New publication on Frontal Sinusitis in 800-100BCE China

A new publication by Network member Maia Casna, titled "An Analysis of Frontal Sinusitis in Three Ancient Populations From the Turpan Basin, Xinjiang, China" is now available to view in Early View.

This study addresses two heavily under-explored areas of respiratory disease in Bioarchaeology: frontal sinusitis and the prevalence of respiratory disease in Chinese archaeological groups.

A prevalence of between approximately 50-60% was found in three Chinese archaeological groups dating from the Bronze Age to Early Iron Age.

This study also utilised CT scans of crania to identify frontal sinusitis, indicating the value of this approach for future studies.

ABSTRACT: This study used computed tomography (CT) to investigate pathological manifestations of frontal sinusitis in three populations from the Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age in the Turpan Basin, Xinjiang. CT analysis of 116 individuals from the Yanghai, Jiayi, and Shengjindian cemeteries revealed a high prevalence of frontal sinusitis, with rates of 59.4% at Yanghai, 56.7% at Jiayi, and 50% at Shengjindian. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in prevalence by sex, age group, or in-between populations. These findings suggest that the ancient Turpan Basin populations were exposed to comparable respiratory health risks. Potential contributors include arid climate with frequent dust storms and elevated airborne particulates, together with household smoke from indoor fires and occupational exposures associated with herding, hunting, farming, and metalworking. Although no sex-based differences were detected, exposure pathways may have differed with gendered divisions of labor, with males and females potentially experiencing distinct domestic and work-related exposures. This study demonstrates that CT scanning is an effective, noninvasive method for identifying pathological changes in ancient human remains. The noninvasive nature of CT not only preserves skeletal integrity but also greatly increases accessible sample sizes, offering valuable insights into the respiratory health of Bronze and Iron Age populations of Xinjiang.