Imagining life before the advent of modern medical treatments is challenging. Today, congenital dysplasia is typically diagnosed within the first months of a child’s life, allowing for timely intervention. In the past, however, this condition often went unrecognized and untreated, as evidenced by archaeological findings that document the presence of congenital dysplasia persisting into adulthood. We present the case of the individual recovered from the hypogeal cemetery of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli, Italy, a funerary context dated from the 18th to the 19th century. Using macroscopic and radiographic analyses, various morphological irregularities were identified, consistent with the characteristics of developmental hip dysplasia. The skeletal remains identified as FU12 SU151 include a right os coxa and femur, belonging to an adult female. The femur features a 90-degree femoral head angle and a shortened neck with nodules. The acetabulum shows significant morphological changes, including a triangular shape and absence of lunate surfaces, deviating from the normal structure for femoral articulation. CT scans revealed a void within the acetabulum, indicating an absence of material. Despite preservation challenges that restrict the identification of definitive signs, our findings offer valuable insights into possible developmental dysplasia in historic skeletal remains. This research provides insights into the impact of untreated congenital conditions on past populations, underscoring the importance of preserving and studying such remains to enhance our understanding of historical health issues.

Cranial anatomical variations, such as biparietal thinning, offer critical insights into the health and living conditions of ancient populations. Despite the presence of extensive archaeological records, biparietal thinning remains a relatively rare and understudied condition. This review aims to synthesize existing bioarchaeological literature on biparietal thinning, addressing its historical prevalence, geographical distribution, and potential etiologies. This study integrates data from previous bioarchaeological research supplemented with a new case from skeletal remains excavated at the hypogeal cemetery of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli, Northern Italy. The analysis included macroscopic examination, radiological imaging, and comparative analysis with clinical and paleopathological cases to identify and assess the characteristic features of biparietal thinning. Our analysis of the skeletal remains of an old adult female individual revealed clear indicators of biparietal thinning. Notably, the thinning was bilateral, with the absence of diploe in the affected areas while maintaining the inner and outer tables of the cranial vault. These findings align with documented cases in the literature and contribute new data to the limited corpus of biparietal thinning cases. This study underscores the importance of integrating paleopathological findings with modern medical knowledge to enhance the understanding of ancient diseases. The case from Vercelli provides an opportunity to explore the multifactorial origins of biparietal thinning and highlights the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach, combining archaeological, anthropological, and medical perspectives. By presenting this new case, we aim to stimulate further research into biparietal thinning and similar cranial pathologies, enriching the broader narrative of human health evolution.

Craniotomies have played a significant role in both historical and contemporary post-mortem practices, including autopsy, anatomical dissection, embalming and surgical training. The differentiation of these procedures in osteoarchaeological contexts remains a complex challenge due to the overlap in techniques and the varying conditions of skeletal remains. This review presents studies analyzing craniotomies on osteological material, focusing on cut mark morphology, tool mark characteristics and contextual evidence to distinguish post-mortem interventions. The findings highlight the advancements in forensic methodologies applied to archaeological remains, emphasizing the integration of historical records and modern analytical techniques. Future research should aim to incorporate experimental archaeology and interdisciplinary approaches to enhance interpretations of past medical procedures.

INTRODUCTIONThe Church of San Colombano in Bobbio, Italy, represents one of the most important centers of early medieval monasticism in Europe and offers a valuable context for bioarchaeological research. Among the most significant discoveries is Tomb 1, a deep, multi-use burial chamber containing commingled remains of numerous individuals. The assemblage provides an opportunity to investigate health conditions and lived experiences within a medieval monastic community.STUDY AIMThis study aims to investigate external rib lesions in adult individuals interred in Tomb 1, with particular attention to pathological alterations potentially related to respiratory disease, trauma, or nonspecific inflammatory processes, while also reconstructing aspects of the individuals’ biological profiles.MATERIALS AND METHODSAnthropological analysis was conducted on the osteological remains recovered, comprising a minimum of 11 adults. Standard methods were applied for sex and age-at-death estimation, while rib preservation and fragmentation were assessed following established protocols. Macroscopic paleopathological examination focused on ribs, with detailed photographic documentation used to record surface alterations, new bone formation, and degenerative changes.RESULTSFive adult individuals preserved rib fragments suitable for pathological assessment. Observed lesions include periosteal new bone formation, microporosity, striations, widened costal grooves, and degenerative changes at articular facets. Notably, most alterations affect the ventral rib surface, while visceral involvement is limited and focal. Vertebral remains show degenerative changes but no clear evidence of infectious destruction.CONCLUSIONSThe predominance of external rib surface lesions, combined with the absence of osteolytic changes, suggests that healed trauma, mechanical stress, or chronic nonspecific periosteal reactions are more likely than classic pleuro-pulmonary infections such as tuberculosis. Although definitive diagnoses are precluded by fragmentation and commingling, the Bobbio assemblage highlights the interpretative complexity of rib pathology and underscores the importance of cautious, contextualized approaches in paleopathological research on medieval populations.