Two probable cases of treponemal disease of Medieval date from England

• Published in: American journal of physical anthropology Vol. 120; no. 2; pp. 133 - 143
• Main Authors: Mays, Simon, Crane-Kramer, Gillian, Bayliss, Alex
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-02-2003; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Adult; Anthropology; bejel; Bone and Bones - diagnostic imaging; Bone and Bones - pathology; Carbon Radioisotopes - analysis; Diagnosis, Differential; Diseases; England; Female; Geography; History; History, Medieval; Human paleontology; Humans; Leg Bones - diagnostic imaging; Leg Bones - pathology; Mankind origin and evolution; Methodology and general studies; Middle Aged; Paleopathology; Physical anthropology; pre-Columbian; Prehistory and protohistory; Radioactive materials; radiocarbon; Radionuclide Imaging; Sexually transmitted diseases; syphilis; Treponema pallidum; Treponemal Infections - history; Treponemal Infections - pathology; treponematosis; American culture; Precolombian; Great Britain; Europe; America; Pathology; Disease; Syphilis; Anthropology; Ethnology; Relation with historical world; Skeleton; Diffusion; Dating; Osteology
• ISSN: 0002-9483; 1096-8644
• DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.10132

Two British Medieval skeletons are described. Paleopathological examination suggests that treponemal disease was present in each case. Radiocarbon dating indicates that one is firmly pre‐Columbian, and the other of likely pre‐Columbian date. The implications for our understanding of the history and geographic spread of the treponemal diseases, particularly venereal syphilis, are discussed. Am J Phys Anthropol 120:133–143, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.