From Hot Summer Days to Cold Winter Nights: An Analysis of Health in Little Ice Age Germany and Austria

From Hot Summer Days to Cold Winter Nights: An Analysis of Health in Little Ice Age Germany and Austria

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Williams, Leslie Lea
Language:English
Published: The Ohio State University / OhioLINK 2013
Subjects:
Physical Anthropology
Climate Change
Health
Middle Ages
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366317857
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu13663178572021-08-03T05:22:27Z From Hot Summer Days to Cold Winter Nights: An Analysis of Health in Little Ice Age Germany and Austria Williams, Leslie Lea Physical Anthropology Climate Change Health Middle Ages This dissertation investigates the consequences of the Little Ice Age (AD 1300-1850) on human health by examining skeletal samples from medieval and post-Medieval Germany and Austria. Historians and climate researchers recognize the Little Ice Age (LIA) as an era of climatic cooling associated with increased social strife, economic uncertainty, and epidemic disease in Europe. These consequences of the LIA are historically and archaeologically well documented and are broadened by an investigation into skeletal indicators of human health. Using five German skeletal samples from the region of Bavaria and one from the Austrian Alps, I examine and compare four aspects of health that leave evidence skeletally: physiological stress, nutritional deprivation, infectious disease, and trauma. In particular, I test the hypotheses that (1) The skeletons of populations from the peak of the LIA will show a significant decline in health when compared to the skeletons of populations from earlier periods, as indicated by shorter stature, more linear enamel hypoplasias, more skeletal indicators of nutritional deprivation, and more infectious disease and (2) The skeletons of populations from the peak of the LIA will show statistically significant higher levels of trauma than the skeletons of populations from earlier periods, as will be seen in a greater frequency of overall fractures as well as fractures to the cranium, long bones, and ribs.Results are complex and sometimes contradictory: stature increases in the LIA, as does LEH, while nutritional deficiencies indicative of a lack of iron, vitamin C, and B12 are higher in the previous period. Indicators of vitamin D deficiency are higher in the LIA, though not significantly so, and evidence for infections on the lower limb increases significantly in the LIA. As some indicators support poor health in the LIA and others support poor health in the preceding period, the subhypotheses of Hypothesis One are both rejected and not rejected. In terms of traumatic injury, the overall rate of injury stays constant between the LIA and its preceding period, and regional fractures both increase (cranium, long bones) and decrease (ribs) in the Little Ice Age. Thus, the second hypothesis is rejected. These results show the complex nature in which climate change in the medieval and post-medieval period affected the health of individuals living in central Europe, and highlight the need for further regional studies and increased contextual data to better understand the local adaptations that either mitigate or worsen population health. 2013-07-26 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366317857 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366317857 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Physical Anthropology
Climate Change
Health
Middle Ages
spellingShingle Physical Anthropology
Climate Change
Health
Middle Ages
Williams, Leslie Lea
From Hot Summer Days to Cold Winter Nights: An Analysis of Health in Little Ice Age Germany and Austria
author Williams, Leslie Lea
author_facet Williams, Leslie Lea
author_sort Williams, Leslie Lea
title From Hot Summer Days to Cold Winter Nights: An Analysis of Health in Little Ice Age Germany and Austria
title_short From Hot Summer Days to Cold Winter Nights: An Analysis of Health in Little Ice Age Germany and Austria
title_full From Hot Summer Days to Cold Winter Nights: An Analysis of Health in Little Ice Age Germany and Austria
title_fullStr From Hot Summer Days to Cold Winter Nights: An Analysis of Health in Little Ice Age Germany and Austria
title_full_unstemmed From Hot Summer Days to Cold Winter Nights: An Analysis of Health in Little Ice Age Germany and Austria
title_sort from hot summer days to cold winter nights: an analysis of health in little ice age germany and austria
publisher The Ohio State University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2013
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366317857
work_keys_str_mv AT williamsleslielea fromhotsummerdaystocoldwinternightsananalysisofhealthinlittleiceagegermanyandaustria
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