Exploring the ossuary: a possible case of mandibular trauma in the Modern (17th - 18th centuries), Lisbon

Abstract

A modern necropolis from which 841 burials and 23 ossuaries were recovered was identified in the building located at Rua do Recolhimento 7/9, at the intramural area of Castelo de São Jorge (Lisbon, Portugal), near the former Soldiers’ Hospital. The osteological element here presented belonged to ossuary No. 11 (950 bones, NMI = 116). It is a mandibular fragment (anterior portion of the right side) which presents exuberant pathology signs. After being cleaned, the fragment was observed macroscopically and submitted to imaging. The differential diagnosis took into account the shape, structure, size and location of changes. The pathological alterations consist in an outstanding 12mm-long bony growth on the lingual surface of the mandible. Two bony growths also appear on the labial surface. The mandible exhibits a rather visible non-uniform bone thickness. Complete ante mortem tooth loss was observed in the recovered mandible portion. The differential diagnosis of the pathological alterations led us to consider several possibilities, namely: trauma, neoplasia, osteomyelitis and a more exuberant discreet character (mandibular torus). The aim of this paper is to highlight the ossuary-type contexts which, albeit often neglected, can be an important source of information in palaeopathological studies.