Trends in Ancient Populations’ Osteobiography during the Holocene: the Levantine Perspective

Abstract. The rapid changes in our surroundings during the Holocene challenge human body. current study, carried out on terminal Pleistocene-Holocene populations of Levant, presents several examples how habitation and diet have affected disease patterns gross morphology long bones mandibles. Our major findings were that prehistoric Natufian (67%) protohistoric Chalcolithic (80%) exhibited a much higher rate ear inflammation (otitis media) than all other populations: Neolithic, Roman/Byzantine, Ottoman (50% ± 5%). A general continuous significant decrease relative femoral bone cortical area from (77.8%) to present times (64.7%) was noticed (the population exception). Mandibular shape has changed considerably, mainly between pre-agricultural Natufian) succeeding ones (i.e., ramus became taller narrower, coronoid pointed, mandibular notch narrower deeper, body more triangular). Possible behavioral, economic, environmental factors associated with these are discussed.