NON-METRIC VARIATIONS OF THE AXIAL SKELETON BONES IN MEDIEVAL SKELETONS FROM VINICA FORTRESS (VINICHKO KALE)

Non-metric axial skeleton variations in medieval skeletons

Authors

  • Niki Matveeva Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, R. North Macedonia
  • Fanica Veljanovska Archeological Museum of R. North Macedonia, Skopje, R. North Macedonia
  • Julija Zhivadinovik Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, R. North Macedonia
  • Biljana Zafirova Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, R. North Macedonia
  • Elizabeta Chadikovska Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, R. North Macedonia
  • Ace Dodevski Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, R. North Macedonia
  • Biljana Trpkovska Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, R. North Macedonia
  • Biljana Bojadzieva Stojanoska Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, R. North Macedonia

Keywords:

osteology, archeology, anatomical variations, axial skeleton

Abstract

The majority of researchers use cranial and infracranial non-metric traits as separate entities in their investigations of the past populations. We decided to focus our investigation on the axial skeleton non-metric traits, consisting of components such as cranial and vertebral column skeleton. The main goal of our study was to gain some insight into the expression of axial skeleton non-metric traits in a medieval population sample. We investigated 72 well preserved skeletons from the medieval period documented collection (11-12 century AD) in order to examine axial skeleton non-metric traits. The skeletons belonged to individuals aged 20 to 65 years, of both sexes, exhumed from the necropolis Vinichko Kale.

Analysis of cranial non-metric traits in our population sample showed a high prevalence of occipital bone cranial traits, such as os apicis (13.9%) and torus occipitalis (20.8%). Among vertebral column non-metric traits, a high prevalence of cervical spine traits, such as ponticulus posterior atlantis (11%), foramen transversarium partitum - FTP (33.3%), foramen transversarium apertum - FTA (13.9%) and cervical ribs (13.9%) was noted. Our findings of skeletal non-metric traits in the medieval population can provide additional knowledge in the skeletal growth and development in general.

 

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Published

2021-12-27 — Updated on 2022-01-10

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Vol. 1 No. 2 (2021): Acad Med J

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Original Articles