Ancient surgical intervention on the temporomandibular joint and anatomy of the dental-maxillary apparatus of a woman of the Pazyryk culture on the Ukok plateau

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) are modern digital imaging technologies that allow the study of the remains of ancient people without destroying the objects of study, with the possibility of obtaining new data. Aim of the study was to investigate the anatomy and possible changes in the skull of a woman of the Pazyryk culture (5th-3rd centuries BC). Material and methods. The bone skeleton of the cranial and facial skull, with residual elements of soft tissues – the head of a 30–35 year old woman of the Caucasian type from the burial in mound 2, Verkh-Kaldzhin 2 burial ground (3rd century BC, Ukok plateau). X-ray, CT and MRI studies were performed. 3D processing of tomogram packages was performed using RadiAnt DICOM Viewer software. Results and discussion. The condition of the dentition fits into the age of the archaeological object within 30–35 years. Based on the identified changes, the life features of people belonging to the ancient culture of pastoralists of the Altai Mountains were modeled. Some time before her death, the woman had suffered a severe craniocerebral injury with deformation and displacement of the cranial bones, with subluxation and rupture of the capsular-ligamentous apparatus of the right temporomandibular joint. She underwent surgery to restore the function of the right temporomandibular joint, which helped ensure the mobility of the lower jaw. After that, woman’s life continued for some time, but at the age of 30–35 she was buried on the Ukok plateau (about 2.5 thousand years ago).

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