Periostitis: An Indicator of Stress and Health in Past Populations Explored

Abstract

Periostitis is a skeletal condition where new bone is formed in response to many different insults to bone. The condition has been used as an indicator of stress in bioarchaeological research for decades and is key in research of disease in the past. Despite the wide use of periostitis as an indicator of stress and disease there is little research into the condition itself and the process leading to the new bone formation. This thesis takes into consideration clinical and bioarchaeological literature in order to provide a better understanding of the process and causes of periostitis. In addition to analysis of literature a case study looking at prevalence of periostitis in an archaeological sample from central California is done to assess the use of periostitis as an indicator of stress and health in the past and the information that such analyses may give. A more rounded understanding of periostitis will allow research into stress in the past to better implement analysis of periostitis and as such create a better overall picture of health within the past.