Activity induced worsening of a tuberculous process in the vertebral column of a Late Bronze Age female from Liushui, Xinjiang (China)?

The partial skeleton of a 22-24-year old female from Liushui, Southern Silk Road, Xinjiang (China) was analyzed using morphological and biochemical methods. The most striking finding in this individual of a Late Bronze Age mounted nomadic population was the complete ossification of the caudal vertebral column including parts of the ligaments of this region due to chronic tuberculosis (Pott's disease). The morphological diagnosis is definitely confirmed by the results of the proteomic analysis. The bacterial protein Ag85 and, for the first time in archaeological skeletal remains, also ESAT-6 was detected, which are typical for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Extremely intense physical stress aggravated the pathological kyphosis primarily caused by the tuberculous process and promoted dislocation of the caudal thoracic versus the lumbar vertebrae. The fate of this young female suffering from tuberculosis and the consequences of this extreme physical stress characterize the harsh living conditions of typical prehistoric population of mounted nomadic pastoralists.