Early life histories : a study of past childhood diet and health using stable isotopes and enamel hypoplasia
The &delta;&delta;<sup>13</sup>C and &delta;<sup>15</sup>N composition of incremental segments of tooth dentine was used to infer infant and childhood diet in a post-medieval London population, and a hunting and gathering Mesolithic/Neolithic group from Latvia. Health was analysed using defects on the tooth enamel caused by stress, termed enamel hypoplasia. The populations, which differ markedly in their economy, diet and health, were selected because of the difference in childhood experiences between the two groups. The results were used to consider questions about childhood, including how early diet may have been influenced by social factors such as class or status, the effect this could have on population dynamics and how childhood diet and health are related. The results show that the London individuals were rarely breastfed beyond 6 months and in some instances not at all. A small isotopic difference between males and females was observed which could be caused by dietary or physiological differences. The peak incidence of hypoplasia may be related to developmental patterns, rather than stress caused by weaning. The Zvejnieki individuals had a slightly longer breastfeeding duration. Those buried with pendants
Henderson, Rowena Claire
Archaeology ; History of childhood ; childhood ; infancy ; breastfeeding ; hunter-gatherers ; Victorian ; stable isotopes ; hypoplasia ; health
Early life histories : a study of past childhood diet and health using stable isotopes and enamel hypoplasia. The &delta;&delta;<sup>13</sup>C and &delta;<sup>15</sup>N composition of incremental segments of tooth dentine was used to infer infant and childhood diet in a post-medieval London population, and a hunting and gathering Mesolithic/Neolithic group from Latvia. Health was analysed using defects on the tooth enamel caused by stress, termed enamel hypoplasia. The populations, which differ markedly in their economy, diet and health, were selected because of the difference in childhood experiences between the two groups. The results were used to consider questions about childhood, including how early diet may have been influenced by social factors such as class or status, the effect this could have on population dynamics and how childhood diet and health are related. The results show that the London individuals were rarely breastfed beyond 6 months and in some instances not at all. A small isotopic difference between males and females was observed which could be caused by dietary or physiological differences. The peak incidence of hypoplasia may be related to developmental patterns, rather than stress caused by weaning. The Zvejnieki individuals had a slightly longer breastfeeding duration. Those buried with pendants
early_life history study past childhood diet_health use stable_isotope enamel_hypoplasia composition incremental segment tooth dentine use_infer infant childhood diet post_medieval london population hunt gather mesolithic_neolithic group health analyse_use defect tooth_enamel cause stress term enamel_hypoplasia population differ markedly economy diet_health select difference childhood experience two_group use consider question childhood include early diet may_influence social_factor class status effect could population_dynamic childhood diet_health relate show london individual rarely beyond instance all small isotopic difference male_female observe could cause dietary physiological difference peak incidence may_relate developmental pattern rather stress cause weaning individual slightly longer duration bury