Swedish paleopathology and its pioneers

This chapter discusses the history of paleopathology in Sweden. Paleopathology of skeletal remains in Sweden is considered a subfield of historical osteology, a discipline that combines the study of human and animal bones from archaeological sites, with roots in the works of Nils-Gustaf Gejvall (1911–1991). The chapter describes the development of the field from its beginnings in paleopathological work carried out on a personal interest basis to its establishment as an academic discipline. It identifies three pioneers—Carl Magnus Fürst (1854–1935), Carl-Herman Hjortsjö, and Gejvall—whose contributions are directly linked to the establishment of historical osteology