Life history of a high‐class noblewoman from the late Shu state in the Chengdu Plain during the Eastern Zhou period (770–221 BC)

Childhood stresses and stable life

Bibliographic Data

ID12370951
AuthorsBing Yi (0000-0002-5131-0266, Laboratory of Archaeometry Xiamen University Xiamen China, corresponding author), Haomiao Yuan (0000-0002-3155-6760, Center for Archaeological Science Sichuan University Chengdu China, corresponding author), Tianyou Wang (0000-0003-1355-0661, Chengdu Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology Chengdu China), D Cao (0000-0001-6155-606X, Department of Archaeology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK), Yingdong Yang (Chengdu Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology Chengdu China), Yaowu Hu (Institute of Archaeological Science Fudan University Shanghai China, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume34
Issue1
Publication date2024-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.3282
OpenAlexW4390820171
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited64

This preliminary study aims at reconstructing the life history, including dietary patterns, mobility, and health conditions, of a high‐class noblewoman (M154) from the late Shu state (晚蜀), the period of Kai Ming regime (開明氏), in the Shuangyuan Village Cemetery of the Eastern Zhou period (770–221 BC), Chengdu Plain, China, as a way to provide a glimpse into the human lifeway in the late Shu culture period under the impact of non‐local cultures. We combined skeletal pathological observations with multi‐isotope (carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen) analyses of bone collagen, enamel, and dentin serial sections and analyzed multi‐tooth enamel from the remaining 10 humans in the cemetery as comparative data. The results suggest that the occupant of M154, a female who died at around 30 years of age, consumed mainly rice (C 3 ‐based crop) and high animal protein throughout her life, was weaned at 2–3 years of age, experienced physiological stresses after weaning and at 7–8 years of age but recovered from both rapidly (less than a year), which probably was related to better care, and that the timing of physiological stress embodied in isotopic profiles from incremental dentin sections is consistent with the observed enamel hypoplasia and cribra orbitalia. She more likely lived with the local population from childhood to adolescence and did not experience long‐distance migrations. After 7–8 years of age, she consumed relatively stable food resources and lived a stable life until death. Here, we show the stable and well‐cared‐for life history of a high‐ranking noble of the late Shu state, providing new insights into the study of the ancient Shu people and a reference for further research

Animal science · Archaeology · Bioarchaeology · Biology · Dentin · Enamel paint · Geography · Isotope analysis · Life history · Period (music · Population · Weaning · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Demography · Dentistry · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Medicine · Paleopathology and ancient diseases · Ecology