Nutritional Deficiency Contributing to Physical Impairment of an Individual in the Metal Period Philippines (~2000–1800 <scp>bp</scp> )

Abstract

ABSTRACT Scurvy is being increasingly identified in deep antiquity in the tropics of the Asia‐Pacific region. We report a case of scurvy in a young adult male from Metal Period (~2000–1800 bp ) northern Philippines who lived with previously identified at least partial immobility due to left hip ankylosis that likely formed in adulthood. Our follow up paleopathological examination of the complete skeleton identified symmetrical and discrete new bone and/or cortical porosity on the cranium and mandible highly consistent with scurvy. Given vitamin C deficiency disrupts collagen synthesis and thus normal remodeling, our scurvy findings could relate to bone remodeling issues in this individual previously evidenced from histology and chemical analyses and linked to the hip ankylosis. The lack of postcranial lesions may be related to this individual's pseudoparalysis, exacerbating relative immobility as an adult. We emphasize the importance of considering nutritional deficiencies alongside skeletal evidence for physical impairment to ensure a holistic bioarchaeology of care model.