The role of changing childhood diets in the prehistoric evolution of food production: An isotopic assessment

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
M R Schurr, Mary Lucas Powell

Abstract

Earlier weaning has often been suggested as a cause for population growth after the evolution of food production. However, evidence for weaning-time reduction is largely circumstantial. Collagen stable nitrogen- and carbon-isotope ratios from juvenile and adult burials from four sites in eastern North America were measured to estimate weaning onsets and durations before and after the appearance of intensive food production. Two preagricultural Late Archaic sites (Indian Knoll and Carlston Annis) are compared with two highly agricultural Middle Mississippian sites (Angel and Tinsley Hill). Isotopic data and paleodemographic measures of birth rates provide no evidence for changes in weaning behavior or fertility with the development of food production in the prehistoric Lower Ohio Valley. Birth rates and weaning behavior appear to have been roughly the same at all four sites. These results indicate that models attributing population growth after the appearance of food production to earlier weaning are not universally applicable.

References

Oct 1, 1992·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·N G Blurton JonesC L Kamuzora
Feb 1, 1994·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·C D White, H P Schwarcz
Mar 1, 1993·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·M A KatzenbergW R Fitzgerald
Jul 1, 1996·International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics : the Official Organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics·K I KennedyP F Van Look
Feb 1, 1996·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·R L Pennington
May 19, 1998·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·D A HerringM A Katzenberg
Feb 17, 2001·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·D Robinson
Jun 26, 2001·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·T L DuprasS I Fairgrieve
May 10, 2002·Reproduction, Fertility, and Development·A S McNeilly
Sep 1, 1962·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·F E Johnston
Mar 1, 2001·Human Nature : an Interdisciplinary Biosocial Perspective·D W Sellen, D B Smay

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 11, 2008·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Tracy L ProwseLuca Bondioli
Oct 26, 2011·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Erika K NitschRobert E M Hedges
Aug 13, 2011·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Charla MarshallFrederika A Kaestle
Jun 6, 2014·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Rowena C HendersonLouise Loe
Nov 20, 2014·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Takumi Tsutaya, Minoru Yoneda
May 27, 2015·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Augusto TessoneHéctor O Panarello
Jun 17, 2014·Annals of Human Biology·Louise T Humphrey
Jan 23, 2018·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Charlotte L KingBernardo T Arriaza
Jun 15, 2007·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Tosha L Dupras, Matthew W Tocheri
Dec 29, 2007·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Terrence B RitzmanGary T Schwartz
Mar 8, 2008·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Mandy JaySarah S King
Oct 18, 2005·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·B T FullerR E M Hedges
Nov 2, 2005·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·B T FullerR E M Hedges
Aug 3, 2021·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Daniel Loponte, Bárbara Mazza

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.