From Health to Civilization Stress? In Search for Traces of a Health Transition During the Early Neolithic in Europe

Wittwer-Backofen, Ursula; Tomo, Nicolas

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-8539-0_19

Cited by 37 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The results of our study are in accordance with results obtained by Wittwer-Backofen and Tomo (2008) who found central European agriculturalists to have more enamel hypoplasias than earlier huntergatherers. However, the results of our study differ from those obtained by Bennike and Alexandersen (2007) who found the rates of enamel hypoplasias to immediately decline and then increase following the transition to agriculture in Scandinavia.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

The Biological Implications of the Transition to Agriculture in Ukraine: A Study of Enamel Hypoplasias

Karsten¹,

Ledogar²,

Madden³

et al. 2018

DAJ

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The Tripolye were the first archaeo-logical culture in Ukraine to cultivate domesticat-ed cereals, practice animal husbandry, and establish large settlements with high population densities. This cultural adaptation was much different than that of mobile hunter-fisher-gatherers of the Ukrainian Mesolithic/Neolithic, and likely resulted in different outcomes for human health. This study compares the rates of enamel hypoplasias in a Tripolye skeletal population with that of Mesolithic/Neolithic hunter-fisher-gatherers. A recently excavated sample of dentitions representing a minimum of 35 individuals from Verteba Cave was examined macroscopically for hypoplasias and was compared statistically to published rates for hunter-fisher-gatherers. The Tripolye from Verteba Cave were found to have at least one enamel hypoplasia on 18.18% of teeth, while the hunter-fisher-gatherers have hypoplastic lesions on 1.88% of teeth. When examined at the individual level, 48.57% of the Tripolye were found to have at least one hypoplasia, as compared to 12.77% of the hunter-fisher-gatherer individuals. The results indicate that the agropastoral Tripolye experienced significantly more systemic stress than the hunter-fisher-gatherers. The higher stress likely relates to dietary and behavioral variables associated with the Tripolye’s agropastoral economy, including heavy reliance on cereals as weaning foods and sanitary problems linked to sedentism.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

The Biological Implications of the Transition to Agriculture in Ukraine: A Study of Enamel Hypoplasias

Karsten¹,

Ledogar²,

Madden³

et al. 2018

DAJ

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“…This implies that the Mühlhausen Infans II might have been involved in some age and sex specific activities, which placed peak forces on their forearms. The high values for muscle cross‐sectional area within the young age groups of the Mühlhausen sample correspond to the theory of Witwer‐Backofen and Tomo () that childhood during the Linear Pottery Culture was a severe stress phase. An auxological study about the Linear Pottery Culture, that also included 38 subadult individuals from Stuttgart‐Mühlhausen, showed that the children from this region in Germany reached the mid‐growth spurt earlier than other children from the same time period (Welte and Wahl, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Pilot Study for Reconstruction of Soft Tissues: Muscle Cross‐Sectional Area of the Forearm Estimated from Cortical Bone for a Neolithic Sample

Slizewski

Burger-Heinrich

Francken

et al. 2014

The Anatomical Record

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On a basis of a method for muscle cross-sectional area estimation from cortical bone area that was previously developed (Slizewski et al. Anat Rec 2013; 296:1695-1707, we reconstructed muscle cross-sectional area at 65% of radius length for a sample of Neolithic human remains from the Linear Pottery Culture (ca. 5,700-4,900 years BC). Muscle cross-sectional area estimations for the Neolithic sample were compared to in vivo measurements from a recent human sample. Results demonstrate that the Neolithic individuals had larger muscle cross-sectional area relative to radius length than the contemporary humans and that their forearms were more muscular and robust. We also found significant differences in relative muscle cross-sectional area between Neolithic and recent children that indicate different levels of physical stress and isometric activities. Our results fit into the framework of studies previously published about the sample and the Linear Pottery Culture. Therefore, the new approach was successfully applied to an archaeological sample for the first time here. Results of our pilot study indicate that muscle cross-sectional area estimation could in the future supplement other anthropological methods currently in use for the analysis of postcranial remains.

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“…Eshed et al (2010) document a significant increase in inflammatory bone lesions in Neolithic populations from the southern Levant, which they attribute to changes in subsistence and life style. Studies of European Early Neolithic populations record the occurrence of nonspecific bone reactions resulting from adverse living conditions (Carli-Thiele, 1996;Wittwer-Backofen and Tomo, 2008). The transition to agriculture in the New World is also associated with an increase in the prevalence of nonspecific stress markers and infectious disease attributed to a degradation of health status (Goodman et al, 1984;Larsen, 1984).…”

Section: The Risk Of Infection In the Early Neolithicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rib lesions in skeletons from early neolithic sites in Central Germany: On the trail of tuberculosis at the onset of agriculture

Nicklisch

Maixner

Ganslmeier³

et al. 2012

American J Phys Anthropol

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As an infectious disease, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Paleopathological and paleomicrobiological studies indicate a long standing association of the causative agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its human host. Since the occurrence and the epidemic spread of this pathogen seem to be closely linked to social and biological factors, it is of particular interest to understand better the role of TB during periods of social and nutritional change such as the Neolithic. In this study, 118 individuals from three sites in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) dating to the Linear Pottery Culture (5400-4800 BC) were examined macroscopically to identify TB related bone lesions. In two individuals, Pott's disease was detected. In addition, periosteal reactions of varying degrees and frequency were observed mainly along the neck of the ribs in 6.5% (2/31) of subadults and 35.1% (20/57) of adults, with one site standing out markedly. Rib lesions, however, are not specific indicators of TB as they can also be caused by other diseases; so additional investigations were undertaken using histology and micro-CT scans to say more about the disease process. Supplementary molecular analyses indicate the presence of pathogens belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in individuals of all sites. Furthermore, we discuss the occurrence and spread of TB during the Neolithic with regard to nutritional aspects and possible risks of infection. The data presented provide important insights into the health status of Early Neolithic populations in Central Germany.

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From Health to Civilization Stress? In Search for Traces of a Health Transition During the Early Neolithic in Europe

Cited by 37 publications

References 24 publications

The Biological Implications of the Transition to Agriculture in Ukraine: A Study of Enamel Hypoplasias

The Biological Implications of the Transition to Agriculture in Ukraine: A Study of Enamel Hypoplasias

Pilot Study for Reconstruction of Soft Tissues: Muscle Cross‐Sectional Area of the Forearm Estimated from Cortical Bone for a Neolithic Sample

Rib lesions in skeletons from early neolithic sites in Central Germany: On the trail of tuberculosis at the onset of agriculture

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