Assessing differences in the frequency and severity of osteoarthritis on the mandibular condyles between males and females at Tell Abraq

Author

• Brittany C. Brown, Mississippi State UniversityFollow

Advisor

Osterholtz, Anna

Committee Member

Hardin, James W.

Committee Member

Goliath, Jesse

Date of Degree

5-15-2026

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Applied Anthropology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures

Abstract

Tell Abraq, a Bronze and Iron Age site in the United Arab Emirates, was a center of trade and cultural expansion during the Umm an-Nar period (2700–2100 BCE). Its multichambered tombs contain large, commingled burials, reflecting increasing sedentism and agricultural practices. This study examines mandibular osteoarthritis (OA) to explore lived experience and biomechanical stress. A total of 138 adult mandibles were analyzed for sex and OA severity. Results show generally mild and infrequent OA, though preservation limited analysis. Sex estimates suggested more gracile morphologies than previously identified. No strong sex-based differences in OA were observed. Overall, findings highlight the impact of taphonomy and contribute to understanding health and activity in Bronze Age southeastern Arabia.

Recommended Citation

Brown, Brittany C., "Assessing differences in the frequency and severity of osteoarthritis on the mandibular condyles between males and females at Tell Abraq" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 6875.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/6875