Age-at-death estimation in archaeological samples: Differences in population means resulting from different aging methods can be predicted from the mean ages of method-specific reference samples

Age mimicry is a well-known phenomenon in the application of osteological age-estimation methods. Age mimicry refers to the fact that predicting age-at-death from a specific trait (age indicator) based on the relation observed in a specific reference sample implies that age estimates to some degree reflect the age structure of the reference sample. In particular, the estimated population mean in a target population in which an age-estimation method is applied is shifted towards the mean in the method-specific reference sample. Consequently, differences in population means between different age-estimation methods in the same target population may be due to differences in mean age of the reference samples used to develop the age-estimation methods. We aim at quantifying the expected magnitude for such differences. Fifteen different traditional age-estimation methods were applied to a sample of 675 adult individuals from the early medieval cemetery of Mannheim-Seckenheim. The relation of the observed estimated population age means and the mean age in the reference samples was analyzed by linear regression. We find that up to 80% of the variation in the estimated population age means can be explained by the variation of the mean age in the reference samples. Furthermore, differences in the magnitude of 3 to 4 years in the mean age between two reference samples can imply a 1-year difference in estimated target population age means. Because large differences in mean age between reference samples used to develop different age-estimation methods are common, some care is needed in interpreting differences between individual age estimates or population mean age estimates in cases where different age-estimation techniques are used

The Basel-Gasfabrik research project: Addressing complex topics by an integrative approach

The late La Tène period site of Basel-Gasfabrik has been under investigation for more than a century. During that time, the unfortified settlement with its two cemeteries has yielded huge amounts of everyday and exceptional objects and features. Beginning in the mid-1970s, samples were systematically collected for scientific analyses during ongoing excavations, thus producing ideal preconditions for interdisciplinary research. In 2011-2014, the international research project “Approaching the living via the dead: human remains from the Late La Tène site Basel-Gasfabrik and their cultural-historical interpretations” addressed the multifarious ways in which the Iron Age community handled their deceased. The intense collaboration involved researchers from the Archäologische Bodenforschung Basel-Stadt and the universities of Basel (CH), Mainz and Freiburg i.Br. (D) and spanned eight disciplines: archaeology, archeoanthropology, archaeobotany, archaeozoology, geoarchaeology, biogeochemistry, molecular genetics and statistics. Research topics and theoretical frameworks were developed jointly as well as procedures to combine the disciplinary results in multistage processes in order to generate integrative syntheses of novel insights. The challenges and specific research potentials of the integrative approach may serve as a positive example for future interdisciplinary research project

4000 years of human dietary evolution in central Germany, from the first farmers to the first elites

Investigation of human diet during the Neolithic has often been limited to a few archaeological cultures or single sites. In order to provide insight into the development of human food consumption and husbandry strategies, our study explores bone collagen carbon and nitrogen isotope data from 466 human and 105 faunal individuals from 26 sites in central Germany. It is the most extensive data set to date from an enclosed geographic microregion, covering 4,000 years of agricultural history from the Early Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. The animal data show that a variety of pastures and dietary resources were explored, but that these changed remarkably little over time. In the human δ15N however we found a significant increase with time across the different archaeological cultures. This trend could be observed in all time periods and archaeological cultures (Bell Beaker phenomenon excluded), even on continuously populated sites. Since there was no such trend in faunal isotope values, we were able largely to exclude manuring as the cause of this effect. Based on the rich interdisciplinary data from this region and archaeological period we can argue that meat consumption increased with the increasing duration of farming subsistence. In δ13C, we could not observe any clear increasing or decreasing trends during the archaeological time periods, either for humans or for animals, which would have suggested significant changes in the environment and landscape use. We discovered sex-related dietary differences, with males of all archaeological periods having higher δ15N values than females, and an age-related increasing consumption of animal protein. An initial decrease of δ15N-values at the age of 1-2 years reveals partial weaning, while complete weaning took place at the age of 3-4 years

Structures biologiques et sociales de la nécropole de Dattingen (Bade-Wurtemberg, Allemagne) : l’apport de la paléoanthropologie

Les vingt-huit tombes provenant des quatre tertres de la nécropole hallstattienne de Dattingen (Ha D1) ont fait l’objet d’analyses de parenté d’après l’anthropologie, afin d’étudier la structure sociale des populations. Les résultats permettent de proposer des hypothèses sur les relations biologiques entre les individus des différents tertres. On peut aussi proposer de voir dans le tumulus II le cimetière d’un petite entité sociale exogame (par exemple une famille élargie).Aus vier Grabhügeln eines hallstattzeitlichen Gräberfeldes (Ha D1) bei Dattingen wurden 28 Bestattungen einer anthropologischen Verwandtschaftsanalyse zugeführt, um Einblicke in die soziale Struktur dieser Bevölkerung zu erhalten. Die Ergebnisse legen eine Reihe von Hypothesen über biologische Beziehungen zwischen den Individuen aus verschiedenen Grabhügeln nahe. Es konnten aber auch Hinweise darauf gefunden werden, daß es sich bei Grabhügel II um den Bestattungsplatz einer kleinen. exogamen sozialen Einheit (z.B. Groβfamilie) handeln könnte

Insights into the social structure of the PPNB site of Kfar HaHoresh, Israel, based on dental remains

One of the central questions of the transition from mobile hunter-gatherers to sedentary farming communities concerns the establishment of new social structures and group identities. Along with other important factors, such as territory, ideology or economy, biological relationships might have played a decisive role in defining social groups. We therefore systematically analyzed teeth and jaw remains from nine sites in the Near East dating from the Natufian to the Late PPNB as primary proxy data for the reconstruction of familial relationships. This paper presents the results of morphological analyses on the teeth of the individuals from Kfar HaHoresh, one of the investigated Pre-Pottery Neolithic B sites. Kfar HaHoresh is located in the Nazareth hills of Galilee (32°42'20'' N 35°16'28'' E), Israel. Different statistical methods were applied to our data of epigenetic traits with the aim of determining biological relationships within the community, whereby the data of the eight other sites were used as cross-references. Our comparison of the traits of all individuals from Kfar HaHoresh indicates a rather heterogeneous community, but clearly shows one cluster belonging to a quite homogenous group, suggesting close biological relations between females and sub-adults. Interestingly, none of the male individuals belongs to this cluster, although their number outweighs that of the female individuals. This might suggest matrilocal residence patterns. However, due to the incomplete preservation of the teeth along with several other uncertainties, our conclusion must be seen as preliminary. A cross-examination of the results on skeletons excavated after our investigation should also be taken into consideration

List of traits evaluated for the analyses of biological relationship on teeth from Kfar HaHoresh.

<p>¹ for a detailed description of the traits see [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0134528#pone.0134528.ref064" target="_blank">64</a>].</p><p>List of traits evaluated for the analyses of biological relationship on teeth from Kfar HaHoresh.</p

Dental pulp calcifications in prehistoric and historical skeletal remains

The prevalence of hard tissue formations in the dental pulp varies considerably. Beside ageing processes and irritations of the dental pulp, etiological associations with cardiovascular disease and dietary habits have been discussed, which are of particular research interest. The aim of this pilot study is to provide new insights on structural and etiological factors involved in the development of pulp calcifications by investigating skeletal remains from different (pre)historic periods. The jaws of 46 skeletons excavated in central Germany, were examined for the presence of pulp stones using digital volume tomography (DVT). A total of 1122 teeth were examined with all tooth types considered. To obtain information about the three-dimensional structure of pulp calcifications, micro-CT images were taken. Thin sections of three molars were histologically analysed. Potential dietary effects were studied by analysing stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ15N) in bone samples collected from each individual. The analysis indicates that pulp stones affect molars in particular and increase slightly with age and dental wear. The micro-CT scans and the histological analysis show that the structures are much more complex than presumed on the basis of DVT imaging. Individuals with lower δ15N-isotope values and thus with a potentially lower proportion of animal protein in their diet appear to be less affected by pulp stones. When comparing between archaeological and recent data, DVT analysis provides qualitatively comparable results. Micro-CT and histological images illustrate the excellent preservation of pulp calcifications and their complex structure. Differences in prevalence rates and δ15N-isotope values of Neolithic and historical individuals support the assumption that dietary habits and living conditions could have an influence on the development of pulp calcifications. Due to the small sample size these results require further validation

Archaeological and relevant anthropological data of the analyzed individuals from Kfar HaHoresh.

<p># = after [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0134528#pone.0134528.ref046" target="_blank">46</a>] and Kranzbühler/Simmons pers. obs.; age and sex data = after Simmons; age and sex determinations by [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0134528#pone.0134528.ref046" target="_blank">46</a>] are given in square brackets where differences occurred. Bold type indicates individuals belonging to Group A or B.</p><p>¹ teeth are documented by photographs (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0134528#pone.0134528.s001" target="_blank">S1</a>–<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0134528#pone.0134528.s003" target="_blank">S3</a> Figs).</p><p>² age determination by [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0134528#pone.0134528.ref046" target="_blank">46</a>] in accordance with the photo.</p><p>Archaeological and relevant anthropological data of the analyzed individuals from Kfar HaHoresh.</p