'Al-Shorman A, SHQAIRAT M, ABUDANAH F, KHWAILEH A, ALROUSAN M, 2020: TUBERCULOSIS OF A LATE ISLAMIC SKELETON, JORDAN: ANTHROPOSCOPIC AND SPECTROSCOPIC EXAMINATIONS . Anthropologie (Brno) 58, 1: 111-119'.
The archaeological site of Udhruh in Jordan revealed a skeleton of about 22-month-old that is dated to the Late Islamic period (1174–1516 AD), with multiple pathological lesions: vertebrae lytic lesions caused by tuberculosis (TB), marked periostitis at both diaphyseal ends of long bones as well as the costal ends of the ribs. The objective of the study is to confirm the diagnosis of these pathological conditions, especially TB because the bioarchaeological lexicon has not included a single case of TB during the Islamic period in that region. The methods of the study include anthroposcopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Although the lesions were similar to those of malaria, the FTIR analysis excludes the possibility of malaria as hemozoin spectra were absent, while anthroposcopy suggests tuberculosis. These lesions as being mild suggest that the individual died at an early stage of the disease. Further excavations at the site may reveal other cases and speak about the regional epidemiology of this disease in antiquity.
Late Islamic – Udhruh – Jordan – FTIR – Tuberculosis