Vertebral osteophytosis in prehistoric populations of central and southern Mexico

Abstract

Abstract One hundred and thirty‐eight skeletons from five Mexican archaeological sites were studied. Seventy‐three of these were from Tlatilco where hunting and agriculture were the main subsistence activities. This Pre‐classic group occupied an area northwest of Mexico City from 1100 to 600 B.C. Neighboring territory was intensely cultivated by the Postclassic Tlatelolco people between 1250 and 1521 A.D. Only 29 skeletons from this large group were sufficiently complete for this study. Every individuals in the latter group, except one young male adult, showed some degree of osteophytosis. The findings at Tlatelolco are paralleled by those from 46 individuals from Xochicalco, Morelos (600–900 A.D.), La Quemada, Zacatecas (900–1200 A.D.), and Coixtlahuaca II, Oaxaca (1300–1400 A.D.). Sixty‐nine per cent of the 21–30 year old group (26 individuals from the latter three groups) showed Stages I–III, slight initial ridging to mushroom‐like eversion of the vertebral bodies. In the next two decades 100% (13 persons) showed involvement, the three older Coixtlahuaca males having partial ankylosis (Stage V).

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