Age at Death and Bone Biology of the Barrow Mummies

Femoral bone cores and anterior superior iliac bone wedges were removed from two Utqiagvik mummies: the Northern Body and the Southern Body. Age at death was estimated by histological and by pubic symphyseal face analyses. Cortical thickness, cortical bone density, secondary osteon area, perimeter, and number were quantified in the femoral cores and trabecular bone volume was quantified in the iliac crest sections. Hydroxyapatite crystal size and/or perfection and bone carbonate content was determined in bone fragments. Estimated age at death for the Northern Body was 24 ± 6 years and for the Southern Body, 42 ± 6 years. Both mummies were considered to have been osteoporotic based on trabecular bone values. Bone crystal size and/ or perfection and carbonate fell within previously reported ranges of osteoporotic skeletons.