External auditory exostoses and prehistoric aquatic resource procurement. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Villotte, Sébastien; Knüsel, Christopher J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of archaeological science. Volume 6(2016)
• Page Start: 633
• Page End: 636
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Activity-related skeletal morphologies -- Aquatic resource exploitation -- Subsistence strategies -- Sexual division of labor; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Research -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.05.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-409X

Abstract

Abstract: External auditory exostoses (EAEs) are osseous exostoses that form in the external auditory canal as a result of an irritation of the periosteum. Many conditions can be responsible for this irritation, but contact with cold water is the principal cause. This article is a brief review of clinical and anthropological studies that permit consideration of EAEs as faithful markers of water-related activities in past populations and discusses the potential as well as the limits of EAEs to provide insights into aquatic resource exploitation by prehistoric humans.