Early Childhood Morbidity Trends in Prehistoric Populations

Document Type

Article

Authors

Steven K. Clarke, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

Abstract

Childhood morbidity profiles of a culturally diverse prehistoric skeletal sample have been constructed from age-specific markers of metabolic insult evident in the teeth and long bones of 59 individuals. More than 600 skeletons were screened to arrive at this sample, which accordingly met stringent criteria necessary for strengthening the validity of the analysis. The age distributions of the lesions in the sample show an intriguing common peak occurring during the one to three year age interval. This peak is explained as a result of the interaction of the direct nutri­tional, immunological and psychodynamic effects of weaning, and other developmental behaviors and physio/immunological patterns associated with the weaning age interval. The existence of such a morbidity trend underscores the importance of the successful interaction of human development, culture and environment to the health and survival of individuals and populations.

Recommended Citation

Clarke, Steven K. (1980) "Early Childhood Morbidity Trends in Prehistoric Populations," Human Biology: Vol. 52: Iss. 1, Article 10.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol52/iss1/10