Age-related bone loss and osteoporosis in archaeological bone : a study of two London collections, Redcross Way and Farringdon Street

This thesis examines the ways in which age- and sex-related bone loss in archaeological bone can \nbe assessed, with a view to providing criteria by which osteoporosis should be diagnosed. \nSample material for this investigation came from two London collections of skeletal material \ndated 1700-1850 (Redcross Way and Farringdon Street). \nA comparative study using a wide range of techniques for the detection of bone loss was carried \nout on the samples from Redcross Way. Sample numbers were then increased through the \ninclusion of the material from Farringdon Street in order to provide sufficient data to examine \nchanges seen in relation to age and sex. \nCurrent research into bone biology and knowledge of osteoporosis in the present day population \nwas reviewed in the context of possible observations that can be made on archaeological bone. \nThere is a large body of historical literature available relating to the period covered by this study \n(AD 1700-1850). A review was made of material relating to population demographics and \nmedical literature relating to fractures. This work showed that it is valid to study osteoporosis in \npopulations of this period, as a significant number of individuals reached an age at which today \nthey could be considered at risk of sustaining an osteoporotic fracture. Literature relating to \nfractures contained significant numbers of reports of cases of fracture which, from knowledge of \nsuch fracture in the present population, fit the criteria of osteoporotic fractures. \nArchaeological bone was examined using non-invasive investigative techniques many of which \nare in current clinical use for the determination of osteoporosis. These were: dual energy x-ray \nabsorptiometry; low angle x-ray scattering; and optical densitometry. Optical densitometry was \nalso applied to bone slices. Cortical bone was assessed through calculation of its area, and \nthickness. The cortical index were calculated from radiographs. Trabecular bone loss was \nassessed from femoral radiographs using the Singh index, and stereometric measurements made \nusing close range photogrammetry. \nThe possibility of the archaeological bone material having undergone post-mortem (diagenetic) \nchanges, which can adversely affect results obtained from non-invasive investigations, was briefly \naddressed. Mineral deposition was found to have occurred in some of the sample material \nexamined. \nIt was found that the direct examination and measurement of the three dimensional trabecular \narchitecture through stereometric analysis provided the best indication of bone loss and, possibly \nosteoporosis. Where sample material cannot be sectioned and non-invasive investigative \ntechniques have to be applied, low angle x-ray scattering, which produces quantitative and \nqualitative measurements of trabecular bone, produced the most reliable results. Both these \ntechniques overcame the problems associated with diagenetic change in archaeological material. \nThe results from the investigation of the Redcross way and Farrmgdon Street skeletal material \nshowed that age- and sex-related bone loss was taking place, with loss occurring at an earlier age \nand being more severe in females than males. The conclusion is made that patterns of loss \nobserved in the archaeological bone broadly mirror those seen in the present day population.