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Tetracycline Labeled Bone Content Analysis of Ancient Nubian Remains from Kulubnarti

Margolis, Julie Anna
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1429808453

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Anthropology.
Armelagos and colleagues (2001) have hypothesized that beer is a conduit for in vivo tetracycline consumption by ancient Nubians. Streptomycetes bacteria has a high prevalence in Sudanese-Nubian soil (60 -70%) and secretes the antibiotic under harsh conditions such as fermentation. At the site of Kulubnarti, 21-S-46 cemetery (716 CE) skeletons likely represent a working underclass contemporaneous with the 21-R-2 cemetery (752 CE) containing the remains of a land-owning class. Interpretations of archaeological and osteological evidence suggest that poorer health and higher mortality occurred in the S population. To test whether an anticipated difference in tetracycline ingestion between S and R cemetery populations existed, the amount of tetracycline-labeled bone was quantified under ultra violet light using image analysis software. Amount of tetracycline labeling was expressed in terms of the total area of labeled bone tissue in square micrometers, number of labeled osteons, and number of grid intersections over labeled bone. No significant differences in percent tetracycline-labeled bone tissue, or percent labeled osteons was observed between cemeteries. These results suggest that tetracycline ingestion was similar for S and R group members, class differences were not mediating tetracycline ingestion, and both sub-groups had equal access to beer.
Clark Larsen, Dr. (Committee Co-Chair)
Sam Stout, Dr. (Committee Co-Chair)
Douglas Crews, Dr. (Committee Member)
57 p.
African History; Anatomy and Physiology; Ancient Civilizations; Ancient History; Archaeology; Biochemistry; Biology; Biomedical Research; Cellular Biology; Epidemiology; Health; Histology; History; Human Remains; Medical Imaging; Medieval History; Microbiology; Molecular Biology; North African Studies; Nutrition; Pharmacology; Physical Anthropology; Social Structure; World History
tetracycline; Nubia; antibiotics; bioarchaeology; bone histology; Kulubnarti; paleopathology; class differences; Ancient Nubia; Nubian; Ancient Nubian; skeletal remains; bone; skeletal biology; image analysis

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Margolis, J. A. (2015). Tetracycline Labeled Bone Content Analysis of Ancient Nubian Remains from Kulubnarti [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1429808453

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Margolis, Julie. Tetracycline Labeled Bone Content Analysis of Ancient Nubian Remains from Kulubnarti. 2015. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1429808453.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Margolis, Julie. "Tetracycline Labeled Bone Content Analysis of Ancient Nubian Remains from Kulubnarti." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1429808453

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1429808453
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.