Infant feeding practices and childhood diet at Apollonia Pontica: Isotopic and dental evidence

Schmidt, Jodi; Kwok, Cynthia; Keenleyside, Anne

doi:10.1002/ajpa.22874

Cited by 12 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 70 publications

(103 reference statements)

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“…[12] Along the same lines, a number of stable isotope studies from various Eurasian post-Neolithic sites suggest that weaning was a multistage process involving various milk products beginning around 6-12 months of age and completed between the ages of 2 and 4 years. [13][14][15] On the other hand, children from ancient forager populations (the Kitoi and Serovo in the western Lake Baikal region), who could not benefit from non-human milk, were exclusively breastfed for longer, until 12-24 months of age, and were totally weaned at 4 years. [16] Comparisons of Mesolithic and Neolithic toddlers from the Iron Gates sites in the Danube Valley suggest that weaning may have occurred slightly earlier in the latter.…”

Section: Age Of Weaning and Use Of Animal Milk In Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proposed mechanism for the selection of lactase persistence in childhood

Fabre

Bon

et al. 2023

BioEssays

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Lactase persistence/persistent (LP), the ability to express the lactase enzyme in adults, is one of the most strongly selected phenotypes in humans. It is encoded by at least five genetic variants that have rapidly become widespread in various human populations. The underlying selective mechanism is not clear however, because dairy products in general are well tolerated in adults, even by lactase non‐persistence/persistent (LNP) individuals. Cultural adaptations to milk consumption, notably fermentation and transformation, which can provide most of the energy (protein, fat) to both LP and LNP individuals without any associated cost seem to have been common in ancient societies. Here, we propose that selection for LP occurred through increased glucose/galactose (energy) from fresh milk intake in early childhood, a crucial period for growth. At the age of weaning indeed, lactase activity has already begun to decline in LNP individuals so the gain in energy from fresh milk by LP children represents a major fitness increase.

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Section: Age Of Weaning and Use Of Animal Milk In Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proposed mechanism for the selection of lactase persistence in childhood

Fabre

Bon

et al. 2023

BioEssays

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“…Nitrogen isotope analyses of the human skeletal remains have shown that weaning started from the age of 6 months to 1 year, and it ended between the ages of 2 and 4 years for children (Kwok and Keenleyside 2015). Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis suggested that children were usually weaned on to diary foods and cereal diet only which, later on, shifted to dairy foods, cereals, vegetables and fruits in the childhood (Schmidt et al 2016). …”

Section: Breastfeeding and Weaning Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of stable isotope analyses in reconstructing past life-histories and the provenancing human skeletal remains: a review

Sehrawat

Kaur

2017

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This article reviews the present scenario of use of stable isotopes (mainly δ13C, δ 15 N, δ 18 O, 87 Sr) to trace past life behaviours like breast feeding and weaning practices, the geographic origin, migration history, paleodiet and subsistence patterns of past populations from the chemical signatures of isotopes imprinted in human skeletal remains. This approach is based on the state that food-web isotopic signatures are seen in the human bones and teeth and such signatures can change parallely with a variety of biogeochemical processes. By measuring δ 13 C and δ 15N isotopic values of subadult tissues of different ages, the level of breast milk ingestion at particular ages and the components of the complementary foods can be assessed. Strontium and oxygen isotopic analyses have been used for determining the geographic origins and reconstructing the way of life of past populations as these isotopes can map the isotopic outline of the area from where the person acquired water and food during initial lifetime. The isotopic values of strontium and oxygen values are considered specific to geographical areas and serve as reliable chemical signatures of migration history of past human populations (local or non-local to the site). Previous isotopic studies show that the subsistence patterns of the past human populations underwent extensive changes from nomadic to complete agricultural dependence strategies. The carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of local fauna of any archaeological site can be used to elucidate the prominence of freshwater resources in the diet of the past human populations found near the site. More extensive research covering isotopic descriptions of various prehistoric, historic and modern populations is needed to explore the role of stable isotope analysis for provenancing human skeletal remains and assessing human migration patterns/routes, geographic origins, paleodiet and subsistence practices of past populations.

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Stable Isotope Evidence for Breastfeeding and Weaning Variables in Past Populations: Infant and Child Feeding in Ancient Siberian Foragers

Waters‐Rist

2023

Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology

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Infant feeding practices and childhood diet at Apollonia Pontica: Isotopic and dental evidence

Cited by 12 publications

References 70 publications

Proposed mechanism for the selection of lactase persistence in childhood

Proposed mechanism for the selection of lactase persistence in childhood

Role of stable isotope analyses in reconstructing past life-histories and the provenancing human skeletal remains: a review

Stable Isotope Evidence for Breastfeeding and Weaning Variables in Past Populations: Infant and Child Feeding in Ancient Siberian Foragers

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