A morphometric system to distinguish sheep and goat postcranial bones.

Distinguishing between the bones of sheep and goat is a notorious challenge in zooarchaeology. Several methodological contributions have been published at different times and by various people to facilitate this task, largely relying on a macro-morphological approach. This is now routinely adopted by zooarchaeologists but, although it certainly has its value, has also been shown to have limitations. Morphological discriminant criteria can vary in different populations and correct identification is highly dependent upon a researcher's experience, availability of appropriate reference collections, and many other factors that are difficult to quantify. There is therefore a need to establish a more objective system, susceptible to scrutiny. In order to fulfil such a requirement, this paper offers a comprehensive morphometric method for the identification of sheep and goat postcranial bones, using a sample of more than 150 modern skeletons as a basis, and building on previous pioneering work. The proposed method is based on measurements-some newly created, others previously published-and its use is recommended in combination with the more traditional morphological approach. Measurement ratios, used to translate morphological traits into biometrical attributes, are demonstrated to have substantial diagnostic potential, with the vast majority of specimens correctly assigned to species. The efficacy of the new method is also tested with Discriminant Analysis, which provides a successful verification of the biometrical indices, a statistical means to select the most promising measurements, and an additional line of analysis to be used in conjunction with the others

A morphometric system to distinguish sheep and goat postcranial bones.

Distinguishing between the bones of sheep and goat is a notorious challenge in zooarchaeology. Several methodological contributions have been published at different times and by various people to facilitate this task, largely relying on a macro-morphological approach. This is now routinely adopted by zooarchaeologists but, although it certainly has its value, has also been shown to have limitations. Morphological discriminant criteria can vary in different populations and correct identification is highly dependent upon a researcher's experience, availability of appropriate reference collections, and many other factors that are difficult to quantify. There is therefore a need to establish a more objective system, susceptible to scrutiny. In order to fulfil such a requirement, this paper offers a comprehensive morphometric method for the identification of sheep and goat postcranial bones, using a sample of more than 150 modern skeletons as a basis, and building on previous pioneering work. The proposed method is based on measurements-some newly created, others previously published-and its use is recommended in combination with the more traditional morphological approach. Measurement ratios, used to translate morphological traits into biometrical attributes, are demonstrated to have substantial diagnostic potential, with the vast majority of specimens correctly assigned to species. The efficacy of the new method is also tested with Discriminant Analysis, which provides a successful verification of the biometrical indices, a statistical means to select the most promising measurements, and an additional line of analysis to be used in conjunction with the others

Nutrition and anthropometry With special reference to populations in Papua New Guinea and the United Kingdom

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Age of eruption of deciduous dentition of Anga children, Papua New Guinea

The emergence of deciduous dentition has been reported to be slower in non-Europeans than Europeans at the earlier but not later stages, and to be little affected by nutritional status. Emergence of deciduous dentition is reported for 135 young Anga children of the highland fringe of Papua New Guinea, and compared with their nutritional status as assessed by stature for age, and weight for stature. Emergence is delayed relative to European (Canadian) reference values in all but the last deciduous teeth to emerge. It is also delayed relative to other populations in Papua New Guinea for the mid-range of deciduous teeth to emerge. This later mid-range emergence may be related to the very poor nutritional status of Anga children

Increasing body size among adult Cook Islanders between 1966 and 1996

There is limited evidence of a secular trend toward increased body size among populations in the Pacific Region, although some populations have shown a clear rise in overweight and obesity across the past 30 years or so. Mean height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of adults surveyed in 1996 on Rarotonga, the Cook Islands, are reported by age group and compared with data collected in 1966 by Evans and Prior, to determine the extent to which a secular trend in increasing body size has taken place across this 30-year period. In addition, a comparison of these anthropometric variables between subjects born on the most modernized island of Rarotonga with those born on other less-modernized islands is made, to determine the extent to which adult body size differs according to place of origin. Comparing the sample of those born on Rarotonga, the most modernized island, with those born on other, less modernized islands shows those born on Rarotonga to be taller, but not relatively heavier than those born elsewhere in the Cook Islands. Both males and females of the 1996 sample of adults are significantly taller, heavier, with higher BMI compared with the 1966 sample, indicating a secular trend toward increased body size across this 30-year period. The mean BMIs of the younger age groups in 1996 are greater than those of the same age groups in 1966, indicating a secular trend toward greater body fatness. There has been a significant increase in obesity among both males and females. In 1966, 14% of males had a BMI greater than 30, while in 1996, the proportion was 52%. Among females, 44% of those measured in 1966 had a BMI greater than 30, while in 1996 the proportion was 57%. The higher mean stature of younger adult males relative to older ones suggests that the secular trend toward increasing height may have been underway prior to 1966. The mean statures and weights of adults aged 60 years and older in the 1996 sample are more similar to values given for most age groups in the 1966 sample, indicating that the secular trend toward increased weight and height may have begun 50-60 years ago

Socio-economic factors associated with physique of adults of the Purari delta of the Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea

Objective: To examine in detail the relationships between components of the modernization process, including experience of urban life, urban connectedness, education, and the nature and diversity of income sources on adult body size in a Papua New Guinea (PNG) population. Methods: Mean height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of 292 adults surveyed in 1995–97 in the Purari delta, PNG, are reported by age group, and related to modernization variables including urban life, urban connectedness, economic status and education. Results: With respect to BMI, 23% of males and 24% of females had a BMI greater than 25, while 1% of males and 6% of females had a BMI greater than 30. There were also significant numbers of undernourished individuals, especially among the females, where 13% had BMI below 18.5, compared with 5% of males with BMI below this level. Mean stature of younger adults is greater than that of older adults. For the males, height, weight and BMI are all negatively associated with age-squared, and positively associated with income. Weight is also positively associated with having urban relatives, but not with having lived in any urban centre. For the females, height is positively associated with age-squared, weight is positively associated with both income and number of years of education, while BMI is positively associated with income, and with having urban relatives, but not with urban dwelling per se. Conclusions: The secular trend toward increasing height may have been underway since the 1950s. Income level, number of years of education and having urban relatives emerge as core factors influencing body size and fatness in the Purari population.</p

Food consumption

Patterns of food consumption are of considerable interest to both nutritionists and anthropologists. Nutritionists may perceive that either qualitative or quantitative dietary inadequacies may lead to nutritional problems in the individual, household or community. Ecologically orientated anthropologists seek to explain patterns of consumption using adaptive models which may employ both biological and cultural factors. Of common concern to both is the way in which food is distributed within a population, community or household. Further, both seek to understand the nature and biological effects of food choice and food taboos. In this chapter, various aspects of food consumption patterns will be examined. These include within-household food distribution, the idea of food choice considered from an evolutionary perspective, and the biological effects of food restrictions and taboos

Energy nutrition of Iban in Song and Kanowit, February – April 1990

This report describes the results of a survey of the nutritional health of Iban from 24 longhouse villages in Song and Kanowit Districts during February to April 1990. The principle findings are: 1. Kanowit District clinic records of child nutritional status may have significantly underestimated the prevalence of low weight-for-age. 2. The growth performance of children aged 2–9 y in Kanowit appears to be slower than that of children in Song. 3. A concentration of respiratory morbidity in Kanowit, affecting children and adults of all ages, significantly contributes to this pattern. 4. Kanowit men aged 18–40 are shorter in stature than those in Song. 5. There is evidence for chronic energy deficiency in adults aged over 45 y, with a prevalence probably exceeding 10% and rising with age, particularly in women. This is significantly influenced by morbidity independently of the ageing process. 6. Resting energy expenditure in men and women significantly exceeds that predicted by internationally recommended methods, and requires further study. 7. Further investigation is required to substantiate and explain marginal evidence that Kanowit men have greater physical capacity for work than men in Song, and elucidate the implications of variable physical fitness for household income from subsistence activities

Energetic cost of standard activities in Gurkha and British soldiers

Measurements of basal metabolic rate and energy expenditure at lying, sitting, standing, and performing a step test at four levels of exercise, were made on Gurkha soldiers stationed in Britain and on British controls matched by body weight and occupational background. There was no significant difference in basal metabolic rate (BMR), nor in the energy cost of lying, sitting and standing between the two groups. Gurkhas showed significantly lower gross and net energy expenditure, and so significantly greater net mechanical efficiency, at the lower levels of step exercise. The ratio of gross energy expenditure to BMR was lower in Gurkhas at the lowest rates of stepping compared with the British controls. These results suggest that the energy cost of some physical activities expressed as multiples of BMR may not be constant across populations

Human growth, body size and adaptation

The full text of this book chapter is not available in ORA