Bio archaeological analysis of subsistence and health at the Lake George site, Mississippi (22YZ557)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Abstract

Bioarchaeological investigations of subsistence and health were conducted on a skeletal population from the Lake George site (22YZ557), a large prehistoric settlement in the lower Yazoo basin of west-central Mississippi Subsistence is inferred from oral health indicators (including dental caries, calculus, periodontal disease, abscesses, antemortem tooth loss, and macrowear) and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios from bone collagen and apatite. Health is inferred from nonspecific indicators (including cranial porous lesions, enamel hypoplasias, and Harris lines). The sample includes 25 adults and 25 subadidts, all of which date to the Coles Creek period (A.D. 700-1200). Frequencies of all pathological conditions are reported for the entire sample and divided by sex and age for adults. Results indicate a heavy pathology load at Lake George, but one that is not dissimilar to other Coles Creek populations. Isotope values indicate a diet that included primarily C3plants (δ13 CCOL = -21.03%o, δ13CAp-diet = -22.06) and terrestrial protein (δ15N = 9.72%). The sources of nonspecific pathologies are attributed to stressors associated zvith increasing population density and cultural complexity that occurred during the Coles Creek period.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Southeastern Archaeology

Number

584

First Page

111

Last Page

128

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