An unreduced dislocated mandible in an Alaskan Eskimo: a case of altruism or adaptation?

• Published in: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
• Main Author: Keenleyside, Anne
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2003
• Subjects: Arctic; Point Hope; eskimo*; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/oa.707; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Foa.707; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/oa.707

Abstract Mandibular dislocations are rare in archaeological samples. This paper describes an unreduced dislocated mandible in an adult male skeleton from Point Hope, Alaska. The left mandibular condyle has been displaced anteriorly and two new articulations for the left coronoid process and remnant of the left condyle have formed. The left mandibular body and ramus exhibit severe atrophy, and all of the mandibular teeth have been lost antemortem. A review of historical accounts from the early contact period reveals that the Alaskan Eskimos suffered from a variety of disabilities of the musculoskeletal system. Despite these disabilities, however, many of these individuals were able to function with little or no assistance from other members of their group. The fact that this individual survived to an advanced age in the harsh arctic environment is a testament to the body's remarkable ability to compensate for and survive with physical disabilities. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.