Anthropology  

Possible reasons for the incomplete closure of cranial sutures in individuals from Armenian monuments (Mastara and Vardbakh)

of the 1st century BC — 3rd century AD  

Khudaverdyan A.Yu., Avetisyan P.S., Melikyan V.V., Arutyunyan T.E., Yengibaryan A.A., Hovhannisyan  А.А. (Yerevan, Republic of Armenia)

The article studies remains from the ancient monuments of Mastara and Vardbakh, located on the territory of the Aragatsotn and Shirak provinces of Armenia. In this work, the authors analyse possible reasons for the incomplete fusion of cranial sutures in two female individuals. The relevance of the work consists in it being carried out within the framework of integrative anthropology, incorporating two of its subdisciplines: physical anthropology and paleopathology. The authors studied the physical appearance of individuals from the point of view of paleoanthropology and determined the main indicators characterising their physical development. Paleopathology, in turn, revealed traces of diseases found in the individuals. Bone remains from the above-mentioned burials were stu-died using X-ray diagnostic methods. In both examined cases, the skull and pelvis, as well as the near-epiphyseal part of the femur, tibia and other bones exhibit numerous, mainly lytic, lesions. A pressure increase is observed in both skulls. Both individuals exhibit unintended cradle deformation, occipital superstructures, periostitis, dege-nerative-dystrophic lesions of the osteoarticular apparatus, exostoses and periapical abscess. The intravital status of general health in the individuals can be characterised as dysfunctional. The changes in the individual from the Mastara (30–39 years old) in its shape and size are typical of early myeloma. In addition, Harris lines on the tibiae were identified in this individual. Lytic defects in the individual from the Vardbakh burial ground (40–49 years old) indicate metastatic carcinoma. The discovered remains suggest that the incomplete closure of the cranial sutures in the studied individuals could be caused by a malignant brain tumour.

Key words: Armenia, 1st century BC — 3rd century AD, incomplete closure of cranial sutures, myeloma, metastatic carcinoma, mastoiditis.

DOI: 10.20874/2071-0437-2019-46-3-096-115

Submitted: 10.05.2019

Accepted: 10.06.2019

Article is published: 26.09.2019

Khudaverdyan A.Yu.

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Charents st., 15, Yerevan, 0025, Republic of Armenia

E-mail: [email protected]

Avetisyan P.S.

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Charents st., 15, Yerevan, 0025, Republic of Armenia

E-mail: [email protected]

Melikyan V.V.

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Charents st., 15, Yerevan, 0025, Republic of Armenia

E-mail: [email protected]

Arutyunyan T.E.

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Charents st., 15, Yerevan, 0025, Republic of Armenia

E-mail: [email protected]

Yengibaryan A.A.

Yerevan Mkhitar Heratsi State Medical University, Koryun st., 2, Yerevan, 0025, Republic of Armenia

E-mail: [email protected]

Hovhannisyan А.А.

«Armenia» Republican Medical Center, Margaryan st., 6, Yerevan, 0078, Republic of Armenia

E-mail: [email protected]