Determinants of infant mortality and representation in bioarchaeological samples: a review

Clare McFadden; Brianna  Muir; Marc Oxenham

doi:10.1002/ajpa.24406

Determinants of infant mortality and representation in bioarchaeological samples: a review

Clare McFadden^* (Corresponding Author), Brianna Muir, Marc Oxenham

^*Corresponding author for this work

Archaeology

Australian National University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

5 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In bioarchaeological contexts, a complex relationship exists between infant representation in the age-at-death distribution, gestational and young child mortality rates, and the total fertility rate. The representation of infants in a skeletal sample may be influenced by a range of social, biological and archaeological factors. To better understand the interactions between representation, fertility and mortality, this study evaluates the relationship between infant juvenile age-at-death proportions, fertility rates, and a range of gestational and early childhood mortality measures. The statistical component of this study found the correlation between fertility rates and infant-juvenile proportions was stronger than with any mortality rate variable of interest. This suggests that the proportion of infants in a mortuary sample is a stronger indicator of fertility than it is of infant-juvenile mortality. Social, biological and archaeological variables potentially influencing infant representation in skeletal samples are discussed and a strongly contextualised and holistic approach to infant and juvenile mortality is recommended.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	196-206
Number of pages	11
Journal	American Journal of Biological Anthropology
Volume	177
Issue number	2
Early online date	19 Oct 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24406
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2022

Bibliographical note

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This article is dedicated to the memory of Alistair D. E. Muir (1972 - 2020). This research was partly funded by a British Academy grant GP2\190224. The authors thank the reviewers for their feedback which has improved this manuscript.

Data Availability Statement

The data that supports the findings of this study are available in the supporting information of this article.

Keywords

Fertility
Infant health
Infant Mortality
Infanticide
Preservation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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McFadden_etal_AJPA_Determinants_Of_Infant_AAM
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: McFadden, C., Muir, B., & Oxenham, M. F. (2021). Determinants of infant mortality and representation in bioarchaeological samples: A review. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 1– 11.E], which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24406. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
Accepted author manuscript, 351 KBLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "Determinants of infant mortality and representation in bioarchaeological samples: a review ",

abstract = "In bioarchaeological contexts, a complex relationship exists between infant representation in the age-at-death distribution, gestational and young child mortality rates, and the total fertility rate. The representation of infants in a skeletal sample may be influenced by a range of social, biological and archaeological factors. To better understand the interactions between representation, fertility and mortality, this study evaluates the relationship between infant juvenile age-at-death proportions, fertility rates, and a range of gestational and early childhood mortality measures. The statistical component of this study found the correlation between fertility rates and infant-juvenile proportions was stronger than with any mortality rate variable of interest. This suggests that the proportion of infants in a mortuary sample is a stronger indicator of fertility than it is of infant-juvenile mortality. Social, biological and archaeological variables potentially influencing infant representation in skeletal samples are discussed and a strongly contextualised and holistic approach to infant and juvenile mortality is recommended. ",

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AB - In bioarchaeological contexts, a complex relationship exists between infant representation in the age-at-death distribution, gestational and young child mortality rates, and the total fertility rate. The representation of infants in a skeletal sample may be influenced by a range of social, biological and archaeological factors. To better understand the interactions between representation, fertility and mortality, this study evaluates the relationship between infant juvenile age-at-death proportions, fertility rates, and a range of gestational and early childhood mortality measures. The statistical component of this study found the correlation between fertility rates and infant-juvenile proportions was stronger than with any mortality rate variable of interest. This suggests that the proportion of infants in a mortuary sample is a stronger indicator of fertility than it is of infant-juvenile mortality. Social, biological and archaeological variables potentially influencing infant representation in skeletal samples are discussed and a strongly contextualised and holistic approach to infant and juvenile mortality is recommended.

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KW - Infant health

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KW - Infanticide

KW - Preservation

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Determinants of infant mortality and representation in bioarchaeological samples: a review

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Cite this