Evidence for a reduction in stature between Mesolithic foragers and Neolithic farmers has been interpreted as reflective of declines in health, however, our current understanding of this trend fails to account for the complexity of cultural and dietary transitions or the possible causes of phenotypic change. The agricultural transition was extended in primary centers of domestication and abrupt in regions characterized by demic diffusion. In regions such as Northern Europe where foreign domesticates were difficult to establish, there is strong evidence for natural selection for lactase persistence in relation to dairying. We employ broad-scale analyses of diachronic variation in stature and body mass in the Levant, Europe, the Nile Valley, South Asia, and China, to test three hypotheses about the timing of subsistence shifts and human body size, that: 1) the adoption of agriculture led to a decrease in stature, 2) there were different trajectories in regions of in situ domestication or cultural diffusion of agriculture; and 3) increases in stature and body mass are observed in regions with evidence for selection for lactase persistence. Our results demonstrate that 1) decreases in stature preceded the origins of agriculture in some regions; 2) the Levant and China, regions of in situ domestication of species and an extended period of mixed foraging and agricultural subsistence, had stable stature and body mass over time; and 3) stature and body mass increases in Central and Northern Europe coincide with the timing of selective sweeps for lactase persistence, providing support for the “Lactase Growth Hypothesis.”
In this article, we utilize a bioarchaeological approach to assess the pervasiveness of violence during a dynamic period of social change at Early Bronze Age (EBA) Bab edh-Dhra', Jordan. The human remains studied are from EBIA (3500-3300 B.C.E.) shaft tombs used by the inhabitants of ephemeral settlements and from EBII-III (3100-2300 B.C.E.) charnel house A22, which dates to the urban occupation of the site. Adult crania, ulnae, and radii were examined for fracture. There were no significant differences by period, except when ulnae and radii were considered together. Bab edh-Dhra' was then compared to published studies of violence and showed a relatively high rate of cranial fracture during both periods, with a moderate rate of forearm fracture during EBII-III. The EBIA radii and ulnae exhibited no evidence of trauma. Accidents along rough terrain, falls among terraced housing, construction and agricultural activities, and violence were probable causes of forearm injury. The archaeological record suggests a diachronic increase in conflict, catalyzed by growing population density, social stratification, regional hostilities, and environmental degradation. Although the causes of EBA violence remain speculative, cranial fracture patterns indicate a notable prevalence of conflict-related trauma across the period. [ bioarchaeology, Ancient Near East, conflict, paleopathology, fracture] RESUMEN En este artículo, utilizamos una aproximación bio-arqueológica para evaluar la prevalencia de la violencia durante un período dinámico de cambio social en la Edad Temprana de Bronce (EBA) en Bad edh-Dhra', Jordania. Los restos humanos estudiados corresponden a tumbas fosas del EBIA (3500-3300 A.E.C.) usados por los habitantes de asentamientos efímeros, y de EBII-III (3100-2300 A.E.C.) osario A22, los cuales datan de la ocupación urbana del sitio.Cráneos de adultos, cúbitos y radios se examinaron por fractura. No hubo diferencias significativas por período, excepto cuando los cúbitos y radios fueron considerados juntos. Bab edh-Dhra' se comparó luego con estudios publicados de violencia y mostró una alta tasa de fractura craneal durante ambos períodos, con una tasa que va de bajo a moderado de fractura de antebrazo durante EBII-III. La radios y cúbitos correspondientes a EBIA mostraron no evidencia de trauma. Accidentes a lo largo de terrenos hostiles, caídas en viviendas de terrazas, actividades de construcción y agrícolas, y violencia fueron probables causas de lesiones de antebrazo. Los registros arqueológicos sugieren un incremento diacrónico en conflicto, catalizado por una creciente densidad de población, estratificación social, hostilidades regionales, y degradación ambiental. Aunque las causas de la violencia en EBA permanecen siendo especulativas, los patrones de fractura craneal indican una notable prevalencia de trauma relacionado con el conflicto a lo largo del período. [bioarqueología, Antiguo Cercano Oriente, conflicto, paleopatología, fractura]
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