In recent years there has been discussion of the many health benefits of the paleodiet, a diet that consist of food that we are evolutionary and genetically adapted to consume. The agricultural revolution introduced mankind to dietary changes that did not suit our biology, and is now the main reason for the nutrition-based diseases in developed countries. The purpose of this paper is to review both the archaeological methods used to explain the paleodiet and the knowledge we have about our hunter-gatherer ancestors and to see if there is any evidence to claim that the paleodiet could be an answer to food-health related diseases. This paper will also discuss the different perspectives behind the many dietary changes in human evolution and how they reflect on man’s dietary conditions today. The material used for this research is based on studies in anthropology, biology, genetics and epidemiology. The theory behind this paper is based on the positivism knowledge founded on properties and relations between measurable studies. Based on interpretations by reason and logic this paper is concluded through deductive reasoning. The results show that food-related diseases and syndromes are absent from traditional hunter-gatherer societies and that they first start to manifest if a western-based diet is adopted. According to our evolutionary and biological structure, man is not adapted to consuming dairy or agricultural products and we are, in fact, genetically identical to our Paleolithic ancestors. Therefore, because we have the same dietary conditions as the paleo hunter-gatherer, we would be considerably more healthy if we adopted a Paleolithic based diet.

Den här studien analyserar den moderna paleodieten genom en postmodernistisk teori och observerar om de aktörer som förespråkar den moderna paleodieten har ett nyanserat och problematiserande förhållningsätt till paleodieten. Studien baseras på fyra källor skrivna av tre aktörer, två böcker av arkeologen Göran Burenhult. Ytterligare en källa är The Paleo Solutionav Robb Wolf, den fjärde källan som förespråkar paleodieten är Swedish Paleo, ett företag som marknadsför paleodieten samt AIP-dieten online. Marlene Zuk är i sin bok Paleofantasymotståndare till paleodieten och hennes argument står i kontrast till de andra källorna. Honräknas dock inte som en huvudaktör och granskas inte av studien. Istället används hon endast för att analysera det positiva metanarrativet kring paleodieten. Studien kommer fram till att förespråkare för den moderna paleodieten ofta exkluderar information som motsäger den bildav dieten som de vill presentera. / This study analyses the modern paleodiet through a postmodernist lens and tries to find out if the proponents of the diet have a honest approach to archeological science. The study is based on four sources written by three individuals, two books by the archeologist Göran Burenhult, another source is The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf. The fourth positive source to the paleodiet is Swedish Paleo, a company which markets the paleodiet and AIP-diet online. Marlene Zuk in her book Paleofantasy is an opponent to the paleodiet and her arguments are in opposition to the other sources. She is not however considered to be a main actor to be analyzed in this study, instead her arguments are only meant to analyze the positive metanarrative which proponents of the paleodiet advocates. The result of the study is that the modern paleodiet often excludesinformation which contradicts the image of the paleodiet the proponents of the diet wants to present.

SUMMARY: Aim of this thesis is to provide, by using trace elements analysis and Pb isotopes analysis of archaeological findings from Roman era and following migration period, informations about basic bioarchaeological parameters of sites Abrahám, Rusovce II and Sládkovičovo (territory of present Slovakia) and Sopianae site (area of present Pécs city in Hugary). Analyses were performed on samples of 81 bones and 21 dental enamels. For purposes of this work most important concentrations are of Ca, P, Sr, Zn, Ba, Fe, Al, Mn and Pb (and its isotopes). They were consequently used for calculating Ca/P ratio in order to assess extent of after-burial diagenetic changes. For this purpose Al and Fe concentrations were taken into account too. Sr/Ca and Sr/Zn ratios were compared to assess prevailing type of diet. The Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios were compared in order to asess supposable mobility of some individuals. By using of Pb concentrations and its isotopes contamination by this metal was assessed. During interpretations of individual conclusions useability of samples outgoing from assessment of extent of diagenetic alterations were always taken into account. Little changes in chemical composition of samples arise in case of Sopianae site, samples from other sites are greatly preserved. Using of paleodietary...

Embora os indivíduos construtores dos sambaquis constituam o grupo pré-histórico brasileiro melhor estudado, várias questões continuam em aberto. Algumas delas estão ligadas a estratégias de subsistência. Sabe-se que a economia desses indivíduos era baseada na pesca e que a coleta de moluscos teria papel complementar na alimentação. Mas, atualmente, estudos antracológicos e de cálculo dentário vêm demonstrando a grande importância da utilização de plantas pelos sambaquieiros. Entretanto, pouco se conhece sobre as espécies consumidas e o modo de preparo dos alimentos. O sambaqui Jabuticabeira II, localizado na região sul de Santa Catarina, apresenta indícios da utilização de plantas que incluem: artefatos líticos que se acredita que tenham sido usados para raspar, moer e quebrar vegetais; sementes de famílias de plantas que produzem frutos comestíveis; coquinhos; e restos carbonizados de lenho de uma grande diversidade de espécies. Além disso, notou-se grande número e variedade de grãos de amido no cálculo dentário dos indivíduos sepultados nesse sambaqui, sugerindo que o consumo de vegetais ricos em amido teria sido grande. O presente estudo trata, portanto, da análise de 119 microvestígios vegetais de cálculo dentário de 19 adultos de Jabuticabeira II, objetivando avaliar se ocorria, de fato, um consumo de grande variedade de vegetais amiláceos, bem como identificar quais plantas foram consumidas. Para possibilitar tal identificação, foi iniciada a elaboração de uma coleção de referência de grãos de amido de plantas nativas da região. A partir dos resultados obtidos sugere-se que os sambaquieiros de Jabuticabeira II consumiam uma grande variedade de plantas ricas em amido. Embora o número de microrrestos vegetais variasse bastante entre os indivíduos, aparentemente, não ocorria diferença quanto a dieta vegetal de acordo com sexo, classe etária ou lócus de enterramento. A presença de diatomáceas de ambientes de água salobra indicam que os recursos faunísticos consumidos eram obtidos a partir da paleolaguna. Eram consumidos órgãos de reserva subterrâneos de aráceas (inhames), Dioscorea sp. (carás), Calathea SP. (ariá) e Ipomoea batatas (batata-doce) e, possivelmente, frutos das famílias Myrtaceae (incluindo Eugenia uniflora - pitanga) e Arecaceae (palmeiras). Acredita-se que o milho (Zea mays) também fazia parte da dieta, embora não tenha sido possível discernir se era cultivado nesse sitio, ou se foi obtido através de troca com grupos cultivadores de outras regiões. Ainda que fitólitos de gramíneas possam ter sido acidentalmente incorporados ao cálculo dentário dos indivíduos de Jabuticabeira II, sugere-se que algumas gramíneas poderiam ter sido utilizadas, não somente como alimento, mas também com fins medicinais ou de higiene oral. O alimento de origem vegetal parece ter sido processado através de moagem ou maceração, assado em brasas ou cinzas ou, ainda, preparado em fornos escavados. As evidências obtidas neste trabalho não apontam para o cultivo intensivo das plantas que eram utilizadas na dieta desse grupo, mas não corroboram, nem descartam a hipótese de que o manejo ou horticultura de alguns taxa florísticos importantes tenha ocorrido / The sambaqui (shellmound) builders are the best studied ancient human group from Brazil. However, much has still to be discovered about them. It is very well known that their subsistence was based on fishing and that molluscs\' gathering was a complement to their diet. Recently, anthracology and dental calculus studies have shown the importance of plants, but very little is known about the species eaten and the processes that were used for food preparation. The Jabuticabeira II sambaqui, located in southern Santa Catarina, shows evidences of plant use that include: lithic artifacts related to food processing; seeds from plant families that produce edible fruits; palm nuts; and remains from carbonized wood from a variety of species. Besides that, a high number and variety of starch grains were recovered from the dental calculus of some skeletons, suggesting that the consumption of starchy plants was important. For the present study, plant microfossils (n=119) recovered from the dental calculus from 19 adults exhumed from Jabuticabeira II shellmound were analysed, in order to identify the species consumed and to test if, in fact, their diet consisted of a high variety of starchy plants. To allow identification, the construction of a starch reference collection from plants from the studied region was initiated. The results suggest that the individuals buried at Jabuticabeira II indeed ate a high variety of starchy plants. Despite the inter- individual variation in the number of microfossils, there seems to be no difference in the plant intake according to sex, age class and burial site. The diatoms from brackish water that were also found indicate that the faunal resources consumed were obtained from the paleolagoon nearby. Underground storage organs from the Araceae family (arum family), Dioscorea sp. (yams), Calathea sp. (llerén), Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), and possibly fruits from the Myrtaceae family, including Eugenia uniflora (pitanga), and Arecaceae family (palm trees) were eaten. Although corn starch (Zea mays) grains were also identified, it is not yet clear if it was cultivated in Jabuticabeira II, or if it was obtained through exchange with cultivators from other sites. The grass leaf phytoliths that were also recovered suggest that plants from the Poaceae family could have been used as medicine or for oral hygiene. Plant food seems to have been processed through grinding, toasting in ashes, and maybe in underground ovens. Finally, there is no evidence that suggests that plants were cultivated in Jabuticabeira II, but the management of some botanical taxa cannot be excluded

As a result of the quick rise of pXRF technology in archaeology, there are concerns regarding the reliability and validity of data output acquired from pXRF. In this study, I test the hypothesis that portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry can provide reliable and valid results, using newly developed calibration curves, for the analysis of archaeological animal and human skeletal materials in prehistoric Peru to address hypotheses about ancient diet and trade. While pXRF systems may come with calibration software, the few if any standards and reference materials provided with the instrument rarely correspond to the vast array of archaeological materials capable of being analyzed by pXRF, including archaeological bone specimens. Empirical calibration curves for Ba, Ca, Fe, and Sr were created using the linear regression analysis of 19 human and animal bone standards analyzed via pXRF and ICP-MS. The results suggest the calibrations for Ca and Sr are sound, but the calibrations for Ba and Fe need to be further improved. In order to assess the reliability of pXRF (i.e. precision and accuracy), statistical analyses of 60 measurements on human bone specimens as well as on 19 human and animal bone specimens was performed in this study. The results indicate that the precision of pXRF is reliable, but additional work is needed with regard to accuracy. In contrast, the analysis of forty-four prehistoric human and animal bone specimens from varying regions in Peru were used to test the validity of pXRF. The pXRF data support the notion that pXRF is a valid technique to use in the analysis of bone specimens to address archaeological questions regarding paleodiet and possible trade interactions among individuals that reside in the highland and coastal valley regions of Peru

Embora os indivíduos construtores dos sambaquis constituam o grupo pré-histórico brasileiro melhor estudado, várias questões continuam em aberto. Algumas delas estão ligadas a estratégias de subsistência. Sabe-se que a economia desses indivíduos era baseada na pesca e que a coleta de moluscos teria papel complementar na alimentação. Mas, atualmente, estudos antracológicos e de cálculo dentário vêm demonstrando a grande importância da utilização de plantas pelos sambaquieiros. Entretanto, pouco se conhece sobre as espécies consumidas e o modo de preparo dos alimentos. O sambaqui Jabuticabeira II, localizado na região sul de Santa Catarina, apresenta indícios da utilização de plantas que incluem: artefatos líticos que se acredita que tenham sido usados para raspar, moer e quebrar vegetais; sementes de famílias de plantas que produzem frutos comestíveis; coquinhos; e restos carbonizados de lenho de uma grande diversidade de espécies. Além disso, notou-se grande número e variedade de grãos de amido no cálculo dentário dos indivíduos sepultados nesse sambaqui, sugerindo que o consumo de vegetais ricos em amido teria sido grande. O presente estudo trata, portanto, da análise de 119 microvestígios vegetais de cálculo dentário de 19 adultos de Jabuticabeira II, objetivando avaliar se ocorria, de fato, um consumo de grande variedade de vegetais amiláceos, bem como identificar quais plantas foram consumidas. Para possibilitar tal identificação, foi iniciada a elaboração de uma coleção de referência de grãos de amido de plantas nativas da região. A partir dos resultados obtidos sugere-se que os sambaquieiros de Jabuticabeira II consumiam uma grande variedade de plantas ricas em amido. Embora o número de microrrestos vegetais variasse bastante entre os indivíduos, aparentemente, não ocorria diferença quanto a dieta vegetal de acordo com sexo, classe etária ou lócus de enterramento. A presença de diatomáceas de ambientes de água salobra indicam que os recursos faunísticos consumidos eram obtidos a partir da paleolaguna. Eram consumidos órgãos de reserva subterrâneos de aráceas (inhames), Dioscorea sp. (carás), Calathea SP. (ariá) e Ipomoea batatas (batata-doce) e, possivelmente, frutos das famílias Myrtaceae (incluindo Eugenia uniflora - pitanga) e Arecaceae (palmeiras). Acredita-se que o milho (Zea mays) também fazia parte da dieta, embora não tenha sido possível discernir se era cultivado nesse sitio, ou se foi obtido através de troca com grupos cultivadores de outras regiões. Ainda que fitólitos de gramíneas possam ter sido acidentalmente incorporados ao cálculo dentário dos indivíduos de Jabuticabeira II, sugere-se que algumas gramíneas poderiam ter sido utilizadas, não somente como alimento, mas também com fins medicinais ou de higiene oral. O alimento de origem vegetal parece ter sido processado através de moagem ou maceração, assado em brasas ou cinzas ou, ainda, preparado em fornos escavados. As evidências obtidas neste trabalho não apontam para o cultivo intensivo das plantas que eram utilizadas na dieta desse grupo, mas não corroboram, nem descartam a hipótese de que o manejo ou horticultura de alguns taxa florísticos importantes tenha ocorrido / The sambaqui (shellmound) builders are the best studied ancient human group from Brazil. However, much has still to be discovered about them. It is very well known that their subsistence was based on fishing and that molluscs\' gathering was a complement to their diet. Recently, anthracology and dental calculus studies have shown the importance of plants, but very little is known about the species eaten and the processes that were used for food preparation. The Jabuticabeira II sambaqui, located in southern Santa Catarina, shows evidences of plant use that include: lithic artifacts related to food processing; seeds from plant families that produce edible fruits; palm nuts; and remains from carbonized wood from a variety of species. Besides that, a high number and variety of starch grains were recovered from the dental calculus of some skeletons, suggesting that the consumption of starchy plants was important. For the present study, plant microfossils (n=119) recovered from the dental calculus from 19 adults exhumed from Jabuticabeira II shellmound were analysed, in order to identify the species consumed and to test if, in fact, their diet consisted of a high variety of starchy plants. To allow identification, the construction of a starch reference collection from plants from the studied region was initiated. The results suggest that the individuals buried at Jabuticabeira II indeed ate a high variety of starchy plants. Despite the inter- individual variation in the number of microfossils, there seems to be no difference in the plant intake according to sex, age class and burial site. The diatoms from brackish water that were also found indicate that the faunal resources consumed were obtained from the paleolagoon nearby. Underground storage organs from the Araceae family (arum family), Dioscorea sp. (yams), Calathea sp. (llerén), Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), and possibly fruits from the Myrtaceae family, including Eugenia uniflora (pitanga), and Arecaceae family (palm trees) were eaten. Although corn starch (Zea mays) grains were also identified, it is not yet clear if it was cultivated in Jabuticabeira II, or if it was obtained through exchange with cultivators from other sites. The grass leaf phytoliths that were also recovered suggest that plants from the Poaceae family could have been used as medicine or for oral hygiene. Plant food seems to have been processed through grinding, toasting in ashes, and maybe in underground ovens. Finally, there is no evidence that suggests that plants were cultivated in Jabuticabeira II, but the management of some botanical taxa cannot be excluded

Before reaching adulthood, every individual experiences a period of dependency, the juvenile period, during which they rely on the older, more experienced members of their society for their security, subsistence and care. This juvenile period is an important stage of life for human physical and physiological development. In bioarchaeology, there has been limited research conducted on juveniles, particularly, the development of their own social identity and influences. The research method of stable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotope analysis is used to reconstruct the paleodiet of juveniles to determine their dietary composition. Specifically, this research is focused on Kuelap, located in the highlands of Peru, a large settlement inhabited from 900-1535 AD, including pre-Inca (900-1469 AD) and Inca periods (1470-1535 AD). The primary aim of this research is to determine if juveniles consumed different foods through different time periods. Another aim of this research is to determine if juveniles were treated differently than their adult counterparts. Bone collagen samples, primarily ribs, from 32 juveniles were analyzed. The average δ13C value for the pre-Inca juveniles was –13.1‰, and –13.4‰ for the Inca period juveniles. There was no statistically significant difference in δ13C values between juvenile groups or between adult and juvenile subsamples. The average δ15N for the pre-Inca juveniles was +8.1‰ and +7.8‰ for the Inca period juveniles. The Mann-Whitney U test determined there was not a statistically significant difference in δ15N values between the juvenile burial groups; however, there was a statistically significant difference between the juvenile and adult subgroups. The findings suggest that there may have been preferential treatment toward or metabolic stressors on the juvenile. The results of this study offer insights to availability of dietary components, societal roles based on developmental age stages, and the potential role of parenting in Kuelap.

No description available.

The number of mammals species belonging to the Pleistocene megafauna (animals with more than 44 kg) registered for Sergipe state is still low compared with other states from Brazilian Intertropical Region (BIR). In this study, fossils found in fossiliferous outcrops (Tanks) in the Charco and São José Farm (municipality of Poço Redondo, Sergipe) and Elefante Farm (município de Gararu, Sergipe) localities were analysed. This study described fossils of taxa already registered for the state, like Eremotherium laurillardi, Notiomastodon platensis, Smilodon populator, Mylodontidae and Toxodontinae, besides registering for the first time Xenorhinotherium bahiense, increasing the number of taxa known in Sergipe. Besides the description of fossils, this study also provided absolute dating and isotopes analyses for E. laurillardi e N. platensis from São José Farm (Poço Redondo, Sergipe) tank, contributing for the knowledge about the chronology of this species in BIR, their paleodiets and the environment where they lived during the final Pleistocene. The results showed that the mastodont N. platensis occurred between 12.125 and 19.594 cal yr BP and exhibited a grazer diet (d13C = -1.1 to 1.3 ), while the giant sloth E. laurillardi lived between 11.084 and 13.581 cal yr BP, with a mixed feeder diet (C3/C4 plants; values ratio d13C = -7.7 to -3.3 ). The d18O values of N. platensis ranged between 31.1 to 34.7 , while the values of E. laurillardi ranged between 27.7 to 29.7 , but in both cases the species where inhabiting an environment with high temperatures. The compilation of the data available for this species in this region allows the conclusion that neither species did exhibit differences in its diet through the last thousand of years of the final Pleistocene, which suggests that the vegetational composition of this locality did not vary during this period. / A quantidade de espécies de mamíferos pertencentes à megafauna (indivíduos com mais de 44 kg) Pleistocênica registradas para o estado de Sergipe ainda é baixa quando comparada com outros estados da Região Intertopical Brasileira - RIB. No presente trabalho foram analisados fósseis encontrados em afloramentos fossilíferos (do tipo tanque) nas localidades Fazenda Charco e Fazenda São José (município de Poço Redondo, Sergipe) e na Fazenda Elefante (município de Gararu, Sergipe). Este estudo descreveu novas peças de taxa já conhecidos para o estado como, por exemplo, Eremotherium laurillardi, Notiomastodon platensis, Smilodon populator, Mylodontidae e Toxodontinae, além de fazer o primeiro registro de Xenorhinotherium bahiense, aumentando o número de taxa conhecidos em Sergipe. Além da descrição e registro de fósseis, o presente estudo também forneceu datações absolutas e análises isotópicas para fósseis das espécies E. laurillardi e N. platensis, provenientes da Fazenda São José (Poço Redondo, Sergipe), contribuindo para o conhecimento sobre a cronologia destes megamamíferos na RIB, além de caracterizar suas paleodietas e o ambiente no qual viveram durante o Pleistoceno final. Os resultados indicaram que N. platensis ocorreu entre 12.125 até 19.594 cal yr BP, apresentando uma dieta pastadora (d13C = -1.1 a 1.3 ), enquanto E. laurillardi ocorreu entre 11.084 até 13.581 cal yr BP, com dieta generalista (plantas C3/C4; d13C= -7.7 a -3.3 ). Os valores de d18O de N. platensis variaram entre 31.1 to 34.7 , enquanto os valores de E. laurillardi variaram de 27.7 to 29.7 , demonstrando que ambas as espécies habitam um local com altas temperaturas. A partir da reunião dos dados existentes para estas espécies nesta região, conclui-se que estas permaneceram com a mesma dieta ao longo dos últimos milhares de anos do Pleistoceno final, permitindo a interpretação de que a composição vegetacional da localidade também não variou durante este período.

Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-04T12:36:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010 / A paleoparasitologia utiliza como principal instrumento de estudo a análise de coprólitos e sedimentos retirados do solo de sítios arqueológicos, latrinas e da área pélvica de esqueletos. Associando-se dados da arqueologia, antropologia e paleoparasitologia, entre outras ciências, é possível obter resultados consistentes sobre modo de vida e saúde das populações no passado. Neste trabalho foram analisadas amostras de três regiões diferentes das Américas. Um total de 59 amostras de coprólitos e sedimentos provenientes de sítios arqueológicos localizados na área arqueológica de São Raimundo Nonato, que engloba o Parque Nacional Serra da Capivara (PNSC), Piauí, Brasil, foram analisadas. Esta região apresenta sítios com datações bastante antigas obtidas na área do Parque, com evidência de atividades humanas datadas aproximadamente de 50.000 anos; 12 amostras provenientes do sítio arqueológico Antelope Cave, localizado no Arizona, EUA. Assim como o PNSC, este sítio possui a presença de cerâmica e a iniciação da agricultura pelos grupos pré-históricos naquela região; e 15 amostras retiradas diretamente da região pélvica de sepultamentos provenientes do sambaqui Cubatão I, localizado em Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Este sítio arqueológico é, na verdade, um desafio metodológico devido ao clima e a atividade biótica do solo da região que não permitem boas condições de preservação do material arqueológico. A análise de resíduos alimentares destas diferentes regiões arqueológicas forneceu dados a respeito da dieta de populações antigas e a relação entre a presença de parasitos e o encontro de plantas com propriedades anti-helmínticas, e ainda foi possível a determinação de casos de falso parasitismo. / Paleoparasitology uses, as the main tool to study, the analysis of coprolites and sediments removed from the land of archaeological sites, latrines and the pelvic area of skeletons. Joining data from archeology, anthropology and paleoparasitology, among other sciences, it is possible to obtain solid results on livelihoods and health of people in the past. On this study were analyzed samples from three different regions of the Americas. A total of 59 samples of coprolites and sediments from archaeological sites located in the archaeological area of São Raimundo Nonato, which includes the National Park Serra da Capivara (PNSC), located in Pernambuco, Brazil, were analyzed. This region has sites with the oldest dating obtained in the Park, with human activities recorded from 50.000 years BP; 12 samples from the archaeological site of Antelope Cave, located in Arizona, USA. This site, just like PNSC, has features such as the presence of pottery and the initiation of agriculture by prehistoric groups in the region, and 15 samples taken directly from the pelvic region of burials from the sambaqui Cubatão I, located in Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil. This archaeological site is actually a methodological challenge due to the climate and soil biotic activity in the region that don't allow good conditions of preservation of the archeological material. The analysis of alimentary residues of these different archaeological areas supplied data regarding the diet of old populations and the relationship between the presence of parasites and the encounter of plants with anthelminthic properties, and it was still possible the determination of cases of false parasitism.