International Journal of Osteoarchaeology最新文献

Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were introduced to Japan in the middle Yayoi period (fourth to third centuries BCE), but widespread consumption did not occur until the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries) based on historical documents and archaeological material. To clarify how chicken consumption became popular in early modern Japan, this study analyzed bird remains recovered from sites in three cities: Edo (early modern Tokyo), Nagasaki, and Osaka. We focused on temporal changes and regional differences in the frequency of chicken bones and the growth stages and sex ratios of chickens targeted for consumption. Our findings revealed that the most frequently consumed birds in Edo City during the 17th and 18th centuries were wild ducks and geese. Chicken consumption increased in the Edo period during the 19th century, particularly in samurai residences. By contrast, chicken consumption was popular among the townspeople in Nagasaki and Osaka and among Dutch merchants in Nagasaki since the 17th century. At the former residences of samurai and townspeople in Edo City and Osaka, most of the chickens consumed were male, mature birds, with an increase in the consumption of hens and juvenile chickens in Edo City by the 19th century. Conversely, juvenile chickens and hens were consumed more frequently in Nagasaki than in other cities since the 17th century. These findings suggest regional differences in the spread of chickens as part of the diet consumption and the age and sex of the birds consumed in early modern Japan.

Contemporary imaging techniques, particularly micro–computed tomography, enable detailed visualization and analysis of pathological changes in skeletal remains. This study examines the right temporal bone of a male individual from the Early Bronze Age Mierzanowice culture (2200–2000 bc), discovered in southeastern Poland. Macroscopic analysis revealed significant unilateral enlargement of the right petrous part and mastoid process. The aim of our study was to identify the underlying condition using high-resolution micro–computed tomography imaging. Scanning with a Nanotom 180 N device (30-μm-slice thickness) revealed substantial structural destruction of the otic capsule, consistent with a diagnosis of otosclerosis. The mastoid process was notably widened, with a clearly visible Koerner's septum. Comparative analysis with a nonpathological reference bone and the absence of systemic skeletal changes helped to rule out differential diagnoses such as osteogenesis imperfecta, otosyphilis, and Paget's disease. Micro–computed tomography provided exceptional insight into the internal architecture of the temporal bone, revealing detailed features associated with otosclerosis, including a hypodense focus in the region of the fissula ante fenestram and the “double ring sign” of the cochlea. These findings underscore the diagnostic power of micro–computed tomography in paleopathology and its potential to uncover subtle yet significant ancient diseases.

Leg amputation leads to irreversible limb loss and physical impairments, which requires local and systemic skeletal adaptations. The functional morphology of amputees in antiquity has not been systematically investigated. In this study, an individual with signs of lower limb amputation who lived 2200 years ago during the Warring States Period of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was assessed using functional morphological approaches. The skeleton demonstrated functional morphological adaptations both locally and systematically. Bone thickness and enthesis changes of the amputated leg had signs of atrophy, indicating functional decline and prolonged disuse after the amputation. After amputation, the individual relied on his upper limbs for balance and support. Besides, the individual experienced considerable lumbar strain attributable to his postamputation lifestyle and compensatory movement patterns. The reason for amputation might be penal in a military setting. These findings reveal adaptive mechanisms of limb function and the challenges faced by amputees, offering insights into the consequences of such procedures.

During the 2nd millennium bce, domestic ruminants were introduced to the eastern Tianshan Mountains (ETM) of Xinjiang, China, leading to the emergence of settled pastoralism and agro-pastoral economy. Since around the early Iron Age (1000 bce), the nomadic pastoral culture arose in this area. However, how this process influenced the diet of ancient people in the transitional period during the Bronze–Iron Age, and the resilience to adapt to different natural environments still needs further study. In this study, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses are performed on human hairs (n = 18), wools (n = 6), leathers (n = 3), and millet seeds (n = 5) from Wupu cemetery, dating to 3000–2400 cal BP in Hami basin, ETM. Three leather samples are identified as sheep or cattle by zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry. The δ¹³C divergence between wool samples (−20.0 ± 1.3‰) and cattle leather (−15.3‰ and −9.6‰) suggests a compound feeding strategy of sheep grazing in the natural environment and cattle raising in pens. The result of human hairs (δ¹³C = −16.7 ± 1.6‰, δ¹⁵N = 12.3 ± 1.6‰) indicates a subsistence strategy of C₃/C₄ mixed agriculture integrated with pastoralism at Wupu. Then, we collected δ¹⁵N values of domestic herbivores (n = 120) at low and high altitudes in the ETM as baselines to calculate human-herbivore δ¹⁵N offsets at different altitudes. The results show that a certain percentage of individuals with an offset value below 3‰ are present in all low-altitude sites dominated by agro-pastoralism. However, in the high-altitude sites dominated by nomadic pastoralism, there are no such individuals. Thus, human-herbivore δ¹⁵N offset values may have great potential to differentiate different lifestyles in the Eurasia steppe, where herbivores are the dominant domestic animals.

Unlike the unification of the Miaodigou culture, the late Yangshao period in the Central Plains of ancient China is marked by regional cultural diversity and external influences, necessitating more research into human subsistence and mobility patterns during this period. However, there has been a long-time lack of direct evidence for the mobility of Yangshao populations. The present study, therefore, aims to address this gap by reconstructing human dietary practices and mobility over 600 years (~3500–2900 bc) at the Qingtai site in the Central Plains, using a direct radiocarbon dating alongside strontium, carbon, and nitrogen isotope analyses of human remains. Our findings reveal a consistent millet-based diet and stable pig-based protein sources, with minimal dietary variation over time. Additionally, this study provides the first strontium isotope data for the late Yangshao period to date, which might suggest limited human mobility during this period. We infer that the stability of the self-sufficient millet-based economy and sedentary lifestyle not only supported population growth but also contributed significantly to the development of social complexity and economic stability during the late Yangshao period in the Central Plains.

Hunter-gatherers are often assumed to be less affected by dento-alveolar infections due to limited carbohydrate intake. Many studies, however, used outdated methods, suggesting that data from these societies need revision. This paper aims to assess whether late Holocene hunter-gatherers from Chubut Province (Argentina) exhibited a high frequency of caries and periapical lesions (PL) despite their reduced carbohydrate intake; explore whether different diets and environments between coastal and valley populations produced differences in oral infections; and investigate whether European contact negatively impacted oral health. The sample included 38 adults (638 teeth and 1031 alveoli). Caries and PL (granulomas, cysts, and chronic abscesses) were recorded and compared across sex, age, subregions (coast and valley), and temporal periods (precontact and postcontact). Dento-alveolar infections affected 71.1% of individuals (caries: 47.4%; PL: 36.8%) and correlated with dental wear and AMTL, suggesting underestimation of lesions. Caries were more frequent in young (60%) than in middle (52.6%) or old adults (22.2%), whereas PL mainly affected old (77.7%) compared to young (10%) and middle adults (31.6%). Caries were similar in both sexes (47.4%), whereas males had a higher frequency of PL (52.6%). No significant differences were found between coastal (caries 57.1%, PL: 38.1%) and valley populations (caries: 35.3%, PL: 35.3%). Periapical lesions were restricted to precontact period (61.1%), whereas caries were more frequent postcontact (66.7%). Hunter-gatherers from central Patagonia had a higher frequency of dento-alveolar infections than expected. Cysts were more common PL, likely due to lack of treatment before antibiotics. With respect to dietary groups, results suggest that environmental factors, cultural practices, or oral hygiene played a key role. A higher frequency of caries was recorded during postcontact, possibly linked to processed food consumption, whereas the abrasive precontact diet and higher dental wear may explain the increased PL frequency. This study enhances understanding of pathological diversity among past hunter-gatherers, considering diet, environment, and chronology. It also offers insights into the evolution of oral infectious diseases and their impact on human societies.

This paper presents data on ivory micro-artifacts discovered in the Middle Pleistocene (MIS 11) horizons of the multilayered Lower Paleolithic site of Medzhibozh A in western Ukraine. These micro-artifacts provide the earliest known reliable evidence for the deliberate modification of proboscidean ivory material using bipolar-on-anvil knapping and trimming techniques. Medzhibozh A, situated in the upper reaches of the Southern Bug Valley, has yielded several artifacts made from the ivory of Mammuthus trogontherii in layers II and I, alongside an archaic core-and-flake industry. Ivory fragments were processed using techniques commonly applied to stone artifact production. A subfossil weathered ivory fragment, already in a knappable state due to its preservation, was used for this purpose. The processed ivory objects included a pointed piece, miniature core-like item, and micro-flakes. The ivory fragments from Medzhibozh A, displaying clear signs of deliberate modification, are unique within the roughly synchronous Paleolithic records of Europe. The use of ivory for knapping by Lower Paleolithic hominins in the western part of the Eastern European Plain may have been influenced by the situational scarcity of high-quality raw materials and experimental efforts to test non-standard materials for their knappability.