Lesions of the frontal bone in American Indians

Abstract

Abstract Over 1,400 adult skulls from archeological sites along the Atlantic Seaboard, in the Midwest and in the Southwest were examined for frontal lesions. A late prehistoric site in Delaware yielded the highest frequency. Next was a late prehistoric site in Illinois, but here the high frequency may reflect in part the collector's special interest in bone pathology. By contrast, the historic and early prehistoric sites yielded the lowest frequencies. Like Hooton and Snow, the only previous American investigators who have recorded frontal lesions in detail, the present authors agree that most of the occurrences in skulls from Archaic and early Pueblo sites are due to trauma. However, in the other groups studied most of the lesions appear to be inflammatory and to have a rather constant location on the frontal. Some are accompanied by lesions on the parietals and on certain long bones. After healing bone remodelling gradually eliminates much of the original disfigurement. Examples of lesions in different stages are illustrated. The appearance of some of the inflammatory lesions suggests syphilis, but satisfactory proof of this is not yet forthcoming. Hopefully, these findings will rekindle interest in the problem and stimulate further efforts to reach correct diagnoses.

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