02586nas a2200397   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653002100080653002700101653001900128653001700147653002500164653001400189653001000203653002200213653002100235653001200256653002200268653001100290653001200301653001400313653001400327653002200341653002600363100001400389700001400403700001800417700001500435245008700450300001100537490000800548520161800556022001402174       2005                            d  c2005 Dec10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAge Distribution10aAnthropology, Physical10aBone and Bones10aBone Density10aCase-Control Studies10aCausality10aChild10aChild Development10aChild, Preschool10aDenmark10aHistory, Medieval10aHumans10aleprosy10aLongevity10aMorbidity10aMortuary Practice10aStress, Physiological1 aBennike P1 aLewis M E1 aSchutkowski H1 aValentin F00aComparison of child morbidity in two contrasting medieval cemeteries from Denmark.  a734-460 v1283 a<p>This study compares associations between demographic profiles, long bone lengths, bone mineral content, and frequencies of stress indicators in the preadult populations of two medieval skeletal assemblages from Denmark. One is from a leprosarium, and thus probably represents a disadvantaged group (Naestved). The other comes from a normal, and in comparison rather privileged, medieval community (AEbelholt). Previous studies of the adult population indicated differences between the two skeletal collections with regard to mortality, dental size, and metabolic and specific infectious disease. The two samples were analyzed against the view known as the "osteological paradox" (Wood et al. [1992] Curr. Anthropol. 33:343-370), according to which skeletons displaying pathological modification are likely to represent the healthier individuals of a population, whereas those without lesions would have died without acquiring modifications as a result of a depressed immune response. Results reveal that older age groups among the preadults from Naestved are shorter and have less bone mineral content than their peers from AEbelholt. On average, the Naestved children have a higher prevalence of stress indicators, and in some cases display skeletal signs of leprosy. This is likely a result of the combination of compromised health and social disadvantage, thus supporting a more traditional interpretation. The study provides insights into the health of children from two different biocultural settings of medieval Danish society and illustrates the importance of comparing samples of single age groups.</p>  a0002-9483