Developmental anomalies in skeletal remains from the Great Moravia and Middle Ages cemeteries at Devín (Slovakia)

Developmental anomalies were scored and prevalences were computed for two skeletal collections from Devín (southwestern Slovakia). The first sample Devín‐Hrad (DH) is dated to the Middle Ages (11 th –12 th century) and includes 217 skeletons. The second collection Devín‐Za kostolom (FR) includes 112 burials and is dated to the Great Moravian period (9 th century). In both samples, the evidence of spina bifida occulta occurred most frequently of all the defects examined (24% in DH, 23% in FR). Sacralization (8% in DH, 7% in FR) was more common than lumbarization (2% in DH, 0% in FR), and spondylolysis (7% in DH, 4% in FR) was relatively frequent in both samples. The other developmental defects occurred in only one or a few individuals and represented sporadic occurrences.