The Wider Background of the Second Transition in Europe

Height and health in Roman and Post-Roman Gaul, a life course approach

“…Across the Western Roman Empire there is evidence of reduced adult stature, as compared to prior and later periods (Giannecchini and Moggi-Cecchi, 2008;Gowland, 2017;Gowland and Garnsey, 2010;Gowland and Walther, 2019;Koepke, 2016Koepke, , 2014Koepke and Baten, 2008;Redfern, 2008;Redfern and DeWitte, 2011;Roberts and Cox, 2003;Scheidel, 2012b;Stead et al, 2006). A person's potential for height is genetically dictated, but the ability to express or achieve that potential is mediated by environmental conditions, disease load and nutrition during childhood (Bogin, 1999a;Stinson, 2012;Vercellotti et al, 2014).…”

“…Short adult femur length was not associated with age-at-death in any of the groups. (Giannecchini and Moggi-Cecchi, 2008;Gowland, 2017;Gowland and Garnsey, 2010;Gowland and Walther, 2019;Koepke, 2016Koepke, , 2014Koepke and Baten, 2008;Redfern, 2008;Redfern and DeWitte, 2011;Roberts and Cox, 2003;Scheidel, 2012b;Stead et al, 2006). However, short femoral length was not associated with early mortality, indicating that growth data alone did not help to clarify if Roman lifestyles or environments negatively affected health in Gaul.…”

“…Several studies have proposed that changes in diet between Roman and Post-Roman periods are the root cause for the observed patterns in growth and non-specific stress indicators (Koepke, 2014;Koepke and Baten, 2008;Lightfoot et al, 2012;Scheidel, 2012a). Isotopic, zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical data from across the Roman Empire suggest that diets were more diverse during the Roman period because of expanded trade routes, access to a wider variety of food and food production techniques (Bakels and Jacomet, 2003;Lightfoot et al, 2012;Mion et al, 2016;Müldner, 2013;Prowse et al, 2004;Redfern et al, 2010;Zech-Matterne et al, 2017).…”

A paleodemographic assessment of mortality and fertility rates during the second demographic transition in rural central Indiana

“…And yet, just knowing the numbers and ages of people who died may still not provide a clear picture of the health and disease experience of the once living population. Biased by a writer's discursive power, the contents of recorded histories often reflect privileged circumstances and potentially obscure or alter marginal experiences (Johnson, 1999), rendering interpretations of local-level changes incomplete (Beemer, 2011;Higgs, 1973;Koepke, 2014). In consolidating population-specific trends under an umbrella of aggregate data, the initial aim of these models to identify how and when shifts in mortality and fertility occurred is missed.…”