Paleopathology and osteobiography of the people of Peñuelas, Chile's semiarid north

Rosado, Maria Araya; Vernacchio-Wilson, Jessica

doi:10.1590/s0074-02762006001000015

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

(2 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As introduced earlier, it is plausible that one consequence of ocean subsistence is infection, as even children could participate in certain food-procuring activities, such as gathering shellfish or mollusks from shallow tidal pools (DiGangi 2008). This would serve to increase the likelihood of obtaining easily-infected minor scrapes and cuts from the rocky and slippery environment (Rosado and Vernacchio-Wilson 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In terms of pathology for these populations, researchers have found high rates of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, periostitis, and osteomyelitis for the Archaic (Costa-Junqueira et al 1998;Quevedo 1976), and lower caries rates for the Archaic as compared to the Diaguita (Costa-Junqueira et al 1998;Quevedo 1976;Rosado 1994Rosado , 1998, with Rosado (1994Rosado ( , 1998 hypothesizing that the existing caries rates were assuaged by the high level of fluoride in the ocean water. Further, Rosado and Vernacchio-Wilson (2006) interpret the high bone infection rates as secondary to bacterial introduction from frequent minor cuts and scrapes from gathering shellfish in rocky and slippery tidal pools. While subsistence and pathology have been examined separately for the semi-arid north, this is the first study for this region to contextualize stress markers in the context of subsistence strategy, namely, continued reliance on marine resources even during agricultural transition.…”

Section: Norte Semiárido De Chile Con Sitios Arqueológicos Analizadosmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Skeletal Stress Markers and Subsistence Strategy in Prehistoric Chilean Populations of the Semi-Arid North

DiGangi

Gruenthal-Rankin

2019

Chungará (Arica)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Human skeletal remains from prehistoric Chile's semi-arid north were analyzed using the Western Hemisphere Health Index to ascertain if subsistence change from gathering/hunting to agriculture was accompanied by a decline in physiological stress as measured by common skeletal stress markers for these coastal populations. Individuals analyzed dated to the Archaic (c. 7000 BC-200 AD, n=95) and Diaguita (c. 1000-1536 AD, n=75) periods. The Archaic individuals practiced gathering and hunting subsistence, relying on desert and ocean resources. The Diaguita practiced a subsistence strategy including agriculture, food collecting from the Pacific, and camelid pastoralism. As per health index methodology, seven indicators were scored (stature, linear enamel hypoplasia, dental disease, cribra orbitalia/porotic hyperostosis, infection, degenerative joint disease, and trauma). Results indicated equal health index values for both samples, although there were some differences in individual indicator values. The risk of having any pathology did not increase with age-at-death. Essentially, health as measured by common stress markers did not vary substantially after subsistence change. Such results are further evidence that the hypothesis of a health decline after subsistence change to agriculture is not always demonstrated, and it is important to elucidate what buffering variables beyond diet, to include cultural adaptations, may be at play.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%