Durham E-Theses A comparative study of activity-related skeletal changes in 3rd-2nd millennium BC coastal shers and 1st millenium AD inland agriculturists in Chile, South America PONCE, PAOLA,VANESA How to cite: PONCE, PAOLA,VANESA (2010) A comparative study of activity-related skeletal changes in 3rd-2nd millennium BC coastal shers and 1st millenium AD inland agriculturists in Chile, South America, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/546/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 i ii Abstract The reconstruction of patterns of physical activities, behaviour, and lifestyle in past populations is one of the goals most often pursued by bioarchaeologists. This study considers the presence of a group of markers of occupational stress (MOS) that are accepted by many in bioarchaeology as representing the impact of physical activity. To examine their presence, two past populations from northern Chile who practised two contrasting subsistence economies such as marine hunting and gathering with agricultural farmers were compared. The skeletal markers analysed were enthesophytes, osteoarthritis, spondylolysis, os acromiale, osteochondritis dissecans as well as changes in size, shape and robusticity of long bones. The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of these MOS in archaic coastal fishers (3rd-2nd millennium BC) with inland agriculturalists (1st millennium AD). One hundred and seventy-five skeletons of adult males and females curated at the Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa in Arica, Chile were analysed. It was found that early coastal populations were in general significantly more affected by these MOS when compared with later inland agriculturalists thus suggesting that the archaic way of life based on marine hunting and gathering was more physically demanding than that practised by later agricultural and farming populations. The intra-group analysis between sexes revealed that coastal males showed higher prevalence rates of these markers compared with coastal females but comparisons between agricultural males and females failed to demonstrate any significant difference in the prevalence rates for these markers. Thus suggesting a more marked sexual division of labour among the former group compared to the latter. Inter- group sex comparisons revealed that males from both groups were generally similarly affected by the MOS whereas females displayed a more varied pattern. Assuming that these markers result from physical activity and occupation, regardless of the subsistence economy practised, men from both populations performed the most physically demanding activities. Women on the other hand, would have changed their roles in society with the arrival of agriculture, thus getting progressively more involved and participating more in the demanding tasks required by the agricultural way of life. In conclusion, this study showed that the arrival of agriculture in northern Chile resulted in differences in the patterns and prevalence of activity-related pathological conditions. iii Acknowledgements First of all, this PhD would have not been possible without the support of Durham University, the Durham Doctoral Fellowship Award and the Rosemary Cramp Fund. The former provided financial support and the latter, awarded in 2007 and 2009, provided financial help to travel to Chile to carry out my fieldwork and attend a number of conferences to present some of the data that resulted from this study. Special thanks are given to my two supervisors Professor Charlotte Roberts and Dr Andrew Millard. In times of despair, they were always present. Without their help and guidance this thesis would have not been possible. Thanks Charlotte for her contagious passion and enthusiasm, which inspired me and motivated me for the last three years. My extreme gratitude also goes towards the wonderful people from the Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa and the Universidad de Tarapacá in Arica, Chile. They provided key facilities and logistic support for my research in Chile. To Dr Bernardo Arriaza, who gave me permission to analyse the skeletal material and to Dr Marietta Ortega, Director of the Museum, who also supported my visit. To Leticia Latorre and María Vasquez who facilitated access to the collections. To Vivien Standen, who helped numerous times while being there and on my return to the UK. Specials thanks to Octavio Lagos, Brenda Leiva, Maritza Espinosa for their support, smiles and friendship. To Raúl Rocha (Department of Cartographic Documentations), Gustavo Espinosa and Teresa Cañipa (Department of Records) for providing crucial information on the samples analysed here. To Ana Flores, Soledad Palma and Liliana Díaz. Special thanks are given to Ford Watson who walked with me and accompanied me along this process supporting me in good and bad times bringing light to my dark days. Finally, my gratitude to Valentina Graci for her help with statistics, Genesis Ruiz-Cota for her help in editing maps and images and Michelle Levitt for her artistic input. iv Dedication Le dedico esta tesis a Clotilde Catalina Chiapello de Ponce (mi ITA) Todo el esfuerzo puesto para alcanzar tan importante sueño en mi vida, Se lo dedico a mi abuela A quien amo con todo mi corazón I dedicate this thesis to Clotilde Catalina Chiapello de Ponce (my ITA) All the effort made to achieve the most important dream in my life, I dedicate to my grandmother Who I love with all my heart Gracias por ser mi abuela Gracias por hablar el lenguaje del amor incondicional Gracias tu entendimiento Gracias por querer complacer A vos ITA, my abuela del alma Thank you for being my grandmother Thank you for speaking the language of unconditional love Thank you for your understanding Thank you for your willingness to please To you ITA, my soul grandma v Dedication A los maravillosos papás que con suerte me tocó tener Norma Varela y Jorge Ponce Sin ellos hoy no sería quien soy Y no hubiese llegado a donde estoy To the wonderful parents that I luckily have Norma Varela and Jorge Ponce Without them I would not be who I am And I would not have gone where I am vi Dedication A los indios de América, A los que caminaron descalzos Sobre una tierra que les pertenecía A los que supieron ser libres Y dueños de su propio tiempo To the Native American Indians Those who walked in bare feet Over a soil that they owned Those who were free And owner of their own time A los indios de América, A aquellos que enfrentaron al europeo Y vieron la caída de sus ídolos y la imposición de otros A aquellos que fueron esclavizados pagando con su propia vida Por la codicia y ambición del hombre blanco To the Native American Indians Those who faced the Europeans And lived to see the fall of their idols and the imposition of others Those who were enslaved and paid with their own lives For the greed and ambition of white men vii Table of contents Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................... 17 1.1 Markers of occupational stress: background to study ........................................... 17 1.2 Aim ........................................................................................................................ 22 1.3 Objectives .............................................................................................................. 23 Chapter 2: Markers of occupational stress (MOS) .......................................................... 25 2.1 Enthesophytes ....................................................................................................... 25 2.1.1 Definition ....................................................................................................... 25 2.1.2 Terminology and classification ...................................................................... 26 2.1.3 Diagnostic criteria .......................................................................................... 27 2.1.4 Epidemiology ................................................................................................. 27 2.1.5 Symptoms ....................................................................................................... 37 2.1.6 Enthesophytes and bioarchaeology ................................................................ 38 2.1.7 Limitations and future research ...................................................................... 42 2.2 Osteoarthritis ......................................................................................................... 44 2.2.1 Definition ....................................................................................................... 44 2.2.2 Terminology and classification ...................................................................... 44 2.2.3 Diagnostic criteria .........................................................................................