Graduation Date
Summer 2026
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Applied Anthropology
Committee Chair Name
Marissa Ramsier
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dara Adams
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Keywords
Europe: Western Europe, Bioarchaeology/skeletal analysis, Paleopathology and cranial pathology
Subject Categories
Anthropology
Abstract
The site of Żelewo is located in a rural area of northwestern Poland, a region historically known as Pomerania. Skeletal remains from the cemetery associated with the archaeological site Żelewo 1-3, dating mostly to the 13th-15th centuries, are likely associated with a nearby Cistercian monastery. Numerous individuals from this site show evidence of endocranial lesions. To evaluate potential factors associated with the lesions, a differential diagnosis was performed based on macroscopic observations of endocranial lesion morphology and distribution. This study takes into account estimated age at death, biological sex, and other signs of pathology in the body. Potential confounding factors, including taphonomic damage, are also considered. Fifteen individuals with evidence of endocranial lesions were identified within a larger sample of seventy-six individuals. Lesions were most commonly observed on the frontal and parietal bones, and most were smooth, varied in shape, and had well-defined borders. Comparison with paleopathological literature suggests that a majority of the lesions were most consistent with normal anatomical variation, specifically Pacchionian pits, instead of pathology. However, some were consistent with anemia, inflammatory responses, and possible infections. These findings highlight the importance of differential diagnosis and consideration of normal variation when analyzing endocranial lesions in archaeological populations and contribute to a larger understanding of cranial morphology and health in medieval Europe.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Meyer, Francesca Aleen, "Endocranial lesions: A paleopathological study of late medieval skeletal remains from Żelewo Poland" (2026). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2606.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2606
Included in
Archaeological Anthropology Commons, Biological and Physical Anthropology Commons, Medieval Studies Commons