Human Stature and Nutrition in the Context of Roman and Medieval London
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Anthropology
Mentor Information
Gwyn Madden
Department
Anthropology
Location
Kirkhof Center KC 81
Start Date
11-4-2012 9:00 AM
Keywords
Culture, Death and Dying, Gender, Health, Historical Perspectives, Social Class
Abstract
Human stature, derived from anthropometric measurements of skeletal remains, is a valuable tool to explore how diet and social factors influence health. This tool was used to answer the research question, how does the stature among the occupants of London change from Roman to Medieval times, and what does this indicate about health and sustenance in relation to sex?Adult skeletons of estimated age 18 or older were used, and only those in the sample with femurs and humeri present. The data that were used in this study were supplied by the Museum of London's Centre for Human Bioarchaeology (WORD Database 2011). The primary pair of variables that was analyzed was sex and stature; 'Roman' and 'Medieval' made up a categorical third variable, time. The synthetic results were that the biological and socially-perceived identity of sex had a relationship with the quality of nutrition experienced by individuals living in London during the time period studied.
Human Stature and Nutrition in the Context of Roman and Medieval London
Kirkhof Center KC 81
Human stature, derived from anthropometric measurements of skeletal remains, is a valuable tool to explore how diet and social factors influence health. This tool was used to answer the research question, how does the stature among the occupants of London change from Roman to Medieval times, and what does this indicate about health and sustenance in relation to sex?Adult skeletons of estimated age 18 or older were used, and only those in the sample with femurs and humeri present. The data that were used in this study were supplied by the Museum of London's Centre for Human Bioarchaeology (WORD Database 2011). The primary pair of variables that was analyzed was sex and stature; 'Roman' and 'Medieval' made up a categorical third variable, time. The synthetic results were that the biological and socially-perceived identity of sex had a relationship with the quality of nutrition experienced by individuals living in London during the time period studied.