Cribra orbitalia and congeneric cranial lesions in pre-historic populations from the meridional coast of Brazil.

Abstract

In pre-historic skulls excavated at three different kinds of sites from the meridional coast of Brazil, we have found the three known clinic forms of porotic hyperostosis with varyng frequencies: cribra orbitalia (76,3%), osteoporotic pitting (81,5%) and hyperostosis spongiosa (17,2%). We accept an evolution to "cicatrization" (with different intensities), the preccocious manifestation of porotic hyperostosis and the increase of the "cicatrization" with age. All the three forms have the same etiology (posto-haemorrhagic sideropenic anaemia), in spite of an abundant intake of the iron rich seafood. The groups from the upper level of Forte Marcchal Luz, and the site of Tenorio, wich arc very different kinds of sites, were less affected than shellmound ones, probably because of their different ethnic affiliation.