EVIDENCE FOR ACTIVITY RELATED MARKERS IN THE VERTEBRAE OF THE CREW OFTHE MARY-ROSE

Pathological changes in the vertebrae of the commingled remains of the crew of the Mary Rose were compared with those in the vertebrae of a group of articulated adult male burials from a medieval cemetery in No rwich. There was little difference in the distribution of Schmorl's no des, marginal osteophytes and ossification of the ligamentum flavum bu t some differences in their prevalence. Osteoarthritis of the facet jo ints was less frequent in the Mary Rose than the Norwich spines, as wa s the prevalence of Schmorl's nodes. The prevalence of marginal osteop hytes was higher in the cervical and lumbar regions at Norwich, but no t in the thoracic region while the prevalence of ossification into the ligamentum flavum was higher in the Mary Rose spines. The crew of the Mary Rose were considerably younger than the Norwich males and it see ms likely that age-related changes among the Mary Rose crew were accel erated, probably as the result of activities undertaken on board ship. Since such changes take time to develop, it is Suggested that these o bservations indicate that the Mary Rose was probably manned by a semi- permanent crew with a professional core, many of whom had been recruit ed during adolescence. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.