Thesis supervisor: Olga Spekker
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Department of Biological Anthropology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary Abbreviation of location of studies: SZTE
Description of the research topic:
The palaeopathological and palaeoepidemiological study of past human populations can contribute to expanding our knowledge and understanding about the life experiences of people who lived in prehistoric and historic times. Although both palaeopathology and palaeoepidemiology are based on observation of pathological processes in skeletons, they have distinctive objectives. In palaeopathological studies, the main objective is to determine whether a particular disease, e.g., tuberculosis or leprosy, was present in the examined past population. Consequently, individuals are of interest and the main goal is the establishment of a definitive (individual) diagnosis. It is based on the identification of pathological bony changes and their distribution pattern in the skeleton; and thus, the elimination of alternative aetiologies through differential diagnosis. It should be noted that the different skeletal lesions known to be associated with a specific disease are not equally diagnostic of it – only the highly distinctive ones are suitable for making a definitive diagnosis. Although palaeopathological studies provide invaluable information about where and when a particular disease, e.g., tuberculosis or leprosy, was present, they do not tell much about whether this disease was common or not in the examined past population, hence its impact on the community. In palaeoepidemiological studies, populations, not individuals, are of interest and the main objective is to estimate the prevalence of a specific disease in a particular osteoarchaeological series; and thus, its effect on the community. To accomplish this, a broad array of pathological bony changes, thought to be associated with the disease, are used that vary in terms of their diagnostic value. (Besides the highly distinctive skeletal lesions, other alterations are also considered in the assessment of disease prevalence.) Palaeoepidemiological studies add a public health dimension to the archaeological research that focuses on how past communities were organised and functioned. Their results can be informative about the hazards that people, affected by a specific disease (e.g., tuberculosis or leprosy), faced in various environmental and social circumstances, e.g., those related to working conditions or dietary sufficiency.
By the combined palaeopathological and palaeoepidemiological investigation of osteoarchaeological series from the Szeged Anthropological Collection (Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Szeged, Hungary), this particular PhD research project aims to provide a better insight into the disease experience of people, who lived in the past and suffered from mycobacterial infections (i.e., tuberculosis and leprosy) – e.g., the natural history and different manifestations of the aforementioned diseases, their geographical, temporal, and social distribution, and their impact on human communities.
Required language skills: English Recommended language skills (in Hungarian): Hungarian, German Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2024-08-31
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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