J Archaeol Sci 22 (4)

An elderly male skeleton from St Gregory's Priory displayed evidence of advanced degenerative joint disease and metastatic carcinoma, with a probable prostatic focus. The dry bone and radiological evidence is supported by scanning electron microscopy. The lesions are similar to a previously reported case from the same cemetery. As far as the authors are aware, no other examples of prostatic carcinoma are known in British archaeological material. In clinical practice, blood group and testosterone level appear to influence the development of prostate cancer. It is suggested that the true prevalence of metastatic lesions, in dry bone material, will only be identified by careful multi-disciplinarian examination.

Skeletons from Wharram Percy are used to investigate the relationship between Harris lines and long-bone length, thickness of cortical bone and dental enamel hypoplasias. Adult and juvenile skeletons are analysed separately. For the juveniles, a significant relationship was found between presence/absence of Harris lines and the thickness of cortical bone, and dental enamel hypoplasia, but not long-bone length. No significant relationship between Harris lines and any of the three parameters was found for adults. The results are interpreted in terms of the nature of the stress episodes which give rise to the Harris lines and the effects of resorption of lines by bone remodelling. This study reinforces an earlier conclusion (see 85/1351) that combining Harris line studies with other aspects of bone growth may enable one to define more closely the nature of the stress episodes giving rise to the lines. It is preferable to study juveniles rather than adults when investigating relationships between Harris lines and other stress indicators.

A rope recovered from a medieval cog was found to be made of non-retted hemp bark. It was classified as a `three production step rope'. Cellulose and hemicellulose of the secondary walls of the bast fibres of the rope had disappeared, but lignin was not affected and had preserved the shape of the rope.