2025/12/11 by Rebecca Pitt · 2 voices
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies #Paleopathology and ancient diseases
paper · pdf · doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.10263
The Roman occupation of England (AD 43–410), characterised by urbanisation and militarisation, is generally understood to have had a negative impact on population health. Yet our understanding of associated socioeconomic changes is hindered by the comparatively limited analysis of inhumations from the preceding Iron Age. Deploying the DOHaD hypothesis, this study examines negative health markers in the skeletons of 274 adult females of childbearing age and 372 non-adults aged below 3.5 years from Iron Age and Roman contexts, revealing the long-lasting negative influence of urbanisation but with a more limited impact in rural communities implying continuation of cultural norms.