Paleodemography
Encyclopedia
Paleodemography is the study of ancient human mortality
, fertility
, and migration
.
More specifically, paleodemography looks at the changes in pre-modern populations in order to determine something about the influences on the lifespan and health of earlier peoples.
Because case studies that are common today are unavailable, data, both statistically relevant and anecdotal, must be inferred from the pursuits of bioarchaeology
in most cases. Generally speaking, it is the information coaxed from skeletal remains that provides the most insight into past populations.
For instance, skeletal analysis can also yield information such as an estimation of age at time of death. There are numerous methods that can be used, and it is best to field questions of further interest to an osteologist or bioarchaeologist. In addition to age estimation and sex estimation, someone versed in basic osteology
can ascertain a minimum number of individuals
(or MNI) in cluttered contexts—such as in mass graves or an ossuary
. This is important, as it is not always obvious how many bodies compose the bones sitting in a heap as they are excavated.
Occasionally, disease history for things like leprosy
can also be determined from bone restructuring and deterioration. While that tends to fall more under paleopathology
, it is important to keep such things in mind in how they affect mortality rate
s.
Recent years have not led to significant advances in the realm of age estimation of skeletal remains. Without ways of more accurately determining age of deceased individuals, a wealth of information is locked away.
Old World researchers have traditionally relied on written texts and grave markers for information, forgoing first-hand data collection. While that can be useful, it should not be used to the exclusion of actual analysis of remains.
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
, fertility
Fertility
Fertility is the natural capability of producing offsprings. As a measure, "fertility rate" is the number of children born per couple, person or population. Fertility differs from fecundity, which is defined as the potential for reproduction...
, and migration
Human migration
Human migration is physical movement by humans from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. Historically this movement was nomadic, often causing significant conflict with the indigenous population and their displacement or cultural assimilation. Only a few nomadic...
.
More specifically, paleodemography looks at the changes in pre-modern populations in order to determine something about the influences on the lifespan and health of earlier peoples.
Because case studies that are common today are unavailable, data, both statistically relevant and anecdotal, must be inferred from the pursuits of bioarchaeology
Bioarchaeology
The term bioarchaeology was first coined by British archaeologist Grahame Clark in 1972 as a reference to zooarchaeology, or the study of animal bones from archaeological sites...
in most cases. Generally speaking, it is the information coaxed from skeletal remains that provides the most insight into past populations.
For instance, skeletal analysis can also yield information such as an estimation of age at time of death. There are numerous methods that can be used, and it is best to field questions of further interest to an osteologist or bioarchaeologist. In addition to age estimation and sex estimation, someone versed in basic osteology
Osteology
Osteology is the scientific study of bones. A subdiscipline of anatomy, anthropology, and archeology, osteology is a detailed study of the structure of bones, skeletal elements, teeth, morphology, function, disease, pathology, the process of ossification , the resistance and hardness of bones , etc...
can ascertain a minimum number of individuals
Minimum number of individuals
In disciplines including forensic anthropology, bioarchaeology, osteoarchaeology and zooarchaeology Minimum number of individuals, or MNI, refers to the fewest possible number of people or animals in a skeletal assemblage...
(or MNI) in cluttered contexts—such as in mass graves or an ossuary
Ossuary
An ossuary is a chest, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains. They are frequently used where burial space is scarce. A body is first buried in a temporary grave, then after some years the skeletal remains are removed and placed in an ossuary...
. This is important, as it is not always obvious how many bodies compose the bones sitting in a heap as they are excavated.
Occasionally, disease history for things like leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
can also be determined from bone restructuring and deterioration. While that tends to fall more under paleopathology
Paleopathology
Paleopathology, also spelled palaeopathology, is the study of ancient diseases. It is useful in understanding the past history of diseases, and uses this understanding to predict its course in the future.- History of paleopathology :...
, it is important to keep such things in mind in how they affect mortality rate
Mortality rate
Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths in a population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit time...
s.
Current issues
One recurring problem in paleodemography is that researchers need to publish data in uniform (or at least translatable) formats. In some cases, reliance on others' research is the only way to gather enough data to make educated inferences about the population as a whole.Recent years have not led to significant advances in the realm of age estimation of skeletal remains. Without ways of more accurately determining age of deceased individuals, a wealth of information is locked away.
Old World researchers have traditionally relied on written texts and grave markers for information, forgoing first-hand data collection. While that can be useful, it should not be used to the exclusion of actual analysis of remains.
Further reading
- C.S. Larsen, 1997. Bioarchaeology: interpreting behavior from the human skeleton. Cambridge University Press.
- M. Katzenberg and S. Saunders, eds., 2000. Biological anthropology of the human skeleton. Wiley.