Preliminary exploration of genetic data of an Iron Age skull from Latvia with multiple lytic bone lesions

Different types of bone lesions possibly attributable to tumours have been previously identified in archaeological material since prehistory, but our knowledge about genetic variability associated with them is limited. In this study we analysed the skull dated to 10th century CE from Cunkani - Drengeri cemetery in Latvia. The burial was severely disturbed, with only a fragmentary skull, mandible and first cervical vertebra preserved. Morphology of bones indicate that the individual was a 40 to 50 year old female. The non traumatic lesions were sharply defined holes from 5 to 25 mm in diameter and penetrate both tables in the skull. One of the possible causes of the pathology could be multiple myeloma. The identification of myeloma in paleopathological specimens is complicated by the similarity between bone lesions of myeloma and those of some types of metastatic carcinoma. Another possible causative agent for the severe bone lesions could be an infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Bone powder was drilled from petrous bone and four other sites in the vicinity of bone lesions. Obtained sequences were aligned to human genome reference to search for variants also found in oncological databases. Additionally metagenomic analysis was performed. This study was supported within the framework of the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Mechanism project No.5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/001 "Consolidation of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis and the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre"