BURGOS, Spain – Researchers led by Sonia Diaz-Navarro of the University of Burgos examined the skeletons of 48 children recovered from Camino del Molina, a 5,000-year-old circular burial cave in southeastern Spain. Phys.org Report. The bones of more than 1,300 people were deposited at the site over a period of more than 700 years. Disease-related changes were seen in the bones of more than 90 percent of the children included in the study. In addition to changes related to respiratory diseases, about 67 percent had porous bones. “The pattern we see probably reflects the widespread burden of recurrent or prolonged respiratory disease rather than a single pathogen,” Diaz-Navarro said. They said children were likely exposed to indoor smoke, dust, particles from artifacts and food processing, and close contact with animals, which could have effects on their health. The highest rate of bone change was found in children aged one to four years and 10 to 14 years. These changes include grooves and pits inside the skull, vertebrae, hip and pelvic bones, as may occur in early-stage tuberculosis infection. The study also shows that individuals who were sick did not receive different treatment after death. “This is especially important because the Camino del Molina includes individuals with very visible or significant situations,” Diaz-Navarro said. Researchers plan to look for traces of tuberculosis bacteria and other pathogens, examine possible relationships between the dead, and reconstruct their diets. Read the original scholarly article about this research International Journal of Paleopathology. To read about Roman Butrint’s story about two teenagers suffering from respiratory illness, go to “persistence of brucellosis“
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