Periostitis as an Indicator of the Impact of Subadult Stress: An Analysis of Late Antique Sites in Southern Pannonia

Subadult physiological stress and non-specific infectious conditions are key bioarchaeological indicators of health and mortality risk. This study examines the impact of periostitis (PO), along with multiple subadult stress indicators, on adult age at death in Late Antique Southern Pannonia. The sample comprises 400 adults (>15 years) from four archaeological sites (Osijek–Mursa, Vinkovci–Cibalae, Štrbinci–Certissa, and Tekić–Incerum). Previously analyzed for subadult stress, the dataset is reexamined here with a focus on periostitis. Cribra orbitalia (CO) and linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) were recorded as markers of early-life physiological stress, and their interaction with periostitis was assessed. Age at death was estimated using standard osteological methods based on degenerative skeletal changes, and mean ages at death were compared by sex and combinations of pathological conditions. Periostitis was associated with a reduced mean age at death in both sexes, with a stronger effect in females. The lowest ages at death were observed in individuals exhibiting all three indicators (CO, LEH, PO), suggesting the cumulative effect of multiple stressors. Males showed greater inter-site variability, while the negative impact among females was more consistent. These findings indicate that periostitis, especially when combined with subadult stress markers, is associated with increased mortality risk and highlights sex-specific patterns in long-term survival.