I'm quite sure I have seen references to arthritis in pre-agricultural
skeletons. Sorry I can't provide any references. It was osteoarthritis,
though, not rheumatoid or any other. AFAIK it can be caused by heavy use
of the joints over the years, and paleolithic peoples used their bodies
a lot.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith Thomas" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 4:04 PM
Subject: Arthritis - Ankylosing spondylitis


An acquaintance of mine has ankylosing spondylitis.  He has the
associated gene (HLA-B27), the
beginning of the curved spine and quite a lot of lower back pain.  As
ankylosing spondylitis is an
auto-immune disease, I thought there may be a diet-related cause.  He
says he's considered this,
but in his research has seen descriptions of paleolithic (and earlier)
skeletons with the bone
malformations associated with the condition.  There is an assertion of
evidence for Paleolithic
arthritis on Ronald Hoffman's site (see link below).  Personally, I have
seen descriptions of
Neolithic skeletons with arthritic growths, but nothing from the
pre-agricultural period.