Growing up different in Neolithic China: A contextualised case study and differential diagnosis of a young adult with skeletal dysplasia

A possible case of dystocia due to foetal macrosomia at Shuanghuaishu site (3500–2900 BCE), Henan, China

“…Bioarchaeological research on Yangshao communities has included dietary reconstructions using stable isotopes (e.g., Dong et al, 2017; Fu et al, 2010; Pechenkina, 2018; Pechenkina, Ambrose, Xiaolin, & Benfer, 2005; Zhang, Zhao, & Cheng, 2011) and calculus contents (Tao et al, 2015), dental pathology studies exploring diet and cultural practices (e.g., Meng et al, 2011; Pechenkina et al, 2013; Pechenkina, Ma, Fan, Wei, & Zhang, 2013; Pechenkina, 2018) and research on temporal, sex and mortuary variation in skeletal stress indicators (e.g., Dong et al, 2017; Pechenkina et al, 2013). Some studies (e.g., Halcrow, Miller, Snoddy, Fan, & Pechenkina, 2020; Zhou, Zhang, Garvie‐Lok, Gu, & Wang, 2019) have gained insights into particular lives by examining individual burials. Shuanghuaishu offers the opportunity to add to this literature, providing insights into daily life in a major settlement.…”

Bioarchaeological insights into disability: Skeletal dysplasia from the Iron Age northern China

“…In the past, evidence from artistic, archaeological, epigraphic, ethnographic, and osteological materials on disproportionate dwarfism was documented from both skeletal remains and material culture depictions during various periods throughout the world from ancient populations of Egypt (Kozma, 2006(Kozma, , 2008Molto & Kirkpatrick, 2018), the Near East (Slon et al, 2013), Europe (Arcini & Frölund, 1996;Bianucci et al, 2012;Dasen, 1988Dasen, , 1990Dasen, , 1993Frayer et al, 1988;Garcia & Santos, 2020;Gladykowska-Rzeczycka, 1980;Minozzi et al, 2013;Nater et al, 2016;Sables, 2010;Traversaria et al, 2020;Waters-Rist & Hoogland, 2013), Asia (Halcrow et al, 2020;Woo et al, 2015), Latin America (Miller, 1985;Rodríguez et al, 2012), South America (Pachajoa et al, 2009;Rodríguez et al, 2012), and North America (Cormier & Buikstra, 2017;Hoffman, 1976). The earliest case of achondroplasia was found in late Paleolithic tombs in Italy, the remains of an adolescent male named "Romito 2" (Frayer et al, 1988).…”

“…The earliest case of achondroplasia was found in late Paleolithic tombs in Italy, the remains of an adolescent male named "Romito 2" (Frayer et al, 1988). However, in China, only one case of a young adult from the Neolithic central China has been reported with skeletal dysplasia, characterized by stunted long bones and generalized osteopenia, suggesting hypopituitarism or hypothyroidism (Halcrow et al, 2020).…”

“…Skeletal dysplasia is a category of disorders characterized by abnormalities in the skeletal development and growth, affecting cartilage growth and bone formation, leading to fetal death ranges from mild to severe height loss with epiphyseal, metaphyseal, or spinal involvement (Halcrow et al, 2020; Kozieradzka‐Ogunmakin, 2011; Wang et al, 2013; Xu et al, 2019). The classification of these disorders includes 436 entities, and most related disorders are inherited genetically, and the mutation could affect the development process of the entire skeleton (Calder & Foley, 2018).…”