http://hdl.handle.net/10174/14486 2026-06-03T00:20:26Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42092 Title: Variability of lesions and lesion pattern in possible treponematosis cases: Insights from an archaeological site in Tomar, Portugal Authors: Curto, Ana; Fernandes, Teresa; Relvado, Cláudia; Ferro, Sónia; Lopes, Célia Abstract: Objective: This study aims to describe various types of skeletal lesions and lesion patterns observed in five potential cases of treponematosis from the same archaeological site. Material and methods: The study examines five adult skeletons recovered from Santa Maria do Olival, Tomar, Portugal. Macroscopic observations were conducted on all remains, supplemented by relevant radiographic investigations. Results: The analyzed individuals exhibited diverse types of skeletal lesions and distinct patterns of lesion distribution. Radiocarbon dating of two of these skeletons locates them chronologically close to the beginning of the colonial period (15th century). Discussion: The findings indicate considerable variation in the lesions and lesion patterns associated with treponematosis, even within the same archaeological site. The radiocarbon data implies the presence of pre-Columbian treponemal disease or a rapid progression to the tertiary phase of the disease. This study represents the oldest cases of treponematosis in Portugal and the only one with more than one individual affected from the same archaeological site. Considering Portugal’s prominent role in the European Age of Exploration, the study underscores the significance of pathogen exchanges between Europeans, South Americans, Africans, and Asians. Future investigations should reassess Iberian osteological collections from this time period, given the historical importance of Portugal and Spain in the intercontinental movements. 2025-02-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42091 Title: Physical Impairment and Care Estimation in Medieval Estremoz (Portugal): A Bioarchaeological Perspective Authors: Curto, Ana; Lopes, Célia; Maurer, Anne-France; Fernandes, Teresa Abstract: This study aims to compare diet and skeletal health indicators between individuals with varying degrees of physical impairment and the general adult population from medieval Estremoz, Portugal, to assess their health status and their survival outcomes. Skeletal remains from 41 male adult individuals, including 8 with physical impairments and 33 from the general population, were analyzed. The impairment of these individuals was described, and their need for care was inferred considering the guidelines of the Index of Care and the Bioarchaeology of Disability approach. Skeletal lesions, physiological stress indicators, and estimated diet (using stable isotope analysis of bone collagen) were compared between individuals with and without signs of physical impairment. Individuals with physical impairments did not exhibit more frequent or more severe skeletal indicators of physiological stress or trauma than the general population. The survival into adulthood with good health of individuals with physical abnormalities or limiting conditions suggests consistent care, particularly in childhood and as needed throughout life. This study provides evidence that individuals with disabilities in medieval Estremoz do not seem to have been excluded from the community. These findings contribute to broader discussions on social support, resilience, and caregiving in historical populations. The sample size of impaired individuals is small, and osteological preservation may limit the identification of subtle stress indicators. Future work should explore disabilities and caregiving practices in other medieval populations, incorporating stable isotopic analysis to compare their adult and childhood diet with the general population. 2025-12-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42089 Title: Health and well-being in Medieval Estremoz, Portugal: Uncovering the diet and longevity of a distinct and thriving community Authors: Curto, Ana; Navarrete, Vanessa; Maurer, Anne-France; Barrocas Dias, Cristina; Fernandes, Teresa Abstract: The intersection of socioeconomic policies and health in archaeological contexts highlights how ancient societies’ structures, practices, and regulations influenced their people’s health and well-being. This study investigates the diet and health of a 13th to 15th-century Portuguese town, Estremoz, known for having royal privileges. By analysing human remains for physiological stress indicators and employing stable isotopic analysis to estimate adult diet, the research provides insights into the life of this medieval population. Human remains (141 skeletons: 72 under 15 years old; 69 over 15 years old) from Rossio Marquês de Pombal (13th − 15th centuries) were analysed and faunal remains (N = 171) and bone collagen (N = 13 faunal remains; N = 37 human ribs: 14 females, 18 males, 5 undetermined) were examined to estimate adult diet using stable isotopic composition (δ15N and δ13C). Skeletal indicators of physiological stress (cribra orbitalia, cribra cranii, periosteal lesions, stature and body mass) were assessed to infer overall health. The diet was relatively uniform (δ13C x̄ = −18.3 ± 0.46 ‰; δ15N x̄ = 10.9 ± 0.77 ‰) with some outliers, mostly male, suggesting that there might have been outsiders in Estremoz attracted by the privileges given to its inhabitants. The low and non-severe frequency of physiological stress, particularly in females, indicates a good quality of life without major nutritional deficits. These findings illustrate how bioarchaeological studies can reveal the impact of social dynamics and cultural influences on past health. 2025-01-30T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42088 Title: The study of two impressive simulacra at Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Almada, Portugal Authors: Ferreira, Teresa; Nunes, Margarida; Curto, Ana; Palmeirão, Joana; Manhita, Ana; Olival, Fernanda; Piorro, Luís; Monteiro, Paula; Vieira, Eduarda Abstract: Simulacra, or full-body reliquaries of corpi santi, have largely been overlooked in the discourse of the past century by the Church, the general public, and scholars. This work investigates two noteworthy cases among simulacra—two young individuals, St. Primogenita and St. Theodore—from Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Almada in Portugal. Based on a historical and analytical approach, the study examines the simulacra context, assembly methods, materials, symbols of martyrdom, and adornments. Their possible arrival in Portugal in the late eighteenth century is supported by the Bishop's seal and textile features that reflect the fashion of that period. Radiographic imaging and particularly borescope inspections revealed distinct assembly techniques, with St. Theodore displaying meticulous anatomical assembly, while St. Primogenita's construction is less precise. However, access to the cranium fragments of St. Primogenita revealed an elaborate consolidation method. SEM–EDS, FT-IR, and Py-GC–MS analyses identified a fibrous material coated with a dark brown paste, likely used to bond the unfused parts of the ectocranium fragments of a young individual, as well as a paste applied to reinforce the endocranium. Martyrdom symbols further distinguished the simulacra, with St. Primogenita adorned with a silk petal crown attached using animal glue, whereas St. Theodore's crown was crafted from pigment-dyed cellulosic materials. LC-DAD-MS analysis revealed the natural dyes used in coloured threads. Only St. Primogenita retained fragments from a phial of blood, where a creative method may have been employed to emphasise the blood content. This investigation highlighted the complexity and artistry behind these simulacra. 2025-06-17T23:00:00Z