Multiple studies performed on extant populations have shown that early life adversity (i.e. early exposure to biological, environmental or social adverse events that may interfere with organism developmental trajectories) is associated with physical and mental health issues across the life course. Chronic, occasional or one-time experiences (like stress, diseases, traumatic events, nutritional deprivation, exposition to environmental teratogenic agents, etc.) can indeed induce small or big disruptions in key biological processes, increase risks of health outcomes in later-life, and sometimes even compromise the individual fitness.

Knowing how early life negative exposure during periods of developmental plasticity can “get under the skin”, the aim of our research is to investigate how these multiple and multiscale experiences can get “into the bones”, in order to study lives and deaths of children in past populations. To address this question, we will try to provide an overview of current skeletal indicators for vitality at birth, morbidity and mortality, explore ongoing research on these topics, and underline the bioarchaeological perspectives for the understanding of biological and social identities of children in ancient communities.

Dr. Caroline Partiot ist Biologische Anthropologin am ÖAI der ÖAW und assoziiert mit der Université Bordeaux, PACEA (UMR 5199 du CNRS).

Zoom-Link: https://oeaw-ac-at.zoom.us/j/98180393122?pwd=TCtRSnkwQ0lFL3VJelpYVkVkNUZiUT09

(Meeting ID: 981 8039 3122, Passcode: 360994)