Evidence of probable scurvy in subadults from archeological sites in NorthAmerica

The authors surveyed subadult human skeletons from Native American archeolo gical sites in the United States for evidence of skeletal lesions associate d with scurvy. Geographic regions surveyed include the Midatlantic area, th e Southeast (Florida), the Southwest, and the Plains. The prevalence of pro bable subadult scurvy ranged from zero in the Plains samples to 38% in a sm all sample from Florida. These data indicate the likelihood that scurvy was a significant childhood disease in many Native American groups. Reasons fo r variation in prevalence remain speculative but include regional and seaso nal variation in food types and abundance, cultural patterns of storage and utilization, periodic food shortages, and the relative importance of corn in the diet. These factors are part of a nutritional complex that is relate d to disease prevalence which can be studied through evidence seen in arche ological human remains. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.