Osteologische Paläopathologie

Paleopathology is the science that diagnoses diseases and traumas based on skeletal remains (including mummies) from (pre)historic times and interprets them from a contemporary medical perspective. The aim of the first German-language textbook on this topic is to present osteologically diagnosable diseases and traumas with significant visual material and to support their interpretation with medical annotations – a desideratum of previously available books on paleopathology. Since mummies are rarely preserved compared to skeletons, this book primarily presents diseases that manifest in the bones – including the latest research findings on the ice mummy Ötzi.

The book is structured as follows:
1. Fundamentals including paleogenetics
2. Local (localized) diseases, categorized by anatomical regions
3. Systemic diseases (pathologies manifesting in various anatomical regions)
4. Special topics such as gunshot wounds, cremation, isotope analysis, or cannibalism

The book is primarily aimed at professionals in medicine, archaeology, anthropology, as well as prehistory and early history – and also offers interested laypersons exciting insights into diseases that are rarely and/or hardly observable in advanced stages today (e.g., leprosy or syphilis).