11-27-2006, 02:13 PM
I happen to still have the National Geographic issue dealing with the Vesuvius eruption.
This is the caption going with the soldier's image.
Incidentally, the man died in 79 AD and still wore two military belts, contrary to a popular belief that says wearing a pair of belts had fallen out of fashion earlier.
"An eventful life, say the bones of the Soldier, about 37 years old. Three missing front teeth suggest a fight. An abnormal lump in the femur of his left leg, here separated and shown in front of its proper anatomical position, tells of a wound, possibly a stabbing, that penetrated to the bone and caused a blood clot that ossified. The femur had a rounded shaft, indicating much exercise and good nutrition. The abductor tubercle (arrow), is lightly enlarged, possibly from horseback riding, shinnying up trees, or holding lumber between the legs as a soldier-marine carpenter might do."
The body was found lying on its belly, with the arms in a "hands up position" which suggest that the Soldier was thrown on the ground with great force by the pyroclastic flow, and probably instantly incinerated.
I re-read the whole article and it looks like good journalistic work by the NYT... Again.. :roll:
Nowehere does it says the Soldier
Actually, that brilliant press person got the facts mixed-up: the person that didn't get enough calcium as a kid was a girl of about fourteen, found cradling a toddler in her arms. This telltale sign of malnutrition along with signs of hard physical work prompted the archaeologist to suggest that 14 year old girl was a slave.
"All the news that's fit to print"...:lol:
Indeed the study of the bodies at Herculaneum reveals that whereas the general --free-- population was in very good health, the slave population was much, much worse off.
A skeleton known as the Helmsman was found near a small boat, along the former shoreline. The man of about 45 years of age had rotten teeth --the free people had very good teeth-- flattened bones indicating very hard physical work, and six vertebrae of his middle back fused together..
This is the caption going with the soldier's image.
Incidentally, the man died in 79 AD and still wore two military belts, contrary to a popular belief that says wearing a pair of belts had fallen out of fashion earlier.
"An eventful life, say the bones of the Soldier, about 37 years old. Three missing front teeth suggest a fight. An abnormal lump in the femur of his left leg, here separated and shown in front of its proper anatomical position, tells of a wound, possibly a stabbing, that penetrated to the bone and caused a blood clot that ossified. The femur had a rounded shaft, indicating much exercise and good nutrition. The abductor tubercle (arrow), is lightly enlarged, possibly from horseback riding, shinnying up trees, or holding lumber between the legs as a soldier-marine carpenter might do."
The body was found lying on its belly, with the arms in a "hands up position" which suggest that the Soldier was thrown on the ground with great force by the pyroclastic flow, and probably instantly incinerated.
I re-read the whole article and it looks like good journalistic work by the NYT... Again.. :roll:
Nowehere does it says the Soldier
Quote:didn't get enough calcium when he was a kid.On the contrary it talks of "good nutrition".
Actually, that brilliant press person got the facts mixed-up: the person that didn't get enough calcium as a kid was a girl of about fourteen, found cradling a toddler in her arms. This telltale sign of malnutrition along with signs of hard physical work prompted the archaeologist to suggest that 14 year old girl was a slave.
"All the news that's fit to print"...:lol:
Indeed the study of the bodies at Herculaneum reveals that whereas the general --free-- population was in very good health, the slave population was much, much worse off.
A skeleton known as the Helmsman was found near a small boat, along the former shoreline. The man of about 45 years of age had rotten teeth --the free people had very good teeth-- flattened bones indicating very hard physical work, and six vertebrae of his middle back fused together..
Pascal Sabas
