Unilateral cholesteatoma in the first millennium BC

Objective To analyze the bone lesions of the ear region from a late Bronze Age individual to establish the most probable diagnosis. Background There has been evidence of diseases of the ear region since way back in history, but few human remains have been recognized. The case presented here corresponds to an ear lesion from a prehistoric skeleton found in the archeological site of La Cova des Pas (900-800 cal yr BC), located on Minorca island, in the western Mediterranean. Methods Macroscopic and radiologic (iCT) analysis had been performed. Results The remains belong to an elderly female subject who had a large cavity on the tympanic cavity as a result of the complete erosion of the outer wall of the attic and a large increase in the diameter of the outer ear canal. The cavity extends posterior to the mastoid. Conclusion The diagnosis suggests a probable cholesteatoma, being one of the oldest cases in Europe.