Analysis of Patterns of Injury and Disease in an Historic skeletal sample from Belleville, Ontario

Abstract

<p>ANALYSIS' OF PATTERNS OF INJURY AND DISEASE IN AN HISTORIC SKELETAL SAMPLE FROM BELLEVILLE' ONTARIO The presence of specific and non-specific infections in human skeletal remains, as well as indicators of trauma are valuable pieces of information that can be utilized to reconstruct the health status of a community. A sample of 25O adults, removed from an archaeological excavation of cemetery interments (1820-1874) associated with St. Thomas Anglican Church in BeIleville, Ontario, were examined for indicators of trauma and infectious disease. Traumatic injuries were common within the sample. Nonspecific infections are also represented. Some cases exhibit specific infections, including tuberculosis and tertiary syphilis. Significant differences between males and females were found in healed fractures and traumatic injuries in general. This data was compared to historical documentation from the period. Inferences about mortality rates and causes of death among groups, of individuals or populations are frequently made on the basis of observations of pathological changes in human skeletal remains, The degree to which this is a reliable source of information was, evaluated. The results of this study suggest that a combination of both skeletal observations and historical documentation is necessary to reconstruct the overall health status of a community, particularly with reference to infectious disease since many acute diseases of the nineteenth century are not observable in skeletal remains.</p>