PALEOPATHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF THE CRANIAL REMAINS FROM THE SIMA-DE-LOS-HUESOS MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE SITE (SIERRA-DE-ATAPUERCA, SPAIN) - DESCRIPTION AND PRELIMINARY INFERENCES

The large Sima de los Huesos sample provides for the first time the op portunity of performing a paleopathological study of a Middle Pleistoc ene population. A high frequency of bilateral temporomandibular arthro pathy has been observed. We found an ear hyperostosis in Cranium 4, th at probably caused deafness that we consider to be of infectious origi n. Three osteomata were found in the cranial collection. One severe tr auma was evident on the left supraorbital torus of an immature individ ual. Many cranial vault erosions, mostly restricted to the external ta ble, are found in the sample. Cranium 5 displays thirteen of these. Cr anium 5 also shows an extensive maxillary osteitis associated with a d ental apical abscess, as well as another dental apical abscess in its mandible. Most of the adult frontal bones show a worm-like pattern of Vascular channelling in the orbital roof, also found in modern populat ions. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.