In bioarchaeology, the universal concept of “kinship” can be explored through the study of archaeological remains and as such offers a way to connect modern-day life to the life of past people.... Show moreIn bioarchaeology, the universal concept of “kinship” can be explored through the study of archaeological remains and as such offers a way to connect modern-day life to the life of past people. This study examines the social structure of post-medieval Dutch communities and their level of genetic homogeneity and inter-relatedness. The research aims were to identify probable genetic relatives within the Middenbeemster skeletal collection through developmental foot anomalies and to analyze the spatial structure of the Middenbeemster cemetery in the context of intracemetery kinship relations. Three hundred eighty individuals from four different skeletal collections were examined for the presence of fourteen non-metric traits, selected on various criteria (e.g., heritability). The Middenbeemster trait frequencies were compared with those of a reference sample of the post-medieval Dutch population (consisting of individuals from the Dutch post-medieval collections of Arnhem, Eindhoven, and Zwolle). A hypothetical kinship group could be identified when the trait frequencies of the Middenbeemster sample were considerably higher than those in the reference sample. Other sources had only limited validation value in relation to the hypothesis. Visual examination and spatial statistics of the distribution of the hypothetical kinship group revealed a possible patrilineally structured cemetery, although this is based on a small sample. By putting the observed trait frequencies in a broader context, the data suggested a rather high inter-relatedness of the Middenbeemster community. It also exposed the need for a better understanding of the used traits and perhaps a different approach to kinship analysis (due to necessarily large time investment in contrast to limited results). In conclusion, this study gave an insight into the social structure of post-medieval Dutch communities. Future improvements to kinship analysis may not only be beneficial for bioarchaeology, but also for other fields such as forensic anthropology. Show less
Humans have long had an ambiguous relationship with physical activity. From the Greek idolization of the young athlete, over the condescending attitudes towards manual labor, to Olympic performers... Show moreHumans have long had an ambiguous relationship with physical activity. From the Greek idolization of the young athlete, over the condescending attitudes towards manual labor, to Olympic performers who push their bodies beyond all limits for prestige. This fascination with how we use our bodies extends into the questions we ask about past societies.This dissertation examines how we can reconstruct physical activity by looking at variations in the shape of muscle attachment sites ( ‘entheses’) on the human skeleton. It evaluates two post-medieval contexts; rural Middenbeemster and urban Aalst. Findings show societal differences in the sexual division of labor, but also remind us not to over-simplify the lives of people in the past, nor underestimate the complexity of the human body and its varied response to strain.The dissertation also broaches an entirely new field of study; variation in appearance of entheses in growing, individuals. By developing a standardized method, it lies the foundation for research into activity reconstruction in children from both archaeological and forensic settings.Ultimately, it provides the reader with a comprehensive study of the potential and limitations of entheses for activity reconstruction. In doing so, it presents a glimpse into life in the past. Show less
Osteochondritis Dissecans (OD) is a pathological condition of the subchondral bone and surrounding cartilage of synovial joints, associated with strenuous activity and/or trauma. Reports of OD in... Show moreOsteochondritis Dissecans (OD) is a pathological condition of the subchondral bone and surrounding cartilage of synovial joints, associated with strenuous activity and/or trauma. Reports of OD in archaeological skeletal remains are few and the majority demonstrate low OD prevalence (<1%). A predominantly 19th century skeletal sample from Middenbeemster, the Netherlands, was assessed for OD. The sample included adult individuals of both sexes. There were no definitive OD lesions in non-pedal elements, yet 12.9% of individuals suffered from pedal OD. Few archaeological and clinical reports specify the prevalence of pedal OD. According to the few that do, the Middenbeemster pedal OD prevalence is distinctly high. Several factors could have contributed to this. First, the rural Beemster community was centered around cattle farming, requiring extensive outside work and animal maintenance; thus, increasing the chances of acute/repetitive trauma in the foot. Second, the footwear worn during that period in the Netherlands was the wooden clog. It is suggested that the hard and inflexible clog, which is poor at absorbing shock and limits the movement of the foot, could have resulted in repetitive microtrauma. These two factors combined may have caused a high frequency of OD. Show less
