OBJECTIVE: This paper aims at investigating the possible existence of isotopic offsets in δ13Ccol and δ15Ncol values in relation to tertiary syphilis. MATERIAL: Based on materials from the 19th c. A.D. deriving from the pathological-anatomical reference collection (the Jedlička collection) of the National Museum in Prague (Czech Republic), a comparative approach of ten individuals with syphilis and nine without the disease was undertaken. METHODS: Bone powder samples were defatted according to the protocol of Liden et al. (1995). Bone collagen was extracted following the protocol of Bocherens et al. (1991). RESULTS: Our results show that individuals with syphilis have lower δ13Ccol values than individuals without the disease; the observed difference between the two groups is about 0.3-0.4‰, which is relatively small but still meaningful. However, no difference between δ15Ncol values of the two groups has been noticed. CONCLUSIONS: Either diets prescribed by physicians to syphilitic patients or nutritional stress caused by cyclic appetite disturbance due to the disease itself or the administered medical treatment appeared to be possible explanations of the observed isotopic pattern. Overall, the response of the two isotopic proxies could argue for relatively limited nutritional restrictions. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study examining bone collagen isotopic response to syphilis based on clinically documented human skeletal materials. LIMITATIONS: The sample sizes are relatively small and cautiousness must be taken regarding the interpretations of the data. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Compound-specific stable isotope investigations and analysis of mercury content could be helpful to better understand the observed isotopic effects.

Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics Faculty of Science Charles University Viničná 7 12844 Praha 2 Czech Republic

Department of Anthropology National Museum Václavské námĕstí 68 11579 Praha 1 Czech Republic

Research Unit of Anthropology and Human Genetics Université Libre de Bruxelles CP192 Avenue F D Roosevelt 50 1050 Brussels Belgium

roy Saint Hilaire CS50023 33615 Pessac cedex France

UMR 5199 PACEA De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel Culture Environnement et Anthropologie Université de Bordeaux Bâtiment B8 allée Geoff

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