Diet and adult age‐at‐death among mobile foragers: A synthesis of bioarcheological methods

Pfeiffer, Susan; Cameron, Michelle E.; Sealy, Judith; Beresheim, Amy C.

doi:10.1002/ajpa.23883

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Age‐at‐death was estimated by dental eruption, epiphyseal fusion, cranial suture closure, changes to the sternal rib ends and os‐coxae. Age‐at‐death for leaner populations of shorter stature and mobile south African foragers is often underestimated (Merritt, ; Pfeiffer, Cameron, Sealy, & Beresheim, ), therefore, it is acknowledged that the age may be underestimated in this study. Individuals were classified broadly as young (20–35 years), middle‐aged (35–50 years), old (>50 years) adults, or as ‘unknown adult’.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Other studies on archaeological assemblages of Khoesan have shown similar results (Botha & Steyn, ). These data show unsuitability of contemporary morphological sex and age methods, highlighting the need for developing population‐specific sex and age estimation methods (Kurki, Pfeiffer, & Stynder, ; Pfeiffer et al, ; Pfeiffer & Harrington, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Therefore, the pelvis was more reliable and when unavailable often resulted in indeterminant sex. Age‐at‐death for leaner populations of shorter stature and mobile south African foragers is often underestimated (Merritt, ; Pfeiffer et al, ). Therefore, the true age for these people is likely older, and the large proportion of middle‐aged adults in the sample (56%) likely indicates the end‐of‐life period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Holocene Khoesan health: a biocultural analysis of cranial pathology and trauma

Gibbon

DAVIES

2020

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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A bioarchaeological assessment of human skeletons provides an objective opportunity to study and understand past peoples. Crania were analysed to evaluate health and well‐being of a past Khoesan sample in southern Africa. These data were analysed temporally and spatially (coastal vs inland), and by sex and age. Cranial and dental pathology of 150 adult individuals from the Human Skeletal Collection at the University of Cape Town were assessed. Most individuals were of coastal origin, equally distributed between pre‐ and post‐2000 bp. The sample was nearly equally distributed by sex and consisted primarily of middle‐aged adults (35–50 years at time‐of‐death). Physiological stress was indicated by evidence of nutrient deficiencies and signs of metabolic stress, without significant differences by sex. Cribra orbitalia was more frequent post‐2 000 bp, and linear enamel hypoposlasias were common in those who died at younger ages. Signs of infection were observed in dental tissues as carious lesions, abscess and antemortem tooth loss. Trauma was found in 52% of the sample, 19% was antemortem, with a significant increase post‐2000 bp, 39% were caused perimortem and was significantly higher in women. Significant distributions of pathology indicate an increased stress load from 2000 bp onwards and it was higher among coastal individuals, indicating a critical period with an influx of people migrating into the region causing population displacement, forced internal migration and increased conflict at this time. Despite the seemingly high pathogen load, these individuals were resilient and living through health problems. Across this broad time‐period, the southern African Khoesan lifestyle proves to be adequate to maintain good health and longevity in their social and environmental context.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Holocene Khoesan health: a biocultural analysis of cranial pathology and trauma

Gibbon

DAVIES

2020

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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“…The acquisition of CT images, extraction of cross-sections at each level, the setting of thresholds for the definition of cortical bone, and the acquisition of quantitative values were performed without any modifications from the protocol established for the modern Japanese population, indicating that the method is applicable to the measurement of archaic human bones and that the values obtained can be directly compared with those of the modern Japanese population. Femoral morphology is important not only for its clinical significance in predicting fracture risk [ 5 – 8 ] but also in terms of predicting the living environment [ 12 – 14 ]. However, as our previous studies have shown, the trends of age-related changes were different for diaphyseal peripheral border length and thickness of cortical bone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We previously demonstrated that bone morphology correlated with mechanical functions by comparing these quantitative values to the findings of a finite element analysis using a 3D model constructed from CT images [ 11 ]. In addition to the estimation of disease risk, bone morphology has been considered to reflect the living environment of adults [ 12 – 14 ] based on Wolff's law that bone morphology changes to adapt to a given load [ 15 ]. Therefore, differences in the curvature of the femoral diaphysis among populations and differences in femoral morphology among various groups of archaic human bones have been analyzed to investigate the living environment [ 16 , 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Methods for a Morphological Analysis of the Femoral Diaphysis Based on Clinical CT Images to Prehistoric Human Bone: Comparison of Modern Japanese and Jomon Populations from Hegi Cave, Oita, Japan

Endo

Sawamoto

Yoneda

et al. 2022

BioMed Research International

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A morphological analysis of ancient human bones is essential for understanding life history, medical history, and genetic characteristics. In addition to external measurements, a three-dimensional structural analysis using CT will provide more detailed information. The present study examined adult male human skeletons excavated from Hegi cave, Nakatsu city, Oita Prefecture. CT images were taken from the femurs of adult males (Initial/Early Jomon Period ( n = 10 ) and Late Jomon Period ( n = 5 )). Cross-sectional images of the diaphysis from below the lesser trochanter to above the adductor tubercle were obtained using the method established by Imamura et al. (2019) and Imamura et al. (2021). Using Excel formulas and macros, the area of cortical bone, thickness, and degree of curvature were quantitatively analyzed. The results were compared with data on modern Japanese. The maximum thickness of cortical bone in the diaphysis and the degree of the anterior curvature were significantly greater in Late Jomon humans than in the other groups. In contrast to modern humans, the majority of Jomon femurs showed the S-shaped curvature with the medial side at the top position and the lateral side at the lower position. The present results demonstrate that Late Jomon humans had a wider range of activity than the other groups and also provide insights into diseases in the hip and knee joints of Jomon humans.

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Entheseal changes and activity patterns in southern African hunter‐gatherer/herders from the Holocene

Dinkele,

Gibbon

2023

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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ObjectivesActivity patterns and lifeways in southern African hunter‐gatherer/herders (sAHGH) during the Holocene were dynamic, with subsistence activities and mobility varying through space and time. In this study, spatial and temporal variations in entheseal changes (ECs) are assessed as physical activity markers in sAHGH from the Holocene.MethodsThe Coimbra method was used to assess fibrocartilaginous ECs in the upper and lower limbs of 118 sAHGH from the Holocene. Descriptive statistics and generalized estimating equations were used to explore the association between ECs, sex, age, ecological biomes, and temporality.ResultsA total of 118 individuals were sampled, comprising 67 males, and 42 females, mostly from the fynbos (59/118), forest (30/118) and succulent karoo biomes (16/118). ECs were identified in 94% of the sample. Interobserver scoring suggests our findings are likely to underrepresent the extent of EC score differences in sAHGH. Findings indicate a complex pattern of physical activity in sAHGH with differences attributable to regional ecology rather than age or sex. More prominent ECs were identified in individuals from the forest biome, relative to the fynbos and succulent karoo biomes. These were consistent with resource search and processing costs, and terrain differences in these ecozones. ECs were only detected temporally relative to the infiltration of pastoralism (at 2000 BP) when the data were stratified by ecological biome.DiscussionThis study provides evidence that regional ecology plays a central role in driving activity patterns regardless of social or cultural organization. Ecological biomes provide a gradient along which the temporal impact of resource limitations on human biology, activity patterns and sociocultural behaviors can be studied.

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Diet and adult age‐at‐death among mobile foragers: A synthesis of bioarcheological methods

Cited by 11 publications

References 113 publications

Holocene Khoesan health: a biocultural analysis of cranial pathology and trauma

Holocene Khoesan health: a biocultural analysis of cranial pathology and trauma

Application of Methods for a Morphological Analysis of the Femoral Diaphysis Based on Clinical CT Images to Prehistoric Human Bone: Comparison of Modern Japanese and Jomon Populations from Hegi Cave, Oita, Japan

Entheseal changes and activity patterns in southern African hunter‐gatherer/herders from the Holocene

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