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Biology

Human Skeletal Analysis for Evidence of Ancient Disease

Quick fact

Human skeletal analysis can identify evidence of diseases like tuberculosis and syphilis that leave distinctive marks on bone, revealing not just the disease but sometimes the person's age, sex, and social circumstances. For example, one study found that male skeletons from a Medieval English site showed higher rates of certain infections, hinting at gendered life experiences.

Why this is interesting

You've probably heard about ancient plagues, but how do we actually know what diseases people suffered from thousands of years ago? The answer lies in the bones they left behind.