The Casket Coven

What is Paleopathology? (Part One)

This episode Emily Curtin begins our journey of discussing all things Paleopathology with Jess and Av. We dive into what Paleopathology even means, discuss the different branches and issues associated with the topic, and go into detail about the skeletal manifestations of dental diseases, infectious diseases, and congenital diseases, with a brief side bar discussion about a connection between Arthur Conan Doyle and our modern tuberculosis tests! Throughout, your coven leaders discuss their favorite diseases and memories working with different individuals with paleopathological indicators. Stay Spooky Friends :) Check us out on social media at @thecasketcoven for more updates and to learn about this episode's grim cocktail. Artwork by Maddy Martin (insta: @maddy.martin) and Jessica Elkins. Research by Emily Curtin. Sound Edited and Mixed by Av Lauren Lindsay CC0 Content Music Used: "Under Her Spell" by Melody Ayres-Griffiths References: Paleopathological Lectures from the University of Bradford from a variety of academics, including Jo Buckberry, Shirley Curtis-Summers, and Hannah Koon. Aufderheide, Arthur C, et al. (2011) The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Paleopathology. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Buikstra, J. (2019) Ortner’s Identification of Pathological Conditions in Human Skeletal Remains. Academic Press.

Basic Bone Biology

Greetings witches! This episode Emily Curtin conjures us an Introduction to Basic Bone Biology! From the microscopic to the macroscopic levels, we discuss all those nitty gritty details that help us understand how our skeleton functions and changes. We apply all this new information to learn about how drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis pose a risk to our bones. Get ready for a deep dive! References: Burr, D.B. and Akkus, O. (2019) Bone Morphology and Organization. Basic and Applied Bone Biology Academic Press. 3–25. Jahid, M., Khan, K. U., Rehan-Ul-Haq, & Ahmed, R. S. (2023). Overview of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Scientific Understanding of the Disease. Mediterranean journal of rheumatology, 34(3), 284–291. Kareem, R., Botleroo, R. A., Bhandari, R., Ogeyingbo, O. D., Ahmed, R., Gyawali, M., Venkatesan, N., & Elshaikh, A. O. (2021). The Impact of Rheumatoid Arthritis on Bone Loss: Links to Osteoporosis and Osteopenia. Cureus, 13(8), e17519. Kwon OC, Oh JS, Hong S, Lee CK, Yoo B, Kim YG. Conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and bone mineral density in rheumatoid arthritis patients with osteoporosis: possible beneficial effect of leflunomide. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2019 Sep-Oct;37(5):813-819. Epub 2019 Feb 11. PMID: 30767868. Adami, G., Orsolini, G., Rossini, M. et al. Changes in bone turnover markers and bone modulators during abatacept treatment. Sci Rep 13, 17183 (2023). Barreira, S.C., Fonseca, J.E. The Impact of Conventional and Biological Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs on Bone Biology. Rheumatoid Arthritis as a Case Study. Clinic Rev Allerg Immunol 51, 100–109 (2016).

Taphonomy and Burials

Listener discretion advised!! This episode describes graphic descriptions of human decomposition that may be distressing or inappropriate for some listeners. Greetings witches! This episode Av Lauren Lindsay digs into taphonomy and burials, including the intricacies of flesh and bone decomposition. After developing a baseline for our understanding of typical burials, Av discusses some atypical burials including mummies from Scotland and bog bodies from Sweden. Emily pipes in and touches on the odd process of saponification, which causes a person to turn into soap! ? Stay Spooky Friends :) Check us out on social media at @thecasketcoven for podcast updates. Artwork by Maddy Martin (insta: @maddy.martin) and Jessica Elkins. Sound Edited and Mixed by Av Lauren Lindsay CC0 Content Music Used: "Under Her Spell" by Melody Ayres-Griffiths Research by Av Lauren Lindsay and Emily Curtin. References: Behrensmeyer, A. K. (2021). Taphonomy. Encyclopedia of Geology (Second Edition). Bell, L.S., Skinner, M.F. and Jones, S.J. (1996) The speed of post mortem change to the human skeleton and its taphonomic significance. Forensic Science International 82 (2), 129–140. Booth, T.J., Chamberlain, A.T. and Pearson, M.P. (2015) Mummification in Bronze Age Britain. Antiquity 89 (347), 1155–1173. Carey, J. (2021) Bogged Down: Human Preservation and Decomposition. Using Forensic Scoring Methods to Assess Three Bog Bodies from Denmark, England & Ireland. Master’s Dissertation, University of Lund, Sweden; 1–136. Clarkey, A. (2012, March 23). Haraldskær Woman. Atlas Obscura. Frei, K.M., Mannering, U., Price, T.D. and Iversen, R.B. (2015) Strontium isotope investigations of the Haraldskær Woman – a complex record of various tissues. ArchéoSciences 39, 93–101. Lyman, R. L. (2010). What taphonomy is, what it isn’t, and why taphonomists should care about the difference. Journal of Taphonomy, 8(1), 1-16. Pearson, M.P., Chamberlain, A., Craig, O., Marshall, P., Mulville, J., Smith, H., Chenery, C., Collins, M., Cook, G., Craig, G., Evans, J., Hiller, J., Montgomery, J., Schwenninger, J.-L., Taylor, G. and Wess, T. (2005) Evidence for mummification in Bronze Age Britain. Antiquity 79 (305), 529–546. Pokines, J. T., & Baker, J. E. (2021). Effects of burial environment on osseous remains. In Manual of forensic taphonomy (pp. 103-162). CRC Press. Pokines, J. T., L'Abbe, E. N., & Symes, S. A. (Eds.). (2021). Manual of forensic taphonomy. CRC press. The chemistry of the bog bodies. (n.d.). National Museum of Denmark. Retrieved April 19, 2025. Thiébaut, C., Coumont, M. P., & Averbouh, A. (2010). The taphonomic approach: an archaeological necessity. In Mise en commun des approaches en taphonomie. Actes du workshop nº 16-XVe Congress International de (pp. 21-28). Turner‐Walker, G., Nielsen‐Marsh, C.M., Syversen, U., Kars, H. and Collins, M.J. (2002) Sub‐micron spongiform porosity is the major ultra‐structural alteration occurring in archaeological bone. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 12 (6), 407–414. Content Warning: This podcast discusses human skeletal remains and may be distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion advised.

Bioarchaeology For Dummies

Greeting witches! This episode Emily Curtin discusses all things Bioarchaeology with Jess and Av. We dive into the history of the discipline, discuss the differences between Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology, while briefly touching on the ethical differences across countries, and discuss current trends in bioarchaeological literature. Your coven leaders discuss their own experiences and hopes for the future of the field. Stay Spooky Friends :) Check us out on social media at @thecasketcoven for more updates and to learn about this episode's grim cocktail. Artwork by Maddy Martin (insta: @maddy.martin) and Jessica Elkins. Research by Emily Curtin. Sound Edited and Mixed by Av Lauren Lindsay CC0 Content Music Used: "Under Her Spell" by Melody Ayres-Griffiths References: Buikstra, J. E., DeWitte, S. N., Agarwal, S. C., Baker, B. J., Bartelink, E. J., Berger, E., Blevins, K. E., Bolhofner, K., Boutin, A. T., Brickley, M. B., Buzon, M. R., de la Cova, C., Goldstein, L., Gowland, R., Grauer, A. L., Gregoricka, L. A., Halcrow, S. E., Hall, S. A., Hillson, S., Kakaliouras, A. M., Klaus, H. D., Knudson, K. J., Knüsel, C. J., Larsen, C. S., Martin, D. L., Milner, G. R., Novak, M., Nystrom, K. C., Pacheco-Forés, S. I., Prowse, T. L., Robbins Schug, G., Roberts, C. A., Rothwell, J. E., Santos, A. L., Stojanowski, C., Stone, A. C., Stull, K. E., Temple, D. H., Torres, C. M., Toyne, J. M., Tung, T. A., Ullinger, J., Wiltschke-Schrotta, K., & Zakrzewski, S. R. (2022). Twenty-first century bioarchaeology: Taking stock and moving forward. Yearbook Biological Anthropology, 178(Suppl. 74), 54–114. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24494 [https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24494] DeWitte, S.N., Stojanowski, C.M. The Osteological Paradox 20 Years Later: Past Perspectives, Future Directions. J Archaeol Res 23, 397–450 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10814-015-9084-1 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10814-015-9084-1] Killgrove, Kristina (2013). Bioarchaeology. obo in Anthropology. Doi: 10.1093/obo/9780199766567-0121 Krieger, William H. (2012). Processual Archaeology. obo in Anthropology. doi: 10.1093/obo/9780199766567-0056 Larsen, C. S. (1997). Introduction. In Bioarchaeology: Interpreting Behavior from the Human Skeleton. Cambridge University Press. Passalacqua, N.V.; Pilloud, M.A.; Congram, D. Forensic Anthropology as a Discipline. Biology 2021, 10, 691. https://doi.org/ [https://doi.org/] 10.3390/biology10080691 White, T.D. and Folkens, P.A. (2005) ETHICS IN OSTEOLOGY. The Human Bone Manual Elsevier. 21–30. Content Warning: This podcast discusses human skeletal remains and may be distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion advised.

Get to Know Your Coven Leaders

Greetings witches! Our story begins as many often do: at the beginning. Your casket coven hosts Emily Curtin, Jessica Elkins, and Av Lauren Lindsay discuss their past experiences, current interests, and future hopes and goals, as well as consider the field that brought them together: Human Osteology and Paleopathology. Av (beginning 1:00) received her bachelors in Canada at the University of British Columbia in Anthropology and Classical, Near Eastern, and Religious studies focusing on Near East Studies and Egyptology. Emily (beginning 20:26) began her journey in the United States at the University of California Berkeley Anthropology department, where she majored in Integrative Biology with an emphasis on human physiology and Anthropology with a minor in Classical Civilizations with an emphasis on Greek and Roman Studies. Jess (beginning 33:00) attended the British University of Bradford where she majored in Forensic Sciences alongside several of the individuals that would make up their master’s cohort. The girls’ paths crossed for the first time at the University of Bradford where they studied for their masters in Human Osteology and Paleopathology, affectionately deemed HOP by the university and students, as the 2024 graduating cohort. The girls each talk about their backgrounds that led them to their MSc dissertations and where they are now post graduation and more. Stay Spooky Friends :) Check us out on social media at @thecasketcoven for more updates and to learn about this episode's grim cocktail. Artwork by Maddy Martin (insta: @maddy.martin) and Jessica Elkins. Sound Edited and Mixed by Av Lauren Lindsay CC0 Content Music Used: "Under Her Spell" by Melody Ayres-Griffiths Content Warning: This podcast discusses human skeletal remains and may be distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion advised.