The remains of two Bronze Age brothers were discovered in an ancient tomb in Israel. The siblings reportedly died from a mysterious illness that scientists couldn't explain.
2 Bronze Age Brothers Died From Unexplained Illness
The researchers did a DNA analysis confirming the relationship between the brothers, whose identity remains a mystery. Their bones showed signs of developmental abnormalities and extensive bone remodeling, which suggests that they could be suffering from an infectious disease.
However, Rachel Kalisher, who led the study published on PLoS One, told Newsweek that they couldn't identify an infectious disease that fits all of the lesion patterns perfectly. Kalisher added that paleopathology is an "extremely complex field of study." She noted that they not only study the modern clinical manifestations of a disease but also consider how it manifested in the past.
In a previous report from the Science Times about the study, the authors noted that the older brother's skull was cut open when he was still alive, which could be a case of trephination. The procedure involves cutting holes in a living patient's skull to uncover the brain.
In the recent interview, Kalisher explained that the full spectrum of illness which trephination was used for is unknown. But in their study, they hypothesized that it was used as a medical intervention based on how extensive the infectious legions are.
Although researchers were not sure what disease infected the brothers, Kalisher suggested that it could be leprosy due to some of the morphologies of the bones, like the erosion of the nasal borders of one brother and the remodeling of the other brother's bones. However, she noted that it isn't enough evidence since leprosy is not tested elsewhere in the region at the time.
Leprosy is difficult to identify and the researchers were not sure if the two brothers actually suffered from the same infection despite the similarities. They need further testing to confirm the mysterious disease.
Dead Siblings Were Members of the Elite Society
According to Kalisher, the study is so interesting because it combines multiple lines of evidence to produce a fuller picture of those two people's pasts. She noted the enticing intersection of circumstances that, in her opinion, humanizes the past.
Kalisher also pointed out that the brothers were elite and buried together in one grave after significant time had passed after the first brother's death. Both had congenital anomalies and acquired illnesses that reinforce their biological and social connection, and on top of it all, one had a complex surgical procedure.
She noted that not everyone had access to such a high-level form of surgery at the time, which only upholds their position in society. Also, the fact that they survived the chronic infection long enough for it to leave marks on their bones is a testament to their prestigious status.
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