Bone growth, limb proportions and non-specific stress in archaeological populations from Croatia. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pinhasi, R.; Timpson, A.; Thomas, M.; Šlaus, M.
• Is Part Of: Annals of human biology. Volume 41:Number 2(2014:Mar./Apr.)
• Page Start: 127
• Page End: 137
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Human biology -- Periodicals; 612
• DOI: 10.3109/03014460.2013.835443
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4460

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Background</italic>: The effect of environmental factors and, in particular, non-specific stress on the growth patterns of limbs and other body dimensions of children from past populations is not well understood.</p> <p> <italic>Aims</italic>: This study assesses whether growth of mediaeval and post-mediaeval children aged between 0–11.5 years from Adriatic (coastal) and continental Croatia varies by region and by the prevalence and type of non-specific stress.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic>: Dental ages were estimated using the Moorrees, Fanning and Hunt (MFH) scoring method. Growth of long bone diaphyses (femur, tibia, humerus, radius and ulna) was assessed by using a composite <italic>Z</italic>-score statistic (CZS). Clavicular length was measured as a proxy for upper trunk width, distal metaphyseal width of the femur was measured as a proxy for body mass and upper and lower intra-limb indices were calculated. Differences between sub-sets sampled by (a) region and (b) active vs healed non-specific stress indicators and (c) intra-limb indices were tested by Mann--Whitney <italic>U</italic>-tests and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA).</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: Adriatic children attained larger dimensions-per-age than continental children. Children with healed stress lesions had larger dimensions-per-age than those with active lesions. No inter-regional difference was found in intra-limb indices.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusion</italic>: These findings highlight the complexity of growth patterns in past populations and indicate that variation in environmental conditions such as diet and differences in the nature of non-specific stress lesions both exert a significant effect on long bone growth.</p> </abstract>