Human auditory ossicles from archaeological findings (the latene and medieval periods)
Lisonĕk, P.; Kutal, M.; Peske, L.; Kubínek, R.
Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis Facultatis Medicae 113: 61-69
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-2514 PMID: 2942005 Document Number: 275075
The auditory ossicles obtained from archaeological excavations from skeletal burial grounds dating back to the "Unetice culture" (Nove Dvory), the latene period (Ruzyne-Jiviny) and Middle Ages (Beroun) were found, following the pertinent processing, to be suitable material for scanning electron microscopic study. They also appear suitable for osteometric study. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a number of interesting findings: an unusual tubercle on the anterolateral surface of the head of the hammer (Beroun findings), leading in one case even to primary bone fixation of the hammer to the wall of the tympanic cavity; the incudes with unusually short long crura, with various shapes of the lenticular process affected by Ist or IInd-degree inflammation, or with inflammatory appositions in the form of bone pearls on the surface of the body of the incus. A shell-like structure of the head was often seen on the stapes. There were a number of differences between the latene group of Ruzyne and the medieval group of Beroun which became apparent during the scanning electron microscopic study. These will be taken into account in collecting further material and in statistical elaboration of osteometric data, in further analysis of this material, and, especially, in comparing the osteometric data of these ossicles with those of other skeletal parts of the respective individuals.