Abstract
This paper details the differential diagnosis of a biological artifact recovered from a burial within the Koster Middle Archaic site in Illinois. The burial was excavated from the Middle Archaic 3, Helton Phase component (∼5800-4900 BP). The artifact was a calcified nodule of unequivocal biological origin recovered from the pelvic region of an adult (50+ years) female. Morphological and radiographic analysis of the object resulted in the consideration of 19 possible diagnoses; all but four could be eliminated. Possible interpretations of the object as a lithopaedion, calcified lymph node, amputated ovary or simple ovarian cyst are examined in detail. Of these, calcified lymph node or amputated ovary remain most probable.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 157-164 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | International Journal of Osteoarchaeology |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2003 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Dystrophic calcification
- Koster site
- Lithopaedion
- Lymph node
- Ovarian cyst
- Ovary
- Palaeopathology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Archaeology
- Anthropology
- Archaeology