Entheseal changes: the role of Portuguese research

Abstract

In this paper, we present a review of research in Portugal on entheseal changes (EC), widely used to record activity-patterns. This is explored chronologically and thematically, from the beginning of the research on EC addressing the development of research methods tested through their use in identified collections, which sought to infer if the physical activity leads to EC, to a workshop in 2009, dedicated to EC, through to the recently published outputs of the working groups set up at that meeting. We will also discuss the role of individuals and the world class identified skeletal collections. Key trends include the systematic development of recording methods, their testing and the interrogation of the interplay of biology and society in occupation. The recent outputs of all the working groups will inform current and future research, meaning that the Portuguese role in the study of entheses will be long-lived and continue to be of international significance.

No presente trabalho, apresenta-se uma revisão da investigação desenvolvida em Portugal no que concerne ao tema das alterações das enteses (AE), que têm sido amplamente utilizadas para registar padrões de atividade em populações do passado. O tema é explorado cronológica e tematicamente, desde o início da investigação em AE centrado no desenvolvimento de métodos testados em coleções osteológicas identificadas, que procuraram inferir se a atividade física seria responsável pela presença de AE, até às recentes publicações dos vários grupos de trabalho que tiveram origem no workshop de 2009. Será também discutida a importância dos investigadores the interrogation of the interplay of biology and society in occupation. The recent outputs of all the working groups will inform current and future research, meaning that the Portuguese role in the study of entheses will be long-lived and continue to be of international significance.