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Bio-cultural effects in medieval populations
Marianne Schweich1, Christopher Knüsel
1Department of Archaeological Sciences, Biological Anthropology Research Centre, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK. m.schweich@bradford.ac.uk
Economics and Human Biology
|October 7, 2004
Summary
Medieval male skeletons reveal bio-cultural impacts on physique. Leprosarium populations showed stunted growth, while monastic and parish groups exhibited distinct body proportions reflecting social status and health.
Area of Science:
- Bioarchaeology
- Paleopathology
- Human Osteology
Background:
- Analysis of male medieval skeletons to understand bio-cultural influences on stature and body proportions.
- Investigating the impact of social, economic, and health factors on skeletal morphology.
Observation:
- Environmental factors like climate change showed no significant effect on medieval body proportions.
- Leprosarium populations exhibited stunted growth in height and weight, linked to low socio-economic and health status.
Findings:
- High-status monastic populations displayed a stocky build (increased weight for height, shorter limbs).
- Medieval parish populations presented a linear build (longer limbs for height, decreased weight for height).
- Stature, relative weight for height, and relative limb length varied across populations and changed over the Middle Ages.
Implications:
- Bio-cultural factors significantly shape human physique, overriding environmental influences in specific historical contexts.
- Skeletal analysis provides insights into past population health, social stratification, and living conditions.
- Understanding these historical variations in physique aids in interpreting skeletal remains and their associated socio-environmental conditions.