Bicoronal synostosis in a child from historic Omaha Cemetery 25DK10

Abstract

Fragmentary cranial remains of a child from a commingled burial in a historic Omaha Cemetery (AD 1780-1800) exhibit bony fusion between the frontal, parietals, and sphenoid. The child's remains are consistent with a developmental age between newborn and 6 months postnatal. Radiological and morphological analyses confirm that this individual exhibits osteological signs pathognomic of bicoronal sutural synostosis, including deformation of the lateral orbital margin. This case, although fragmentary, significantly augments other archaeological cases of coronal synostosis reported in the literature. In addition, an extremely large bregmatic fontanel, expanded anterior cranial fossa, and bossed forehead compared with undeformed individuals suggest the child also suffered from increased intracranial pressure perhaps related to an associated hydrocephaly. Despite the deformity, the remains of this child were treated in much the same manner as other infant remains from the site, including the presence of red mercury pigment on the skeletal remains.

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