Paleopathology: signs and lesions 
in skeletal remains of epidemics and 
diseases of Biblical times in Syro-Palestine

Greeff, Casparus Johannes

dc.contributor.advisor	Boshoff, W. S. (Willem Sterrenberg), 1958-	en
dc.contributor.advisor	Le Roux, M. M. (Marina Magdalena), 1956-	en
dc.contributor.author	Greeff, Casparus Johannes	en
dc.date.accessioned	2009-08-25T10:58:28Z
dc.date.available	2009-08-25T10:58:28Z
dc.date.issued	2009-08-25T10:58:28Z
dc.date.submitted	2005-11-30	en
dc.identifier.citation	Greeff, Casparus Johannes (2009) Paleopathology: signs and lesions in skeletal remains of epidemics and diseases of Biblical times in Syro-Palestine, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1958>	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1958
dc.description.abstract	This dissertation deals with the study of ancient diseases mentioned in the historical period of the Scriptures in the region of Syro-Palestine. The definition, history, methodology and etymology of the terms relating to biblical diseases are discussed. Leprosy, syphilis, plague and anaemia amongst other diseases leave skeletal signs and lesions. Paleopathologists may reveal these diseases by studying skeletal remains of the population of Syro-Palestine. Criticisms and recommendations are offered for the practical paleopathologist, anthropologist or archaeologist. More interest should be taken in the study of coprolite in every new discovery of human remains. The scarcity of skeletal remains in the region is well known. The past and present law structure, the Halakah, may partly be to blame. The future of paleopathology worldwide is undisputedly the biochemical science of DNA analysis. With this new science the role for macromorphological examination may diminish. The diseases mentioned in the Bible are finding it increasingly difficult to hide behind the words in the Scriptures.	en
dc.format.extent	1 online resource (vii, 199 leaves)
dc.language.iso	en	en
dc.subject	Paleopathology	en
dc.subject	Coprolite	en
dc.subject	Leprosy	en
dc.subject	Treponematosis	en
dc.subject	Tuberculosis	en
dc.subject	Biomolecular	en
dc.subject	DNA	en
dc.subject	Cribra orbitalia	en
dc.subject	Ancient Israel	en
dc.subject	Near East	en
dc.subject	Old and New Testament diseases	en
dc.subject	Archaeology	en
dc.subject.ddc	616.00933
dc.subject.lcsh	Human skeleton
dc.subject.lcsh	Anthropometry -- Palestine
dc.subject.lcsh	Paleopathology -- Palestine
dc.subject.lcsh	Medicine in the Bible
dc.subject.lcsh	Medicine, Ancient
dc.title	Paleopathology: signs and lesions in skeletal remains of epidemics and diseases of Biblical times in Syro-Palestine	en
dc.type	Dissertation	en
dc.description.department	Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies	en
dc.description.degree	MA (Biblical Archaeology)	en