[Secular trend of body height and "acceleration" or fluctuation in growth in height in child development--on questions of methodology in relation to pre-historical skeletal remains].

Abstract

The possibility of obtaining information on growth and development from prehistoric and early historic skeletal remains of children and juveniles is discussed. Beside simple measurements of length there are some new methods of assessment, e.g. control of "Harris' lines", thickness of bone corticalis including cremated bones, diameters of neural canal and vertebral body height. Estimation of age based on dentition must be presumed in every case. Results show oscillations rather than a linear or curved trend in only on direction. The phenomenon of acceleration can also not be seen as a return to earlier phases of mankind.