Patterns of entheseal changes and other activity markers in an ancient population from Neolithic to Bronze Age (8000–2300 BP) at the Houtaomuga site, Northeast China with special references to climate changes, subsistence strategies, sex‐based labor divisions, and regional variations

Bibliographic Data

ID7809783
AuthorsRuiqi Zou (0000-0001-7628-1572, Research Center for Chinese Frontier Archaeology Jilin University Changchun China), Haiyang Xing (0000-0002-9201-2687, The Orthopaedic Medical Center Second Hospital of Jilin University Changchun China), Xiaofan Sun (0000-0002-6650-8507, Research Center for Chinese Frontier Archaeology Jilin University Changchun China), Shuxin Kong (Research Center for Chinese Frontier Archaeology Jilin University Changchun China), Lixin Wang (0000-0002-1769-6935, Research Center for Chinese Frontier Archaeology Jilin University Changchun China), Zhe Zhang (0000-0003-3057-9490, Research Center for Chinese Frontier Archaeology Jilin University Changchun China), Quanchao Zhang (0000-0002-0863-5751, Research Center for Chinese Frontier Archaeology Jilin University Changchun China, corresponding author), Q Wang (0000-0002-3303-1183, Department of Biomedical Sciences Texas A&M University College of Dentistry Dallas Texas USA, corresponding author)
Year2024
Publication date2024-08-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.3335
OpenAlexW4401712730
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited71

Entheseal changes are skeletal markers, which are often used in the reconstruction of physical activities. This study investigated patterns of entheseal changes and other activity markers, such as squatting facets and degerative signs at joints in a mortuary population of the Houtaomuga site, Northeast China. Comparisons were conducted between the early period (Neolithic to Early Bronze Age, 8000–2500 BP) and the late period (Late Bronze Age, 2300 BP). Differences between two sexes of the late period were also compared. The results demonstrated that the frequency and severity of entheseal changes and other activity markers differed between early and late populations and between males and females of the late population suggesting subsistence strategies changes and new patterns of sex‐based divisions of labor. This is the first attempt to assess activity changes in fisher–hunter–gatherer populations over a long period of time from ancient China. Results reveal that though the Houtaomuga population maintained the primary subsistence modes of fishing, hunting, and gathering, their entheses elucidate gradual shifts along with reduced activity stress due to sedentary life and intensified sex‐based divisions of labor and the advent of craft specializations, which was likely influenced by climate changes

Ancient history · Archaeology · Bronze · Bronze Age · China · Climate change · Geography · Population · Zooarchaeology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Demography · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Paleopathology and ancient diseases · Geology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access