Calcified structures associated with human skeletal remains: Possible atherosclerosis affecting the population buried at Amara West, Sudan (1300–800 BC)

Binder, M.; Roberts, C.A.

doi:10.1016/j.ijpp.2014.03.003

Calcified structures associated with human skeletal remains: Possible atherosclerosis affecting the population buried at Amara West, Sudan (1300–800 BC)

Binder, M.; Roberts, C.A.

Authors

M. Binder

Professor Emerita Charlotte Roberts c.a.roberts@durham.ac.uk
Emeritus Professor

Abstract

Today, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis, the thickening of the artery wall due to accumulating lipids, is one of the major causes. Generally assumed to be a disease of modern life-style related factors (smoking, obesity, hypertension), its history and epidemiology in the past are virtually unknown. Research on mummies from various geographic locations, time periods and socioeconomic backgrounds has revealed conclusive, albeit scant, evidence that atherosclerosis also affected past human populations. Little is known about the morphology of calcified atherosclerotic plaques that may be associated with human skeletal remains. Therefore, direct evidence of atherosclerosis from skeletal remains is largely absent. This paper presents five possible examples of calcified blood vessels which may represent atherosclerosis recovered from burials at Amara West, Sudan (1300–800 BC) and reviews other potential causes of arterial calcification. Calcifications were recovered from the chest area of three middle-adult individuals as well as from the abdominal area and alongside the femur of two more. Based on morphology, anatomical location, scanning electron microscopy and radiography, they are probably calcified arterial plaques. These findings are unique in the bioarchaeological record and indicate that people have experienced atherosclerosis for at least 3000 years.

Citation

Binder, M., & Roberts, C. (2014). Calcified structures associated with human skeletal remains: Possible atherosclerosis affecting the population buried at Amara West, Sudan (1300–800 BC). International Journal of Paleopathology, 6, 20-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2014.03.003

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Mar 7, 2014
Publication Date	Sep 1, 2014
Deposit Date	Jun 11, 2014
Publicly Available Date	May 26, 2015
Journal	International Journal of Paleopathology
Print ISSN	1879-9817
Publisher	Elsevier
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	6
Pages	20-29
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2014.03.003
Keywords	Sudan, Calcified blood vessels, Cardiovascular diseases, New Kingdom period.
Public URL	https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1425483

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Copyright Statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in International Journal of Paleopathology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in International Journal of Paleopathology, 6, September 2014, 10.1016/j.ijpp.2014.03.003.