The epidemiology of war and times of unrest: anthropological and written sources used in the study of the quality of life of the urban population in the 16th and 17th centuries (using Yaroslavl as an example)

Data relating to the demographics and state of health of the population in the town of Yaroslavl in the 16 th and 17 th centuries are presented in the article. During the examination of skeletal remains in the urban parish cemetery of the Church of St. John Chrysostom, the authors established differences between remains dating from the 16 th, 17 th and 18 th centuries. They examined the remains of 198 individuals and those studied in the most detail were from well-dated burials of the 16 th and 17 th centuries. Typical features for the 17 th-century group were the numerical preponderance of men, the highest mortality rate for infants and the absence of persons aged over 50. It was established that the main cause of death for infants was scurvy, which assumed epidemic proportions. In the 17 th-century sample cases of congenital bacterial infections were described. Palaeopathological manifestations of infection were revealed among the adult population. Among the adult population of the 17 th century there were higher levels of traumas, dental and gum disease than among the adults of the century before. These trends were considered in the context of the political circumstances and the colder climate, which led to starvation and wars. The results of this work will provide an important addition to the written sources previously known associated with the spread of disease in the period under consideration.