The appearance of ulcer on one skeleton from Viminacium and the possibility of its' treatment in antiquity

Abstract

Viminacium (Stari Kostolac) was the largest and the most important city in Moesia Superior (Upper Moesia). It was the provincial capital, administrative, religious, military and trade centre. It was built on a strategic location at the confluence of the river Mlava and the Danube, on the crossroad of both land and river routes with large military and trade potential. In one of the necropoles of Viminacium, Pirivoj, in grave no. 325, skeletal remains of a juvenile female individual were discovered. The burial is dated into the first half of the 3rd century. The deceased juvenile was laid on the back with hands clasped on her stomach. The orientation of the grave was North–South. Anthropological analyses revealed traces of osteomyelitis or cancer with proliferative periostitis on the left tibia and left fibula. The source of infection was related to a large ulcer on the left tibia. The current appearance of the bone shows poor health treatment of the ulcer and active inflammation at the time of death. In this text, we will also focus on the ulcer aetiology and possibility of its’ treatment in Antiquity. Treatments will also be briefly discussed, with preparations based on silver and lead, vinegar, honey, etc.