The Windover collection was selected to study the presence of Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) in archaic populations in the New World. A sample of 65 individuals over the age of 18 and from burials which were not commingled was chosen to represent the collection. Visual examination of all major joints showed the presence of DJD in 64 of 65 individuals from the sample. Observations were recorded in two standardized forms.
The results showed a higher than expected incidence of degenerative changes in the cervical spine than the lumbar or thoracic spine of the sample, a result that is similar to other studies on prehistoric samples. It was also observed that the shoulders and elbows were the most often affected joint which could be evidence of use of the atlatl in hunting, or of a maritime subsistence base, as atlatl handles and various fishing implements were found in graves.
Finally, although most joints showed equal rates of incidence in males and females, the right knee showed statistically significant differences between the amount of DJD in males and that of females, with males being more likely to exhibit changes in this joint. The causes of degenerative changes in this joint are unclear and may simply be due to a combination of biological factors or to unknown cultural practices.
