Dental Caries and Tooth Wear in a Byzantine Paediatric Population (7th to 10th Centuries AD) from Yenikapi-Constantinople, Istanbul.

Dental caries and wear are important conditions to record in archaeological collections. The aim of the present paper is to determine the frequency and distribution of dental caries and dental wear in a mediaeval Byzantine paediatric population in Yenikapi, Constantinople, Istanbul. The present research was carried out on the skeletal remains of 1 infant and 28 children with a total of 180 teeth (113 primary and 67 permanent teeth). The frequency of ante-mortem tooth loss in the sample was 1%. The total frequency of carious lesions in the sample was 2.2%. The frequency of dental wear was rather low (3.3%) exhibiting presence of dentin clusters mostly. The present study evaluated an archaeological collection with low dental wear and low dental caries prevalence indicating a fishing community.

[The Justinian plague (part one)]. / La peste di Giustiniano (prima parte).

In their medical-historical review, the authors assess the evolution of bubonic plague epidemics: after breaking out in the Egyptian port of Pelusium in October 541 AD, the epidemics hit several regions in the Mediterranean basin in a succession of waves. The so-called Justinian plague took its name from the Byzantine emperor of the period, and seriously conditioned the expansionary aims of the Eastern Roman empire towards Italy (which was occupied by Goths), and Northern Africa (where the Vandals had settled), during the first decades of its spread. In the Eastern Empire the plague played a considerable role in reducing the tensions between Persians and Byzantines, especially on the Syrian and Anatolian fronts. It had a major demographic impact, reducing the possibility of recruitment to the Roman legions and leading to a significant drop in tax revenues, which were essential to sustain the state and its military machine. Finally, the plague also took its toll on economic resources (especially agriculture), indirectly leading to a vicious inflationary circle. In the space of over two centuries, plague epidemics paralyzed most trade and commercial exchanges. Furthermore, the Justinian plague, halting the consolidation of the influence of the Eastern Roman empire over some Western regions (including Italy and Northern Africa, which were ruled by Barbarians), supported the development and rise of a number of Roman-Barbarian kingdoms. It may therefore be suggested that the Justinian plague occurred at a very critical historical moment, which represents the real watershed between the Ancient World and the upcoming Middle Ages.

Double foramen transversarium variation in ancient Byzantine cervical vertebrae: preliminary report of an anthropological study.

AIM: Foramina transversaria (FT) are located on the transverse processes of cervical vertebrae. These foramina are known to exhibit variations with regard to size, shape and may even be absent or duplicated. The aims of this study are to investigate the shape, size and variations of FT in an ancient population and to point out the importance of double FT in the human anatomy. MATERIAL and METHODS: 262 ancient skeletons, dated 6th c AD, were unearthed from the Iasos Archaeological site between 1979 and 1987. Of these skeletons, 22 cervical vertebrae belonging to 21 individual skeletons were examined for the variations of FT. RESULTS: Fifteen (68.2%) of the skeletons were male and 6 were female. All of the FT were round in shape. Among the 22 cervical vertebrae, double FT was found in 5 (22.7%) vertebrae, while unilateral in 3 and bilateral in 2. Asymmetrical FT was observed only in one (4.5%) vertebra. The mean diameter of FT was 6.2 mm in the right side and 6.4 mm in the left. CONCLUSION: Double FT exists since the antiquity. The recognition of this variation provides safety and effectiveness for the posterior approaches of the cervical spine.

Epidemic waves of the Black Death in the Byzantine Empire (1347-1453 AD).

The lack of valid demographic data and the literary ambiguities of the Byzantine chroniclers raise questions about the actual size and mortality rate of the Black Death in the Byzantine Empire. This study presents for the first time a quantitative overview of the Black Death in Byzantium for the period 1347-1453. Our data were obtained from descriptions of the plague, by prominent Byzantine historians and scholars, grouped by time of appearance and geographical spread. During the period 1347-1453, a total of 61 plague reports were noted, which can be distinguished in nine major epidemic waves, 11 local outbreaks and 16 disease-free periods. The capital Constantinople and the Venetian colonies of the Ionian and Aegean Sea were the areas most affected by the plague. The epidemic waves of the Black Death in Byzantium had a total average duration of 3.2 years. Scientific ignorance of the nature of the disease, a turbulent period of warfare and an organized maritime network seem to have contributed to the spread of the disease. Employing quantitative analysis, our multidisciplinary study sheds light from various standpoints on the evolution and dynamic of the plague in the South-eastern Mediterranean during the 14th and 15th centuries, despite the lack of sound morbidity and mortality data.

Epidemic waves during Justinian's plague in the Byzantine Empire (6th-8th c. AD).

The aim of the present study is to collect the epidemic outbreaks and the epidemic waves of the bubonic plague of the Byzantine Empire during the first pandemic (541-751 AD). Human activities, such as trade and military movements have been speculated as underlying factors for the causation of the pandemic. Historical data combined with geographical spreading of the plague, allows an alternative speculation of suspicious enzootic areas in the Middle East. We conclude that the possible existence of enzootic areas in that region might have been responsible for the causation of the numerous outbreaks of the bubonic plague in the Eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire during the 6th-8th century period.