The Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History

Utilization of Archaeological Technology to Develop Insights Regarding Bone Health

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An award was granted to the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History for the project Human Bone Density in 17th Century America. This study will use DEXA scan imaging technology to analyze the bone health and general health of the early settlers of Jamestown, VA and St. Mary's, Maryland.Douglas W. Owsley, Smithsonian Curator in the Anthropology section has started on this project that could enhance knowledge in health care in a way that could further stimulate todays ongoing study of bone health in a positive way.

Bones from about 20 to 30 residents of Jamestown, Virginia and St. Mary's, Maryland are available for study at the Smithsonian in a reasonable state of preservation from the viewpoint of an archaeologist. A study by DEXA scan has begun to determine osteopenia or osteoporosis. Currently there is a vast amount of accumu-lated knowledge regarding these diseases.

Can the bones from yesteryear add to current knowledge by showing us differences between today's and a population of Americans from the 1600's utilizing established archaeological technology combined with 20th century technology? Could the results show us a relationship of osteopenia/osteoporosis to disease more prevalent then, such as osteomylitis, and nutritional or other changes, helping to improve today's health care?

A study on the femurs, and thoracic spines of the above mentioned group could be matched to already known modern day subjects of similar sex and age. Such differences or similarities could be useful in clinical medicine today.