la domestication animale et de la sédentarisation., Baker Oussama, Chamel Bérénice, Coqueugniot Éric, Khawam Rima, Stordeur Danielle, Perrin Pascale, Pálfi György, Gourichon Lionel, Coqueugniot Hélène, Le Mort Françoise, Dutour Olivier. Prehistory of human tuberculosis: Earliest evidence from the onset of animal husbandry in the Near East. In: Paléorient, 2017, vol. 43, n°2. Recheches archéologiques récentes en préhistoire et protohistoire en Syrie / Recent archaeological research in Syria (13th mill. BC – 2nd mill. BC) pp. 35-51. more...

International audience; Les 37e Journées internationales d’archéologie mérovingienne se sont déroulées à Saint-Dizier en 2016 et ont été coorganisées par l’Inrap (Stéphanie Desbrosse-Degobertière et Marie-Cécile Truc), le musée de Saint-Dizier (Virginie Dupuy) et l’AFAM. Le thème du colloque L’animal au haut Moyen Âge a permis de faire le point sur les dernières avancées de la recherche archéologique, avec une répartition homogène entre synthèses régionales et études de cas spécifiques. Par ailleurs, une session a été consacrée à la présentation de l’actualité de la recherche archéologique sur le haut Moyen Âge dans l’Est de la France. Cet article présente les un groupe de tombes en contexte d'habitat. more...

Les collections ostéologiques humaines ont été constituées à partir de différentes sources (archéo-anthropologiques, anatomiques ou pathologiques). Leur origine détermine différents niveaux d’intérêt paléopathologique et paléoépidémiologique : les collections pathologiques ont un intérêt essentiellement didactique et les collections identifiées, qu’elles soient d’origine anthropologique ou anatomique, permettent une approche méthodologique et paléoépidémiologique. The collections of human bones were built up from different sources: archaeo-anthropological, anatomical or pathological. Their origin determines different levels of paleopathological and paleoepidemiological interest: the pathological collections have an essentially didactic interest and the identified collections, whether anthropological or anatomical in origin, enable a methodological and paleoepidemiological approach to be adopted. more...

International audience

International audience

International audience; The question of pre-neolithic tuberculosis is still open in paleopathological perspective. One of the major interests is to explore what type of infection could have existed around the early stage of animal domestication. Paleopathological lesions evoking skeletal TB were observed on five human skeletons coming from two PPNB sites in Syria, which belongs to the geographical cradle of agriculture. These sites represent respectively pre-domestication phase (Dja'de el Mughara, Northern Syria, 8800-8300 BCE cal.) and early domestication phase (Tell Aswad, Southern Syria, 8200-7600 BCE cal.). MicroCT scan analyses were performed on two specimens (one per site) and revealed microscopic changes in favor of TB infection. Detection of lipid biomarkers is positive for two specimens (one per site). Initial molecular analysis further indicates the presence of TB in one individual from Dja'de. Interestingly, no morphological evidence of TB was observed on animal remains of wild and newly domesticated species, discovered in these sites. These observations strongly suggest the presence of human tuberculosis before domestication and at its early stages. more...

In the field of archaeology, the constitution of osteological collections having a methodological purpose (reference series) or heritage interest (archaeological collections) is a necessity for anthropology, zooarchaeology, paleontology and paleopathology. These collections raise specific questions about their status and their acquisition terms. Advances of digital sciences in the field of documentation led to the concept of digital collections in terms of “virtual libraries” and allowed the development of “virtual museums”. We present here the application of the digital chain VIRCOPAL® on some pathological bones that reveal war traumas, coming from a mass grave of Napoleonic French soldiers dating from the Retreat from Russia (Königsberg 1812). This “digital bone library” is a major issue in terms of heritage preservation and valorisation but also in terms of research for the study of inner structures of these original specimens that are rare, fragile and remotely located from the place of study., En archéologie, la constitution de collections ostéologiques à visée méthodologique (séries de référence) ou d’intérêt patrimonial (collections archéologiques) est une nécessité pour l’anthropologie, l’archéozoologie, la paléontologie et la paléopathologie. Les collections réelles posent des questions spécifiques concernant leur statut et leurs modalités d’acquisition. Les avancées des sciences du numérique dans le champ de la documentation ont abouti au concept de collections numériques en terme de “bibliothèques virtuelles” et autorisent le développement de “musées virtuels”. Nous présentons ici l’application de la chaîne de traitement d’imagerie numérique VIRCOPAL® à des pièces osseusespathologiques (traumatismes de guerre) issues d’un charnier de soldats français de la retraite napoléonienne de Russie (Königsberg 1812). Cette “virtothèque ostéologique” revêt un intérêt majeur en terme de conservation et de valorisation patrimoniale mais aussi en termes de recherche en permettant la mise en évidence de structures internes inaccessibles sur ces pièces originales rares, fragiles et situées à distance du lieu d’étude. more...

International audience

Facial soft tissue depths (FSTD) are used in facial approximation to render the shape of the face, and are traditionally published specifically to population, corpulence, and sex amongst other factors. This paper investigates the variability of FSTD collected at 37 landmarks on 500 CT (computed tomography) scans of French living individuals. The specificity of the sample is evaluated by comparing values with six published datasets of various populations and recording techniques. Apart from a significant influence of the corpulence, FSTD show negligible variations with age and sex. The differences between the French sample and other datasets contradict the hypothesis of major influence of population, and underline sample specificity linked with technique and methodology of data measurement. Regression equations were computed to estimate FSTD using age, sex, facial build, and craniometrics, leading to more accurate results if such factors are known. Nevertheless, application of the pooled T-table (Tallied-Facial-Soft-Tissue-Depth-Data) has been validated according to the French sample. more...

Les methodes d’estimation de l’âge des enfants se fondent sur des referentiels pouvant etre biaises. L’evolution technologique aidant, l’imagerie medicale et 3D peuvent etre utilisees pour ameliorer ou developper des methodes moins subjectives. Ces nouvelles approches conduisent egalement a identifier de nouveaux criteres d’estimation de l’âge au deces. Aussi, pour en proposer, il est essentiel de s’appuyer sur un echantillon de reference, dont il faut connaitre les caracteristiques et qui offre un apercu de la variabilite populationnelle. Cette variabilite, comparee a celle des taxons fossiles, permet d’apporter de nouvelles informations sur le developpement dentaire de ces derniers et d’approfondir la reflexion sur l’estimation de l’âge des sujets immatures en general et des fossiles en particulier. En effet, a travers cette etude, nous nous proposons de fournir des ameliorations methodologiques aux methodes de Moorrees et al. 1963a, b et de proposer de nouvelles pistes dans l’estimation de l’âge des enfants grâce a l’imagerie medicale et 3D a travers les volumes dentaires. Une premiere application de ces propositions a l’enfant neanderthalien Châteauneuf 2 a ete effectuee. Elle rend compte de l’importance des criteres selectionnes pour l’estimation de l’âge, produisant des ecarts plus importants que pour des enfants modernes. De plus, elle met en avant le developpement differentiel des premieres molaires permanentes entre les deux arcades dentaires. more...

Digital investigation of anthropological material through computed tomography (CT) offers several new opportunities in morphometrics. However, an object measured with computer-assisted methods does not necessarily exactly match the original one. The scanning and surface reconstruction of the object induce some alterations, and data acquisition is prone to measurement uncertainty. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the intra- and inter-observers variations in medical CT scan measurements of a known-size phantom and two dry crania. Two software packages, AMIRA and Treatment and Increased Vision for Medical Imaging (TIVMI), which use different techniques of surface reconstructions, were compared. The mean difference between the measurements was lower for TIVMI, using an objective algorithm based on the half-maximum height (HMH) protocol in three dimensions (3D). AMIRA can induce up to a 4% error in known measurements and 5% uncertainty in dry skull measurements. This study emphasises the risk of object shape alteration in each step of its digitisation. more...

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Endocranial volume (EV) estimation is widely used in physical anthropology for assessing brain size differences between taxa and monitoring the emergence of brain growth patterns in modern humans. However, to date, no reference data are available for modern human EV ontogeny. We measured 94 skulls with known sex and age (ranging from 0 to 7.5 years) from the osteological collection of Strasbourg University (OCSU) by using an accurate digital active contour model algorithm on 3D virtual models, reconstructed by CT. The OCSU data also allow us to propose improved equations for estimating EV in immature individuals from dry skull diameters (length, width, and height). Aside from the EV, the average proportional endocranial volume (PEV), corresponding to the ratio of EV at a given age to the average EV in the corresponding adult population, was also computed. EV nearly doubles during the first year of life, and later continues to expand more slowly, at least until 7 years of age. No sex differences can be demonstrated between the EV distributions of boys and girls in this sample. However, although PEV at birth is identical in girls and boys, it later displays significantly higher values in the girls of our series. PEV obtained at birth is 22%, which is quite different from values established for the brain itself from autopsied individuals, or MRI data. This suggests that assessments of EV and PEV values in fossil specimens should be conducted by using identical measures in comparative samples of extant humans and apes. Am J Phys Anthropol 147:312–318, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. more...

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The mandible is a complex osteological structure composed of distinct units integrated into a single bone around the director axis of the mandibular nerve. In this study of the mandibular development, we use a method that synthesizes the contributions of each sub-unit, using the mandibular canal as reference system. This novel approach results in new informations and confirms the leading role of the mandibular nerve and of its curve in mandibular development. It would seem to be possible to explain a major part of mandibular development by the role of the nerve as guide. more...

3D surface reconstruction using the Half Maximum Height (HMH) algorithm is a method to extract a surface of interest from a voxel data set. It is based on the original HMH method applied to each voxel of the segmented surface to reconstruct. From a 3D voxel grid, an initial segmentation is computed to extract a discrete surface of interest. For each of these voxels, HMH computes a segmentation and an orientation. The result of this step is then processed using a Marching Cube-like algorithm. The two major advantages of this method are the precision of the surface extraction and its non user-dependancy. more...

International audience; Laser scan acquisition, reconstruction and size evolution measurement of the anterior fontanelle are presented for the private osteology collection of the chair of anatomy in the Faculty of Medicine at Strasbourg. Two main results are presented. The first one regards the skull cap fixed error acquisition and reconstruction. The second one concerns the evaluation of the heterogeneity of the fontanelle closure processes. more...

Laser scanner acquisition, reconstruction and size evolution measurement of the anterior fontanelle are presented for the private osteology collection of the chair of anatomy in the Faculty of Medicine at Strasbourg. Two main results are presented. The first one regards the skull cap fixed error acquisition and reconstruction. The second one concerns the evaluation of the heterogeneity of the fontanelle closure processes. more...

The objective of the present paper is to give some data in medical imaging and 3D reconstruction applied in bio-anthropological field. Scanner CT images are a powerful tool to explore internal structures, to reconstruct incomplete bones and to give biomechanical interpretation based on bone morphology. Further, we propose to argument a cultural hypothesis relatively to a deliberate treatment concerning a human bone, Nous présentons quelques applications de l’imagerie médicale et de la reconstitution 3D dans le domaine de l’anthropologie biologique. L’acquisition et l’exploitation d’images scanner CT permettent d’accéder aux structures internes, de reconstituer des parties manquantes et d’exploiter des caractéristiques bio-mécaniques. Nous proposons également l’argumentation d’une hypothèse culturelle en relation avec un aménagement pratiqué sur un os humain. more...

International audience; Microstructural studies have suggested that an extended period of growth was absent in representatives of Homo erectus, and that Neandertals reached adulthood significantly more rapidly than modern humans. In addition to general rate of growth, a prolonged postnatal period of brain development allows humans to develop complex cognitive and social skills. Conditions in brain growth similar to those observed in extant humans were not established in the first representatives of Homo erectus. To assess the degree of secondary altriciality reached by Neandertals, we examined the most complete skulls available for immature Neandertal specimens. The endocranial volumes were evaluated by using equations based on external cranial measurements. The proportional endocranial volumes (PEV) of these fossils were compared to the PEV of known age modern children from Western Europe and to a developmental series of Pan troglodytes. We present an estimation of the cranial capacity of Krapina 1. Although Neandertal children are close to the modern variation, the position of the youngest specimens in the upper range of variation led us to propose that Neandertals may have displayed a slightly more primitive pattern with respect to the speed of brain growth. more...

In his comments, Leigh (2006) argues that when absolutebrain size rather than proportional size is plotted againstage, the juvenile Homo erectus specimen Mojokerto fallsinto the extant Homo sapiens range of variation. On the otherhand, we showed that, when proportional endocranial volume(PEV, i.e., the ratio between the endocranial volume of an in-dividual at a given age and the average adult endocranial vol-ume) is used as the means of comparison, Mojokerto fallswithin the chimpanzee range rather than the human range(Coqueugniot et al., 2004). Although these observations mayseem contradictory, there is, in fact, no major disagreementbetween them. Absolute and proportional brain sizes addressdifferent questions. Additionally, that H. erectus and H. sapi-ens may have had similar absolute brain sizes at an earlyage does not necessarily imply similar developmental curves.As the adult brain size is quite different between the two spe-cies, this may actually imply different developmental trajecto-ries. Finally, with respect to the variability of absolute andproportional brain size in humans and apes, our data yield dif-ferent results than do the data used by Leigh. This discrepancymay result from several methodological issues that we alsofind important to clarify.Age determination for MojokertoIt is certainly possible to debate our age determination forMojokerto of 0.5e1.5 years. However, previous age estimates(from one to eight years old) have been based on vague argu-ments, including some based on the braincase size of the spec-imen, which led to circular reasoning about brain development.We utilized the most accurate available age indicators. Thefossa subarcuata closure and the fontanelle were most reliable.Our study also showed that the external tympanic morphology,mentioned by Leigh, is a poor age indicator. A fused or unfusedstate of the tympanic plate is observed at variable frequenciesin all the age classes between birth and adulthood. It shouldbe noted that, if, based on this feature, an older individualage (ca. 4e6 years old) is favored for Mojokerto, then thePEVof this juvenile H. erectus would be closer to the modernhuman distribution (Fig. 1), but its absolute brain size would bepushed farther away from the modern human distribution.Problems with material and methodologyThe study of brain development in fossil hominins is pri-marily based on measurement of the endocranial volume(EV). In contrast, the data utilized by Leigh represent post-autopsy brain weights, whereby EV is estimated by applyinga coefficient of specific gravity. The autopsy data introduceimportant limitations for precisely inferring EV and for evalu-ating its variability in humans and in apes. The cerebrospinalfluid surrounding the brain represents about 12% of the endo-cranial cavity (Peters et al., 1998). During an autopsy, a vari-able quantity of the cerebrospinal fluid escapes from thesubarachnoid space and from the ventricles, making it difficultto accurately control for this factor a posteriori. Another im-portant factor that artificially increases variability is the cause more...

International audience; The authors study burials of the medieval period in westernMongolia shortly before the emergenceof Genghis Khan. They find that both inhumation and cremation are practised, with a varietyof accompanying rituals. Systematic micro-analysis of bone fragments on the one hand, and theaccounts of early travellers on the other, allow these researchers to propose detailed explanationsof mortuary practice in thirteenth century Altai that will be highly suggestive to prehistoriansworking elsewhere. more...

Accurate determination of sex in skeletal human samples is very important in anthropological and demographic studies. Recently, Loth and Henneberg have suggested that a new osteological criterion on the mandible, the mandibular ramus posterior flexure (MRPF) had a high sex discriminating effectiveness. A preliminary test applied to a few hominid mandibles )including Australopithecines, Homo erectus, Neanderthals and Upper palaeolithic hominids) apparently confirmed the high reliability of the MRPF as a sex indicator ‘over time and through palaeospecies’. As the pelvis is commonly considered as providing the most significant criteria that allows the establishment of skeletal sexual dimorphism of adults, the present paper evaluates this mandibular feature on a few additional palaeolithic hominids (i.e. Neanderthals and Early Modern Humans) for whom a gender estimation was known based upon the pelvis. This analysis was conducted on the original material and its results appear in contradiction with those of the previous studies made by Loth and Henneberg. A reconsideration of the visual assessment of MRPF as a sex indicator in Homo sapiens fossil hominids is therefore suggested. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. more...

A study of the morphological variation of the skull in children, taking into consideration their age, sex and geographical origin. Extensive research (761 skulls were studied) has resulted in an exhaustive report which clearly fills a long-standing gap in the study of human cranial development. more...

International audience

In the Levant, the Middle Paleolithic (about 200-50 Ka B.P.) corresponds to a period of time that is crucial for understanding evolutionary mechanisms and the spread of Homo sapiens out of Africa. The Qafzeh site (Lower Galilee) located at the crossroads of the three major geographical areas of the Old World is rich of archaeological deposits dated to the middle of this time period (92 ± 5 ka BP). The site is exceptional both for its important anthropological documentation of all age groups (from perinatal to adults) and for unique funeral practices (double burial, funeral repository). While many studies have already been published on the human remains, recent technological advances in Paleoimaging permit new investigation and data improvement. Using 2D (radiographs, CT sections) and 3D (virtual reconstructions from photogrammetric data or [micro]CT-scan) tools, two types of analyses are conducted on the skull and mandible of three individuals (Qafzeh 6, 9 and 25): a morphometric study of internal structures (i.e. bony labyrinth) and a palaeopathological investigation. Examination of the inner ear of these Mousterian individuals brings evidence of an unexpected diversity within the overall Qafzeh sample; furthermore, among hominins of the comparative sample, similarities between few individuals classically considered as archaic and modern specimens are recognized. Bone and dental growth disorders are described on Qafzeh 9 that are consistent with developmental abnormalities previously identified on immature individuals from this site. The data collected illustrate the normal and pathological variability documented by the nomadic hunter-gatherers from Qafzeh, and in addition, to compare them with local and Eurasian groups associated with a Mousterian archaeological context., Au Levant, le Paléolithique moyen (environ 200-50 Ka B.P.) correspond à une période cruciale pour la compréhension des mécanismes évolutifs et la dispersion des Homo sapiens hors d’Afrique. Le site de Qafzeh (Basse Galilée), au croisement des trois grandes aires géographiques de l’ancien monde, comprend des niveaux archéologiques chronologiquement situés au cœur de cette période (92 ± 5 ka BP). Il est exceptionnel en raison à la fois d’une riche documentation anthropologique comprenant des individus de toutes les classes d’âges (du périnatal à l’adulte) et de la présence de pratiques funéraires uniques (sépulture double, dépôt funéraire). Si de nombreuses études ont déjà été publiées sur cette documentation fossile, les progrès technologiques récents de la Paléoimagerie permettent d’extraire des données inédites. Ainsi grâce à des outils 2D (radiographies, coupes CT) et 3D (reconstructions virtuelles à partir de données photogrammétriques ou de [micro]CT-scan) des analyses sont réalisées sur la tête osseuse de trois individus (Qafzeh 6, 9 et 25). Deux types d’analyses sont menés : une étude morphométrique de structures internes (i.e. labyrinthe osseux) et une étude paléopathologique. L’examen de l’oreille interne dévoile ainsi une diversité inattendue pour la population présente à Qafzeh ; par ailleurs des rapprochements au sein des échantillons de comparaison, entre quelques individus classiquement considérés comme archaïques et d’autres modernes, se dégagent. L’étude paléopathologique quant à elle révèle sur Qafzeh 9 la présence de troubles de la croissance osseuse et dentaire, qui font écho aux anomalies du développement précédemment décrites sur des fossiles immatures du site. Ces données nous permettent de mieux appréhender la variabilité individuelle normale et pathologique documentée à Qafzeh et de replacer ces chasseurs-cueilleurs nomades dans le contexte plus large des groupes locaux et eurasiatiques associés au contexte archéologique Moustérien. more...

Some changes observed on human bones can be related to activities practiced during life. Scholars have considered the reconstruction of activities from skeletal changes in past populations as “Bioarchaeology’s Holy Grail”. Horse riding, in particular, has interested bioarchaeologists and paleopathologists for several decades as it brought profound and lasting changes in the history of human cultural evolution. However, the existence of various confounding factors and the lack of clear contextual evidence in connection with the skeletal remains often result in limited or unreliable interpretations of skeletal changes in terms of specific activities. Archaeological and historical sources attest that tribes of semi-nomadic populations conquered the Carpathian Basin with powerful armies of mounted archers at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries, which led to the foundation of the Kingdom of Hungary in the year 1000/1001. Cemeteries from that period often provide cases of deposits of archery and horse riding equipment as well as horse bones associated with the individuals in the graves. Those populations are, thus, among the most pertinent to be used to perform methodological investigations on activity-related skeletal changes, and, on horse riding, in particular. We selected a sample of 67 individuals from the 10th-century Hungarian cemetery of Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld, in order to analyze the individuals according to the presence or absence of riding deposit in their grave. A modern comparison group of 47 presumed non-rider individuals from the documented collection of Lisbon was also selected. Only adult males were included to limit the effect of sex and age on the changes. The main objectives were to identify skeletal changes reliably related to the practice of horse riding and to improve our understanding of the populations from the Hungarian Conquest period. Various types of skeletal changes were analyzed, including some entheseal changes (at muscles attachment sites), joint changes, vertebral changes, morphological variants, and traumatic lesions. Measurements of the lower limb bones were also used to calculate indices of shape and robusticity. Statistical analyses mostly revealed significant differences between the Hungarian groups with or without riding deposit and the comparison group from Lisbon. They concerned especially some entheseal changes at the coxal bone, femur, tibia, and calcaneus, a morphological adaptation on the femoral neck, intervertebral disc herniations at the thoracolumbar junction, or the ovalization of the acetabulum on the coxal bone. All these traits can be linked to the riding posture, and, thus, seem to be promising indicators for the practice of horse riding. On another note, comparisons between groups revealed that the Hungarian individuals without deposit in their grave were likely riding horses as well. Among the limitations calling for caution is the restricted size of our archaeological samples, which is one of the points that should be improved in the future. In addition, some skeletal changes, such as the entheseal changes, have a multifactorial etiology, which represents a limitation for their interpretation. In that regard, we performed the exploratory analysis of the microarchitecture of an enthesis, the radial tuberosity. Using micro-CT acquisitions and 3D reconstructions of the canals of the cortical bone, we observed that some microstructural variations could allow, with further research, distinguishing entheseal changes related to activity from those related to other factors, thus contributing to more reliable reconstructions of the activities in past populations. In the end, we emphasize that the selection of a pertinent anthropological collection, with direct evidence of the practice of an activity, and the application of strict methodological criteria, are determinant factors for the reliable identification of activity-related skeletal changes.; Certaines modifications observées sur les os humains peuvent permettre de reconstituer les activités des populations anciennes. L'équitation représente notamment un intérêt particulier, ayant apporté des changements profonds et durables dans l'histoire de l'évolution culturelle humaine. Cependant, divers facteurs de biais et l'absence de données contextuelles claires liées aux restes osseux donnent souvent lieu à des interprétations limitées ou peu fiables des modifications osseuses en termes d’activités spécifiques. Les sources archéologiques et historiques attestent que des tribus de populations semi-nomades ont conquis le bassin des Carpates à l’aide d’armées de cavaliers-archers au tournant des 9ème et 10ème siècles, conduisant ainsi à la fondation du Royaume de Hongrie en l'an 1000/1001. Les cimetières de cette période fournissent des cas de dépôts de matériel lié à l’archerie et à l’équitation ainsi que des ossements de chevaux associés aux individus dans les tombes. Ces populations sont ainsi parmi les plus pertinentes pour mener des études méthodologiques sur les modifications osseuses liées aux activités, et notamment à la pratique cavalière. Nous avons sélectionné 67 individus issus du cimetière hongrois de Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld (10ème siècle), pour les analyser selon la présence ou l'absence de dépôt lié au cheval dans leurs tombes. Un échantillon moderne de comparaison de 47 individus présumés non-cavaliers a également été sélectionné au sein de la collection documentée de Lisbonne. Seuls les sujets adultes masculins ont été inclus afin de limiter l'influence de variations en lien avec le sexe et l'âge. Les objectifs étaient d’identifier des modifications squelettiques liées à la pratique cavalière et d’améliorer nos connaissances sur les populations de la Conquête hongroise. Nous avons analysé diverses modifications osseuses, au niveau des enthèses (points d'attache des muscles), articulations et vertèbres, ainsi que des variations morphologiques et lésions traumatiques. Des mesures des os des membres inférieurs ont aussi servi à calculer des indices de forme et de robustesse. Les analyses statistiques ont principalement révélé des différences significatives entre les groupes hongrois avec ou sans mobilier et le groupe de comparaison. Celles-ci concernent notamment les modifications de certaines enthèses de l’os coxal, du fémur, du tibia et du calcanéus, une adaptation morphologique sur le col du fémur, les hernies discales à la jonction thoraco-lombaire, ou encore l'ovalisation de l’acétabulum de l'os coxal. Ces traits peuvent tous être liés à la posture du cavalier et semblent donc être des indicateurs prometteurs pour la pratique cavalière. Par ailleurs, les comparaisons ont montré que les individus hongrois sans dépôt dans leur tombe montaient aussi vraisemblablement à cheval. Parmi les limitations, appelant malgré tout à la prudence, figure la taille restreinte de nos échantillons archéologiques, qui est l’un des points qui devront être améliorés à l'avenir. En outre, certaines modifications osseuses, comme celles des enthèses, ont une étiologie multifactorielle, limitant ainsi leur interprétation. À cet égard, nous avons mené l’analyse exploratoire de la microarchitecture d'une enthèse, la tubérosité du radius. À l’aide d’acquisitions micro-CT et de reconstructions 3D des canaux de l'os cortical, nous avons observé que des variations microstructurales pourraient permettre, avec des recherches supplémentaires, de distinguer les modifications des enthèses liées aux activités de celles liées à d’autres facteurs, contribuant ainsi à de plus fiables reconstructions des activités des populations anciennes. Au final, le choix d'une collection anthropologique pertinente, avec des preuves directes de la pratique d'une activité, ainsi que l'application de critères méthodologiques stricts, sont autant d’éléments déterminants pour l'identification fiable de modifications squelettiques liées aux activités. more...

The distinction between human and animal remains or between different animal species represents one of the most fundamental steps in the identification of bone remains discovered in archaeological and forensic contexts. Unfortunately, the frequent bone fragmentation makes this identification difficult or even impossible only based on anatomical osteology. The use of new identification criteria and a more accurate method of analysis are then necessary. In this perspective, the analysis of bone microstructural features, in particular, the canal cortical network (CCN) appears discriminating as its organization varies among species. This Ph.D. dissertation aims to define CCN microstructural parameters allowing the determination of the human or non-human origin of bone fragments and then the identification of the animal species concerned. In this research, we performed 3D qualitative and quantitative analysis of µCT images from long bones (Femur and humerus) of 3 species (H. sapiens, S. scrofa and B. taurus). The identification test, based on the random forests statistical method, results in a total correct identification rate of 88.82%. 100% of the human's samples were properly identified as well as 86.6% of S. scrofa and 79.51% of B. taurus samples. Canal’s mean length and connectivity appear to be the most discriminating parameters. The 3D observation and quantification of CCN proved to be a non-invasive and promising method for species identification, appropriate for the study of rare or fragile specimens. It can be useful in various science fields in case of important fragmentation. In order to confirm and improved theses first results, it is, however, necessary to enhance this identification method by testing other bones and animal species., La distinction entre des restes humains et animaux ou entre différentes espèces fauniques représente l’une des étapes fondamentales de l’identification de restes osseux retrouvés en contexte archéologique ou forensique. Cependant, l’état de fragmentation des vestiges osseux rend souvent difficile voire impossible leur identification sur la seule base de l’anatomie ostéologique. L’utilisation de nouveaux critères d’identification et d’une méthode d’analyse plus précise est alors nécessaire. Dans cette perspective, l’analyse de la microstructure osseuse et en particulier du réseau canalaire cortical (RCC) apparaît discriminante car ce réseau présente des différences de structure en fonction des espèces. Cette thèse a pour objectif la définition de paramètres du RCC permettant de déterminer l’origine humaine ou animale de fragments osseux ainsi que l’identification de leur espèce animale d’appartenance. Dans le cadre de cette recherche, nous avons effectué l’analyse qualitative et quantitative en 3D d’acquisitions µCT de diaphyses d’os longs (fémurs et humérus) appartenant à 3 espèces (H. sapiens, S. scrofa et B. taurus). Le test d’identification d’espèce, effectué grâce à la méthode statistique de forêts aléatoires, permet d’obtenir un taux d’identification totale de 88.82%. Les individus humains sont correctement identifiés à 100% contre 86.2% pour S. scrofa et 79.51% pour B. taurus. La longueur moyenne des canaux et la connectivité apparaissent comme les variables les plus discriminantes. L’observation et la quantification du RCC en 3D se révèle une méthode d’analyse non-invasive prometteuse pour la distinction d’espèce, appropriée en cas de spécimens rares ou fragiles. Elle s’applique dans divers domaines scientifiques, en cas de forte fragmentation osseuse. Afin de confirmer et d’améliorer ces premiers résultats, il est toutefois nécessaire de développer cette méthode sur d’autres éléments osseux et d’élargir le spectre des espèces animales testées. more...

Some changes observed on human bones can be related to activities practiced during life. Scholars have considered the reconstruction of activities from skeletal changes in past populations as “Bioarchaeology’s Holy Grail”. Horse riding, in particular, has interested bioarchaeologists and paleopathologists for several decades as it brought profound and lasting changes in the history of human cultural evolution. However, the existence of various confounding factors and the lack of clear contextual evidence in connection with the skeletal remains often result in limited or unreliable interpretations of skeletal changes in terms of specific activities. Archaeological and historical sources attest that tribes of semi-nomadic populations conquered the Carpathian Basin with powerful armies of mounted archers at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries, which led to the foundation of the Kingdom of Hungary in the year 1000/1001. Cemeteries from that period often provide cases of deposits of archery and horse riding equipment as well as horse bones associated with the individuals in the graves. Those populations are, thus, among the most pertinent to be used to perform methodological investigations on activity-related skeletal changes, and, on horse riding, in particular. We selected a sample of 67 individuals from the 10th-century Hungarian cemetery of Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld, in order to analyze the individuals according to the presence or absence of riding deposit in their grave. A modern comparison group of 47 presumed non-rider individuals from the documented collection of Lisbon was also selected. Only adult males were included to limit the effect of sex and age on the changes. The main objectives were to identify skeletal changes reliably related to the practice of horse riding and to improve our understanding of the populations from the Hungarian Conquest period. Various types of skeletal changes were analyzed, including some entheseal changes (at muscles attachment sites), joint changes, vertebral changes, morphological variants, and traumatic lesions. Measurements of the lower limb bones were also used to calculate indices of shape and robusticity. Statistical analyses mostly revealed significant differences between the Hungarian groups with or without riding deposit and the comparison group from Lisbon. They concerned especially some entheseal changes at the coxal bone, femur, tibia, and calcaneus, a morphological adaptation on the femoral neck, intervertebral disc herniations at the thoracolumbar junction, or the ovalization of the acetabulum on the coxal bone. All these traits can be linked to the riding posture, and, thus, seem to be promising indicators for the practice of horse riding. On another note, comparisons between groups revealed that the Hungarian individuals without deposit in their grave were likely riding horses as well. Among the limitations calling for caution is the restricted size of our archaeological samples, which is one of the points that should be improved in the future. In addition, some skeletal changes, such as the entheseal changes, have a multifactorial etiology, which represents a limitation for their interpretation. In that regard, we performed the exploratory analysis of the microarchitecture of an enthesis, the radial tuberosity. Using micro-CT acquisitions and 3D reconstructions of the canals of the cortical bone, we observed that some microstructural variations could allow, with further research, distinguishing entheseal changes related to activity from those related to other factors, thus contributing to more reliable reconstructions of the activities in past populations. In the end, we emphasize that the selection of a pertinent anthropological collection, with direct evidence of the practice of an activity, and the application of strict methodological criteria, are determinant factors for the reliable identification of activity-related skeletal changes., Certaines modifications observées sur les os humains peuvent permettre de reconstituer les activités des populations anciennes. L'équitation représente notamment un intérêt particulier, ayant apporté des changements profonds et durables dans l'histoire de l'évolution culturelle humaine. Cependant, divers facteurs de biais et l'absence de données contextuelles claires liées aux restes osseux donnent souvent lieu à des interprétations limitées ou peu fiables des modifications osseuses en termes d’activités spécifiques. Les sources archéologiques et historiques attestent que des tribus de populations semi-nomades ont conquis le bassin des Carpates à l’aide d’armées de cavaliers-archers au tournant des 9ème et 10ème siècles, conduisant ainsi à la fondation du Royaume de Hongrie en l'an 1000/1001. Les cimetières de cette période fournissent des cas de dépôts de matériel lié à l’archerie et à l’équitation ainsi que des ossements de chevaux associés aux individus dans les tombes. Ces populations sont ainsi parmi les plus pertinentes pour mener des études méthodologiques sur les modifications osseuses liées aux activités, et notamment à la pratique cavalière. Nous avons sélectionné 67 individus issus du cimetière hongrois de Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld (10ème siècle), pour les analyser selon la présence ou l'absence de dépôt lié au cheval dans leurs tombes. Un échantillon moderne de comparaison de 47 individus présumés non-cavaliers a également été sélectionné au sein de la collection documentée de Lisbonne. Seuls les sujets adultes masculins ont été inclus afin de limiter l'influence de variations en lien avec le sexe et l'âge. Les objectifs étaient d’identifier des modifications squelettiques liées à la pratique cavalière et d’améliorer nos connaissances sur les populations de la Conquête hongroise. Nous avons analysé diverses modifications osseuses, au niveau des enthèses (points d'attache des muscles), articulations et vertèbres, ainsi que des variations morphologiques et lésions traumatiques. Des mesures des os des membres inférieurs ont aussi servi à calculer des indices de forme et de robustesse. Les analyses statistiques ont principalement révélé des différences significatives entre les groupes hongrois avec ou sans mobilier et le groupe de comparaison. Celles-ci concernent notamment les modifications de certaines enthèses de l’os coxal, du fémur, du tibia et du calcanéus, une adaptation morphologique sur le col du fémur, les hernies discales à la jonction thoraco-lombaire, ou encore l'ovalisation de l’acétabulum de l'os coxal. Ces traits peuvent tous être liés à la posture du cavalier et semblent donc être des indicateurs prometteurs pour la pratique cavalière. Par ailleurs, les comparaisons ont montré que les individus hongrois sans dépôt dans leur tombe montaient aussi vraisemblablement à cheval. Parmi les limitations, appelant malgré tout à la prudence, figure la taille restreinte de nos échantillons archéologiques, qui est l’un des points qui devront être améliorés à l'avenir. En outre, certaines modifications osseuses, comme celles des enthèses, ont une étiologie multifactorielle, limitant ainsi leur interprétation. À cet égard, nous avons mené l’analyse exploratoire de la microarchitecture d'une enthèse, la tubérosité du radius. À l’aide d’acquisitions micro-CT et de reconstructions 3D des canaux de l'os cortical, nous avons observé que des variations microstructurales pourraient permettre, avec des recherches supplémentaires, de distinguer les modifications des enthèses liées aux activités de celles liées à d’autres facteurs, contribuant ainsi à de plus fiables reconstructions des activités des populations anciennes. Au final, le choix d'une collection anthropologique pertinente, avec des preuves directes de la pratique d'une activité, ainsi que l'application de critères méthodologiques stricts, sont autant d’éléments déterminants pour l'identification fiable de modifications squelettiques liées aux activités. more...