Urban and rural survivorship in Pre- and Post-Black Death Denmark

Research on the survival of people in Pre- and Post-Black Death London revealed declines prior to epidemic, improvements afterwards. This study expands upon previous research by examining whether these trends are also observed medieval Danish populations. Analyses were done using a sample 877 individuals excavated from six cemeteries urban rural sites Denmark (c. AD 1050-1536), which includes who buried within three temporal periods based relative dating arm position grave: pre-Black 1050-1250), epidemic years that include Black preceding famine 1250-1400), post-Black 1400-1536) years. Temporal survivorship assessed Kaplan-Meier analysis. Survival analyses used examine effect urbanization over time. Fertility proxies estimated control for changes birth rates interpretation our results. The results indicate general increase after Death, especially nonadults (Mantel-Cox p = 0.10) absence fertility effect. Urban dwellers experienced significant (p 0.04). Analysis Pre-Black reveals elevated adults nonadults, indicating environments may have been more detrimental than before epidemic. These consistent with findings London, demonstrating mortality significantly different between leading up plague, there differential risks settings.