Title: Tuberculosis in the daily life of the ancient Eastern European pastoralists (environmental aspects)

Authors: Alexandra Buzhilova¹, Natalia Berezina¹

Affiliation:¹Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

Abstract: The relationship between the infectious agent M. tuberculosis, the development of tuberculosis in human tissues, and skeletal involvement is complex. The result of exposure to bones depends on many factors, including ecology, diet, nutrition, immune function, age and genetics of the pathogen and host.

The presentation aims to provide an overview of the evidence for tuberculosis in human archaeological remains from the cemeteries of the Early Medieval Khazar Khaganate and the synchronous population of the Mamisondon Valley, South Ossetia, as well as in Bronze Age pastoralists from the North Caucasus. In total, more than 500 not complete skeletons were examined.

For the diagnosis of tuberculosis, macroscopic and radiographic analyzes were used. A list of possible differential diagnoses was formulated and the most probable diagnosis was proposed.