Biocultural analysis of sex differences in mortality profiles and stress levels in the late medieval population from Nova Raca, Croatia

Human skeletal remains of 104 individuals from the late medieval (14th-18th century) Nova Raca cemetery, in continental Croatia, are described. Histor ic data from the parish Book of the Dead, relevant to a period in the early 19th century, suggest that females may have been under greater stress than males. To test this hypothesis, the skeletal material is analyzed for the presence and distribution of enamel hypoplasias and cribra orbitalia. Obser vations are also made on the presence and pattern of dental disease, skelet al infection, trauma, osteoarthritis, vertebral degenerative changes, and S chmorl's depression frequencies. The mortuary sample, consisting of 36 subadults and 68 adults, exhibits und errepresentation of subadults, and differential adult male/female mortality profiles. Peak female mortality is between 21-25 years, compared to peak m ale mortality between 31-35 years. Average adult female age at death is 29. 9 years, compared to 34.1 years in adult males. Significant sex differences are present in the frequencies of enamel hypoplasia. Adult females have hi gher frequencies of hypoplastic teeth, and a larger number of defects in th e teeth affected than in males. Subadults in the series also exhibit higher frequencies of hypoplastic teeth, and a larger number of defects in the te eth affected than in adults, documenting a relationship between enamel hypo plasia-causing stress events and reduced life expectancy. Significant sex d ifferences are also present in dental pathology frequencies, possibly refle cting differences in resource access. Sex differences in vertebral osteoart hritis and Schmorl's depression frequencies may reflect differential activi ty patterns. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.