Diet, health, and lifestyle in Neolithic North China

This study investigates the diet, health, and lifestyle of three Neolithic societies in North China. The investigation evaluates skeletal samples using biological parameters that have been shown to reflect important societal attributes including nutrition, disease, types and levels of physical activity, and mode of subsistence. Samples are drawn from three Neolithic human populations in North China: Xinglongwa (type site for Xinglongwa culture), Jiahu (Peiligang or Jiahu culture), and Shijia (Yangshao culture). Previous research has revealed a systematic relationship between the level of agricultural intensity and a number of biological parameters, and reports that the transition from foraging to farming led to a general reduction in health status and nutrition. This previous research is used in two ways in this study. First, the data are used as a complement to prior studies on the diet, health, and lifestyle of these three communities. This is particularly important for the Xinglongwa society where the level of agricultural intensity is open to debate. This study concludes that Xinglongwa exhibits substantially lower agricultural intensity than either Jiahu or Shijia. Second, this study analyzes the biological effects of agriculture in Neolithic North China. Past studies suggests that increased use of grains among early agriculturalists has direct nutritional effects and a set of indirect effects caused by sedentary living. This study finds that: Xinglongwa specimens show neither direct nor indirect effects associated with agriculture. Jiahu specimens show direct effects but not indirect effects associated with agriculture. Shijia specimens show both direct and indirect effects associated with agriculture.