Cecilia Collins (University of Reading) discusses her work in Icelandic bioarchaeology and palaeopathology.

Cecilia searched for signs of chronic upper respiratory disease among human skeletal remains at four archaeological sites (Hofstaðir, Keldudalur, Skeljastaðir and Skriðuklaustur). We talk about how sinus and ear infections appear on the human skeleton as lesions, how these conditions may manifest in children, and how sinusitis may relate to other conditions like tuberculosis.

We also speak about Cecilia’s other interests in juvenile palaeopathology more broadly, cases of hydatid disease and parasitic infection in the form of calcified cysts she’s studied, as well as the archaeology of disability, deafness and medical treatment in medieval contexts.

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Show notes

You can find Cecilia on Twitter, and find Michael Rivera on Twitter and Instagram as well.

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