A PALEOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE BONES OF TWO SKELETONS FROM THE RAZHKINSKY BURIAL GROUND OF III-IV CENTURIES
The authors studied pathological alterations of the bones of two human skeletons, which were discovered during archaeological excavations of the Razhkinsky burial ground of III-IV centuries and belonged to ancient Mordovians. The burial ground is located in Upper Primokshanye, in the territory of modern Nizhny Lomov area of Penza region. In the entombment № 21 the skeleton of a young woman aged 17-23 years was found in a relatively good condition. The alterations of pelvic and femoral bones were revealed. A characteristic form of dysplasia of acetabulum with its flattening, deformation and forming of articular surface on its upper-external edge are indicative of the presence of a congenital bilateral dislocation of the hip with «neoarthrosis» formation. In the entombment № 32 the skeleton of a man aged 30-40 years was discovered. The studied morphological material belonged to a man who had a degenerative-dystrophic disease of cervical region of vertebral column of IV stage with ankylosis of the posterior supporting complex of C<sub>III</sub>-C<sub>IV</sub> spinal motion segment on the left and an abnormal development of С<sub>IV</sub> - an additional opening of the left transverse process.