Reconstructing Health Profiles from Skeletal Remains

Goodman, Alan H.; Martin, Debra L.

doi:10.1017/cbo9780511549953.003

Cited by 140 publications

(68 citation statements)

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“…Enamel hypoplastic defects have multifactorial origins and are considered to be a non-specific indicator of systemic physiological stress (Guatelli-Steinberg and Lukacs 1999). Non-specific indicators of stress include, periosteal new bone formation, cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis, and enamel hypoplastic defects (Goodman and Martin 2002). The etiology of these indicators has undergone revision in recent years (e.g.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new approach to the study of Romanization in Britain: A regional perspective of cultural change in late Iron Age and Roman Dorset using the Siler and Gompertz–Makeham models of mortality

Redfern

DeWitte

2010

American J Phys Anthropol

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This is the first study of Romanization to use the Siler and Gompertz-Makeham models of mortality in order to investigate the health consequences of the 43 AD conquest of Britain. The study examined late Iron Age and Romano-British populations (N=518) from Dorset, England, which is the only region of Britain to display continuity in inhumation burial practice and cemetery use throughout the two periods. Skeletal evidence for frailty was assessed using cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, periosteal lesions, enamel hypoplasia, dental caries, tuberculosis, and rickets. These health variables were chosen for analysis because they are reliable indicators of general health for diachronic comparison (Steckel and Rose 2002) and are associated with the introduction of urbanism in Britain during the Roman period (Redfern 2007; Redfern 2008b; Roberts and Cox 2003). The results show that levels of frailty and mortality were lower in the late Iron Age period, and no sex differences in mortality were present. However, post-conquest, mortality risk increased for children and the elderly, and particularly for males. The latter finding challenges received wisdom concerning the benefits of Romanization and the higher status of the male body in the Roman world. Therefore, we conclude that the consequences of urbanism, changes in diet and increased population heterogeneity negatively impacted health, to the extent that the enhanced cultural buffering of males did not out-weigh underlying sex differences in biology that advantage females.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new approach to the study of Romanization in Britain: A regional perspective of cultural change in late Iron Age and Roman Dorset using the Siler and Gompertz–Makeham models of mortality

Redfern

DeWitte

2010

American J Phys Anthropol

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“…Osteophytes on the vertebrae and weightbearing joints are some of the most common indications of degenerative diseases (Aufderheide & Rodriguez-Martin, 1998;Goodman & Martin, 2002). It appears that osteoarthritis was the most common joint disease, because in Toutswe sites there is no evidence to suggest ankylosing spondylytis (AS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or psoriatic arthritic (PA) in any of the individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In sickness or in health? Assessment of Early Iron Age human skeletons from Toutswe sites, east central Botswana

Mosothwane¹,

Steyn²

2008

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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The general health of Early Iron Age (AD 700 to 1300) mixed farmers in east central Botswana has not been studied before. In this study the bones and teeth of 84 individuals from ten Toutswe sites were analysed for osteological manifestations of disease, with the aim of assessing the general health of the Toutswe communities. These individuals were aged between newborn and 75 years old, and include both sexes. Results indicate the presence of diseases commonly found in archaeological populations such as osteoarthritis, spina bifida occulta, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis and enamel hypoplasias. One possible case of DISH was found. The frequency of lesions was comparable with or even lower than at other similar sites, such as K2 and Mapungubwe and other parts of southern Africa. The samples represent communities with relatively low levels of stress and infections. This seems to support the results of the palaeodemographic analysis, which indicated that the Toutswe people were better off than those of neighbouring K2 and Mapungubwe.

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“…In cases where bone preservation is poor, occurrence rates of dental pathologies can be particularly valuable. Pathologies such as caries, abscesses, hypoplasias, alveolar resorption and dental attrition can help to determine aspects of diet, and may also serve as a gauge of overall health (Goodman & Martin, 2002). Previous research has shown that occurrence rates for these conditions will vary among populations based on differences in subsistence economy, as well as that of local flora and fauna (Larsen, 1995).…”

Section: Pathological Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Osteobiography of a high‐status burial from the lower Río Verde Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico

Mayes

Barber

2008

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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This paper presents the osteobiography of an individual from an early complex society who was clearly of ''special'' social status but was not classified a ruling elite. Our case derives from a unique burial found at the small site of Yugü e, located in the lower Río Verde valley on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, Mexico. Burial 14-Individual 16 (B14-I16) dates to the late Terminal Formative Period (CE 100-250), an era of regional political centralization and concomitant social inequality. B14-I16 was interred with several valuable grave offerings. A plasterbacked pyrite mirror was found below his mandible, and his left hand held an elaborately incised flute made from a deer femur. The flute is the only object of its kind known for all of Terminal Formative Mesoamerica. Drawing on the physicality of inequality, we employ osteobiography to assess the social hierarchy. Although B14-I16 was clearly an individual of unusual status in the context of Yugü e, he was not immune from the biological assaults that affected people of less distinguished social position at this time. Like his contemporaries of all social statuses, he suffered ill health in the years during which he was weaned. However, a longer weaning period and access to additional resources may have positioned him to endure later illness better than others in this population. Passing the critical transition period at age 6 ½, a time when many children died in this burial site, his adolescent health was better than that of others in this population. Although B14-I16 did have adult responsibilities, he didn't engage in the kinds of physical labour that marked the skeletons of others. The placement of Burial B14-I16 in the middle tiers of the lower Río Verde valley's ancient social hierarchy provides insight into issues of inequality and status on an individual scale.

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Reconstructing Health Profiles from Skeletal Remains

Cited by 140 publications

References 0 publications

A new approach to the study of Romanization in Britain: A regional perspective of cultural change in late Iron Age and Roman Dorset using the Siler and Gompertz–Makeham models of mortality

A new approach to the study of Romanization in Britain: A regional perspective of cultural change in late Iron Age and Roman Dorset using the Siler and Gompertz–Makeham models of mortality

In sickness or in health? Assessment of Early Iron Age human skeletons from Toutswe sites, east central Botswana

Osteobiography of a high‐status burial from the lower Río Verde Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico

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