<p>This dissertation employs a multiscalar, life course
approach to examine health in the ancient Nile Valley (<i>c</i>. 2000- 660 BCE)
by analyzing population- and individual-level data of skeletal indicators of
stress, health, and pathological conditions. Specifically, this dissertation
explores a more detailed reconstruction of health under a life course approach
through the inclusion of individuals of all ages, a contextualization of social
and biological age categories, the examination of multiple non-specific
indicators of general health/stress, and the timing and development of specific
conditions. Results of the population-level data are expanded and highlighted
through the examination of individual experiences of health, specifically those
related to growing old, impairment, and disability. Population-level data
examining cribra orbitalia and LEH demonstrated a significant difference
between individuals that survived periods of childhood stress (adults) and
non-survivors (juveniles) when examining cribra orbitalia. More specifically, there
are relatively high frequencies of cribra orbitalia in individuals in the late juvenile
social age category (7 – 14 years) and the transition adult social age category
(14 - 20 years). A broad examination of old age at Tombos reveals that many
individuals were living into their 60s, 70s, and 80s. Individuals at Tombos do
not have many indicators of osteoarthritis or entheseal changes, indicating
that the inhabitants of Tombos were not subjected to strenuous physical
activities throughout their life. Individuals throughout the Tombos cemetery
display oral health issues; it is common for members of this community to have
significant dental wear, carious lesions, abscesses, and antemortem tooth loss.
A case study of an older Tombos adult
(U34.B1) investigates the intersection of old age, impairment, and disability
through the consideration of the physical changes related to degenerative joint
disease and oral health and the impact to U34.B1’s mobility, pain level, and
daily life. Acute care related to a severe, non-union femoral neck fracture at
the end of life is also considered for U34.B1. Finally, impairment and
disability are considered in another individual (U35.Sh2.B10) with Léri-Weill
dyschondrosteosis by utilizing the bioarchaeology of care approach. Overall,
this dissertation demonstrates that population-level and individual-level
analysis can incorporate various types of contextual data gathered using a
culturally specific lens to create a rich narrative of health in the past. </p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/10547552 |
| Date | 20 November 2019 |
| Creators | Katie Marie Whitmore (7894955) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/A_Life_Course_Approach_to_Health_in_the_Ancient_Nile_Valley/10547552 |
Page generated in 0.002 seconds