Exploring the multidimensionality of stature variation in the past through comparisons of archaeological and living populations

Abstract

Adult stature variation is commonly attributed to differential stress-levels during development. However, due to selective mortality and heterogeneous frailty, a population's tall stature may be more indicative of high selective pressures than of positive life conditions. This article examines stature in a biocultural context and draws parallels between bioarchaeological and living populations to explore the multidimensionality of stature variation in the past. This study investigates: 1) stature differences between archaeological populations exposed to low or high stress (inferred from skeletal indicators); 2) similarities in growth retardation patterns between archaeological and living groups; and 3) the apportionment of variance in growth outcomes at the regional level in archaeological and living populations. Anatomical stature estimates were examined in relation to skeletal stress indicators (cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, linear enamel hypoplasia) in two medieval bioarchaeological populations. Stature and biocultural information were gathered for comparative living samples from South America. Results indicate 1) significant (P < 0.01) differences in stature between groups exposed to different levels of skeletal stress; 2) greater prevalence of stunting among living groups, with similar patterns in socially stratified archaeological and modern groups; and 3) a degree of regional variance in growth outcomes consistent with that observed for highly selected traits. The relationship between early stress and growth is confounded by several factors-including catch-up growth, cultural buffering, and social inequality. The interpretations of early life conditions based on the relationship between stress and stature should be advanced with caution. Am J Phys Anthropol 155: 229-242, 2014.

Talking heads: Morphological variation in the human mandible over the last 500 years in the Netherlands

“…In a comparative study of stature variation between archaeological samples and living people, Vercellotti et al (2014) found that modern populations generally enjoyed less physiological stress than individuals from the Medieval period. Therefore, the individuals from the ArtiVarK study are suspected to be of better health and nutrition due to current living standards in the Netherlands, as well as their significantly taller stature.…”

“…Therefore, the individuals from the ArtiVarK study are suspected to be of better health and nutrition due to current living standards in the Netherlands, as well as their significantly taller stature. However, as Vercellotti et al (2014) rightfully point out, stature might not be the best indication for health per se. Nonetheless, there is no specific information available on general and specific stress markers (influence of possible diseases/impairments) for the individuals from the ArtiVarK sample.…”

Insights on the paleoepidemiology of ancient tuberculosis from the structural analysis of postcranial remains from the Ligurian Neolithic (northwestern Italy)

“…If our results suggest that the skeletons with TB lesions also show signs of stunting or wasting, we could infer that they are due to a long-lasting active TB phase, and an estimate of its duration will be attempted. In fact, finding skeletal properties that are more compatible with a younger age class would provide a rough estimate of when the disease began compromising the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 Several studies demonstrate a relationship between early disturbances in growth due to infectious disease and malnutrition, and attained stature (Vercellotti et al, 2014, and references therein) and body proportions (Robbins Schug, 2011). Numerous factors including catch-up growth and selective mortality warn against making simplistic inferences about the environmental conditions of a population from average stature (Wood et al, 1992;Vercellotti et al, 2014).…”

“…Early disturbances in growth due to infectious disease and malnutrition may prevent the attainment of full stature potential (Robbins Schug, 2011;Vercellotti et al, 2014). Both AC5 and AQ1 display statures that are at the lower end of the range of variation for their age/sex class, but they do not appear to be severely stunted in growth.…”

The use of non‐adult vertebral dimensions as indicators of growth disruption and non‐specific health stress in skeletal populations

“…This method does not rely on calculating stature from a single long bone using regression formulae (the “mathematical method”), but instead produces an estimate based upon the measurement of all of those bones that contribute to height (Raxter et al, 2006, 2007; Maijanen, 2009; Auerbach and Ruff, 2010; Auerbach, 2011; Vercellotti et al, 2014). This provides a more accurate method of calculating living stature, as it is not biased by differences in bodily proportions (Maijanen, 2009; Auerbach and Ruff, 2010; Vercellotti et al, 2014). As studies of stature are increasingly beginning to incorporate vertebral components, it is also now prudent to consider the growth of these skeletal elements.…”