关键词: 兴隆沟遗址;兴隆洼文化;脊柱退行性关节病;黄韧带骨化;生物考古学

Abstract: In this research, the degenerative joint disease(DJD) of vertebral bodies and ossification of ligamentum flavum(OLF) in samples from location 1 of Xinglonggou site in Chifeng city were studied by methods of bioarchaeology. A standard for recording the severity of vertebral osteophytosis and OLF was set, and statistical methods were used to study the prevalence and severity of these diseases. The contrast analysis of both sexes revealed significant difference, primarily presented by the higher prevalence of DJD in males’ cervical vertebrae and that in females’ lumbar vertebrae. The comparative study of OLF showed that the prevalence in males’ thoracic vertebrae was higher than that in females’. The comparison between Xinglonggou and comparative groups revealed that the prevalence of DJD in Xinglonggou’s lumbar vertebrae and cervical vertebrae was relatively high, and it also confirmed the significant difference in morbidity between both sexes. The comparison of OLF presented the significant difference in prevalence between Xinglonggou and other groups. The morbidity of Xinglonggou population should not be associated with their subsistent pattern categorically. The prevalence and severity of these diseases could only reflect the load carried by vertebrae in the spine, and the different load indicated the difference in activity patterns. Researches in some other ways are recommended to acquire information about their activity pattern in detail, and the importance of establishing a uniform standard for paleopathological research ought to be considered seriously.

Key words: Xinglonggou site; Xinglongwa culture; Degenerative joint disease of the spine; Ossification of ligamentum flavum; Bioarchaeology