Aspects of health in prehistoric mainland Southeast Asia: Indicators of stress in response to the intensification of rice agriculture

Abstract

Numerous bioarcheological investigations have suggested that as agriculture intensifies, levels of physiological stress and poor health increase. However, previous research in Southeast Asia suggests that a decline in health was not universal. This study aimed to provide the first investigation of human health during the intensification of rice agriculture in the large skeletal sample from the prehistoric site of Ban Non Wat, Northeast Thailand (1750-420 b.c.). Health was analysed using two indicators of childhood stress, the prevalence of linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH), a measure of early childhood stress, and stature, as a measure of late childhood stress, were collated for 190 adults. Sex-specific diachronic relationships between the prevalence of LEH and stature were explored. For both sexes, initially the prevalence of LEH was found to decrease and then increase over time. Stature remained constant over time for males, although for females stature increased initially, then decreased. Early childhood stress was not significantly correlated with stature in females (P = 0.185), but high levels of LEH were unexpectedly correlated with taller male stature (P = 0.017). Our findings suggest an initial improvement in health during agricultural intensification at this site, likely related to a reduction in physiological perturbations and maintenance of a nutritious diet during this time. The subsequent deterioration in health may reflect geomorphologically and archaeologically indicated variation in environmental conditions and consequential sociocultural changes. We suggest that the sex-differences in the relationship between stature and LEH may relate to the timing of stress and/or catch-up growth.

The Osteological Paradox 20 Years Later: Past Perspectives, Future Directions

“…Again, Wood et al (1992, p. 355) express this as a hypothesis that is just as consistent with the data at hand as several other hypotheses, not as an idea that they ''believe'' to be true. Scholars have repeatedly attributed this new binary view-that skeletal lesions indicate relatively good health and an absence thereof indicates poor health-to Wood et al over the last 20 years (e.g., Clark et al 2014;Welinder 2001;Wright and Chew 1998), despite their attempt at clarification in their reply to the comments. Wood et al encourage thinking that goes beyond simple binary distinctions.…”

Could molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) existence be predictor of short stature?

“…Therefore, this factor could not impact ameloblasts. Simultaneous evaluation of body height and MIH was a new topic that was measured in this study by Clarck et al [ 31 ] Data showed although average of body height in MIH group was lesser than control group, it was not statistically meaningful. Multifactorial process terminate to MIH and body height and some of them were inevitable in this study.…”

Biocultural Practices during the Transition to History at the Vat Komnou Cemetery, Angkor Borei, Cambodia

“…In fact, most early Southeast Asia groups were relatively healthy (Domett and Tayles 2007;Douglas and Pietrusewsky 2007;Ikehara-Quebral 2010;Oxenham et al 2006;Pietrusewsky and Douglas 2002) compared to groups that adopted intensive agricultural practices elsewhere (Cohen and Armelagos 1984;Cohen and Crane-Kramer 2007). Furthermore, there is no evidence in several Southeast Asia groups that an increased reliance on rice contributes to poorer health (Clark et al 2014;Tayles et al 2000) and no clear temporal trend of declining oral-dental health, which varies with the health indicator assessed (Ikehara-Quebral 2010; Newton and . However, Newton (2014) suggested that late Iron Age samples from Phum Snay and Phum Sophy show a high dependence on agricultural foods and she demonstrated a decline in health likely coinciding with an intensification of agriculture.…”