Melissa Dobson

Intervertebral disc disease: its prevalence, distribution and relationship to other spinal pathology in two human skeletal populations from Chichester, England

My research investigates the prevalence and spinal distribution of intervertebral disc disease (IVD), one of the most common pathological conditions identified in archaeological human skeletal remains. The first aim of my work is to clarify and standardise the palaeopathological diagnosis of IVD using methods based on modern clinical evidence. Until now cross population comparisons have not been possible due to the variety of methods used to identify and record spinal degeneration. My study will introduce the operational definition for IVD and describe a quantitative, specific and clinically proven method for its accurate identification and documentation. The second objective of my study is to reassess the potential of IVD in inferring activity from the human skeleton. The aetiology of IVD has proved difficult to study. There is a strong link with increasing age and to a lesser extent with sex. More recent studies have revealed that mechanical loading, vertebral injury and genetic factors may also play a role in its development. The work will address the need to establish whether in a positive or negative way the more precisely defined IVD can contribute to our understanding of the effects of and changes to habitual physical activity, occupational stress and consequently the social and sex related division of labour in past populations. Finally my research will investigate the relationship between IVD and other conditions affecting the spine with a view to explaining each association and establishing any possible use in archaeological investigations. Two skeletal assemblages will be examined in order to address the research questions. Both originate from the now city of Chichester, England. Although they are from the same geographic location they were selected due to the differences in their lifestyles which could then be used to carry out a comparison of the results. The first is from the Litten cemetery, the main cemetery used by the town, with most burials dated as medieval and post-medieval. The second in from the cemetery of the medieval hospital of St James and St Mary Magdalene which was originally a leper hospital but later an alms house.

Education

• BSc Biomedical Sciences, University of Bradford, 1999
• MSc Osteology, Palaeopathology and Funerary Archaeology, University of Bradford, 2000
• MSc Skeletal and Dental Bioarchaeology, UCL, 2012