Theses and Dissertations
ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9560-2749
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Zuckerman, Molly K.
Committee Member
Osterholtz, Anna J.
Committee Member
Soren, David
Date of Degree
5-12-2023
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Campus Access Only
Major
Applied Anthropology
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures
Abstract
This research examines the relationship between growth, growth disruption, and skeletal indicators stress amongst juveniles (n=60) interred at the Late Antique infant and child cemetery at Poggio Gramignano (PG) (ca. 5th century CE), associated with a rural agricultural community. Growth disruption – evidenced by decreased long bone length compared to dental age – and stress experience – evidenced by skeletal stress indicators – were compared to those within juveniles from two urban Roman-era cemeteries (n=66), Villa Rustica (VR) (0-400 CE) and Tragurium City Necropolis (TCN) (400-700 CE). Results indicate that the PG juveniles had significantly smaller femoral lengths-for-age than VR and TCN; however, the frequency of skeletal stress indicators were higher among juveniles at VR and TCN. These differences in growth and stress experience likely resulted from differing biosocial and ecological environments present in the different regions at the time, including differing nutrition, disease, and socioeconomic structures between urban and rural Roman populations.
Recommended Citation
Malis, Sierra, "Compromised health: Examining growth and health in a Late Antique Roman infant and child cemetery" (2023). Theses and Dissertations. 5846.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/5846