Vikings suffered from severe oral and maxillofacial disease
CT scans show pathological bone growths in the cranium and jawbone.
Sweden’s Viking Age population appears to have suffered from severe oral and maxillofacial disease, sinus and ear infections, osteoarthritis, and much more, according to a study by the University of Gothenburg.
A year ago saw the publication of research based on the examination of a large number of teeth from the Viking Age population of Varnhem in the Swedish province of Västergötland. Varnhem is known for its thousands of ancient graves and excavations of well-preserved skeletons.
Now, odontologists at the university have taken this research further, looking at not only teeth but also entire skulls using CT scans.
The results, published in BDJ Open, suggest that the fifteen individuals whose skulls were examined suffered from a broad range of diseases. The CT scans show pathological bone growths in the cranium and jawbone, revealing infections and other conditions.