Paleodemography: Age Distributions from Skeletal Samples (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology, Series Number 31)

Paleodemography is the field of enquiry that attempts to identify demographic parameters from past populations (usually skeletal samples) derived from archaeological contexts, and then to make interpretations regarding the health and well-being of those populations. However, paleodemographic theory relies on several assumptions that cannot easily be validated by the researcher, and if incorrect, can lead to large errors or biases. In this book, physical anthropologists, mathematical demographers and statisticians tackle these methodological issues for reconstructing demographic structure for skeletal samples. Topics discussed include how skeletal morphology is linked to chronological age, assessment of age from the skeleton, demographic models of mortality and their interpretation, and biostatistical approaches to age structure estimation from archaeological samples. This work will be of immense importance to anyone interested in paleodemography, including biological and physical anthropologists, demographers, geographers, evolutionary biologists and statisticians. What Are The Health Consequences Of A Transition From An Active 'hunter-gatherer' Lifestyle To That Of Sedentary Modern Living? In This Book, The Impact Of 'modernization' Is Assessed In Various Populations In The Circumpolar Regions. The Hazards Of Living In Polar Regions, And The Adaptations Shown Culturally, Behaviourally And Physically By The Indigenous Peoples Are Examined And The Effect Of Changes In Habitual Activity, Diet, And General Lifestyle Due To More Urban Living Patterns On The Body Composition, Pulmonary Function And Susceptibility To Disease Is Discussed. The Implications Of This Switch Are Important Not Only For All Those Concerned About The Survival Of Indigenous Communities Around The World, But For All Of Us Living Increasingly Sedentary, Urban Lives. Anthropologists, Physiologists And Those Interested In Population Fitness Will Find This A Comprehensive And Valuable Volume. 1. The Circumpolar Habitat And Its Peoples: Traditional Lifestyle And Early Research Findings -- 2. Concepts Of The International Biological Programme Human Adaptability Project, And Ibp Studies Of Circumpolar Populations -- 3. Changes In Social Structure And Behaviour -- 4. Secular Trends In Diet, Metabolism And Body Composition -- 5. Secular Trends In Physical Fitness And Cold Tolerance -- 6. Secular Trends In Respiratory Hazards, Lung Function And Respiratory Disease -- 7. Secular Trends In Growth And Development -- 8. Current Health Status Of Circumpolar Populations -- 9. Postscript: Lessons From Traditional Circumpolar Life And Options For The Future. Roy J. Shephard, Andris Rode. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Until Now, Studies Of Dental And Skeletal Growth And Development Have Often Been Treated As Independent Disciplines Within The Literature. Human Growth In The Past Takes A Fresh Perspective By Bringing Together These Two Related Fields Of Enquiry In A Single Volume Whose Purpose Is To Place Methodological Issues Of Growth And Development In Past Populations Within A Strong Theoretical Framework.--jacket. From Head To Toe / Robert D. Hoppa And Charles M. Fitzgerald -- Heterochrony / Mike Dainton And Gabrielle A. Macho -- Relative Mandibular Growth In Humans, Gorillas And Chimpanzees / Luise T. Humphrey -- Growth And Development In Neandertals And Other Fossil Hominids / Andrew J. Nelson And Jennifer L. Thompson -- Hominoid Tooth Growth / Christopher Dean -- New Approaches To The Quantitative Analysis Of Craniofacial Growth And Variation / Paul O'higgins And Una Strand Vidarsdottir -- Invisible Insults During Growth And Development / Sarah E. King And Stanley J. Ulijaszek. What Can Be Done About The Infant Category In Skeletal Samples? / Shelley R. Saunders And Lisa Barrans -- Sources Of Variation In Estimated Ages At Formation Of Linear Enamel Hypoplasias / Alan H. Goodman And Rhan-ju Song -- Reconstructing Patterns Of Growth Disruption From Enamel Microstructure / Scott W. Simpson -- Estimation Of Age At Death From Dental Emergence And Implications For Studies Of Prehistoric Somatic Growth / Lyle Konigsberg And Darryl Holman -- Linear And Appositional Long Bone Growth In Earlier Human Populations / Simon A. Mays. Edited By Robert D. Hoppa, Charles M. Fitzgerald. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Until now, studies of dental and skeletal growth and development have often been treated as independent disciplines within the literature. Human Growth in the Past takes a fresh perspective by bringing together these two related fields of inquiry in a single volume whose purpose is to place methodological issues of growth and development in past populations within a strong theoretical framework. Contributions examine a variety of aspects of human growth in the past, drawing from both paleoanthropological and bioarchaeological data. The book covers a wide spectrum of topics, from patterns of growth in humans and their close relatives, innovative methods and applications of techniques and models for the study of growth, to estimation of age-at-death in subadults and infant mortality in archaeological samples. Human Growth in the Past will be of interest to biological anthropologists, and those in the related fields of dental anatomy, evolutionary biology, and developmental biology. What are the health consequences of a transition from an active 'hunter-gatherer' lifestyle to that of sedentary modern living? In this book, the impact of 'modernization' is assessed in various populations in the circumpolar regions. The hazards of living in polar regions, and the adaptations shown culturally, behaviourally and physically by the indigenous peoples are examined and the effect of changes in habitual activity, diet, and general lifestyle due to more urban living patterns on the body composition, pulmonary function and susceptibility to disease discussed. The implications of this switch are important not only for all those concerned about the survival of indigenous communities around the world, but for all of us living in an increasingly sedentary, urban environment. Anthropologists, physiologists and those interested in population fitness will find this a comprehensive and valuable volume Many methodological and theoretical problems exist in reconstructing demographic structure from archaeological populations. Paleodemography is an innovative volume which tackles these issues to reach a consensus on the way forward. It will be the benchmark for all those interested in skeletal samples and their implications for analysing past populations Many aspects of human activity involve energy transfer of some type. This text considers various ways in which measurements of energy intake, expenditure and balance have been used to study human populations by biological anthropologists and human biologists Innovative exploration of the theoretical and methodological issues in reconstructing demographic structure from archaeological populations As it turns out, the outcome of the workshop resulted in a realization that statistical methods might vary. From its inception physical anthropology has been preoccupied with human variation (Hrdlicka 1927).

Looks at energy intake, expenditure and balance in traditional subsistence populations.