Childhood health and diet in Roman London : the palaeodemographic, palaeopathological and isotopic evidence
Roman London has been extensively excavated, particularly over the last two decades, and substantial cemetery sites have been uncovered within and around the City. This study represents the first to undertake an integrated analysis of the palaeodemographic, palaeopathological, isotopic and funerary evidence from Roman London. This thesis seeks to identify social age transitions and the impact of these on the growing body. The specific aim of the research was to examine the perceptions of childhood and childcare in Roman London, utilising skeletal and funerary indicators of diet, health and social status. A total sample of 967 individuals formed the sample for analysis. The osteological data was obtained via the WORD database and the funerary data from archives and available publications. A further 120 number of individuals were sampled for carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of diet. The results yielded a number of interesting patterns regarding age, sex and social status, and the impact of these identities on diet and well-being. Overall, subadults at Roman London were found to have experienced higher rates of health stress than their adult counterparts, with subadults exhibiting higher prevalence rates
Powell, Lindsay Anne
Childhood health and diet in Roman London : the palaeodemographic, palaeopathological and isotopic evidence. Roman London has been extensively excavated, particularly over the last two decades, and substantial cemetery sites have been uncovered within and around the City. This study represents the first to undertake an integrated analysis of the palaeodemographic, palaeopathological, isotopic and funerary evidence from Roman London. This thesis seeks to identify social age transitions and the impact of these on the growing body. The specific aim of the research was to examine the perceptions of childhood and childcare in Roman London, utilising skeletal and funerary indicators of diet, health and social status. A total sample of 967 individuals formed the sample for analysis. The osteological data was obtained via the WORD database and the funerary data from archives and available publications. A further 120 number of individuals were sampled for carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of diet. The results yielded a number of interesting patterns regarding age, sex and social status, and the impact of these identities on diet and well-being. Overall, subadults at Roman London were found to have experienced higher rates of health stress than their adult counterparts, with subadults exhibiting higher prevalence rates
childhood health_diet roman london palaeopathological isotopic evidence roman london extensively excavate particularly substantial cemetery_site uncover within around city study represent_first undertake integrated analysis palaeopathological isotopic funerary evidence roman london seek identify social age_transition impact grow_body specific aim_examine perception childhood roman london utilise skeletal funerary indicator diet_health social_status total sample individual form sample analysis osteological data_obtain via word database funerary data archive available publication number_individual sample carbon_nitrogen isotope_analysis diet yield number interest pattern regard age_sex social_status impact identity diet well_being overall subadults roman london find experience high_rate health stress adult counterpart subadults exhibit high_prevalence rate