Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Reading Between The Lines: Indicators Of Developmental Stress In Prehistoric Ohio Valley Children From Linear Enamel Hypoplasias, Emily Moes

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

A large body of research in bioarchaeology focuses on the changes in the human skeleton associated with the introduction of agriculture. It is assumed that the intensification of agriculture results in an increase in physiological stress and poor health. However, previous studies have shown that stress experiences cannot be generalized by subsistence strategy and prevalence comparisons alone. Rather, age-at and duration of stress events are necessary to construct patterns of health.

Linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH) of subadult permanent dentition serve as a proxy for understanding health and stress in archaeological populations. LEH are defects in enamel, characterized by an increased …