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This article explores the methods used to calculate demographic trends from skeletal remains. It discusses life expectancy, mortality, and the impact of death on population dynamics. The role of various factors, such as disease, accidents, violence, and malnutrition, in premature death is examined. Additionally, the estimation of age and sex from skeletal remains and the challenges associated with burial practices and population representation are discussed. The article also covers the construction of life tables, mortality and survivorship curves, and the demographic history of South Africa.
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Palaeodemography Methods used to calculate demographic trends from skeletal remains Introduction Life expectancy and mortality Life tables
Death: affect on population ANA 328
Causes of premature death • Disease (e.g., AIDS, SARS) • Accidents • Motor vehicle, aeroplane etc. • Exposure to elements (hypothermia) • Violence / Warfare • Malnutrition (starvation) ANA 328
Life expectancy • Estimated period of time that one is expected to live at a particular age (x) ANA 328
Current trends (2002) ANA 328
Comparison 1995 & 2002 ANA 328
AIDS and South Africa ANA 328
Fertility and infant mortality ANA 328
Skeletal remains 1:2 • Accurate estimation of age and sex from skeletal remains • Sample is a good representation of the population • Bias • Non-stationary populations • Estimation of age at death • Burial practices and preservation of the remains ANA 328
Skeletal remains 2:2 • Multi-factor approach: estimating of age • Distribute individuals over age ranges • Compare with standards, e.g, Coale and Demeny: Regional Model Life Tables and Stable Populations ANA 328
Abridged life table ANA 328
Mortality vs. Survivorship curves • Plotting age cohorts on the X-axis and percentage on the Y-axis • dx = mortality • lx = survivorship ANA 328
Mortality ANA 328
Survivorship ANA 328
Demography: SA • Black South Africans not recorded until 1980 • After 1994, all groups were pooled • No complete record of mortality for black South Africans (last 100 years) • Cemetery registry: Rebecca Street and Mamelodi ANA 328
Cemetery Project • August 28th, 2005 (11:00am to 3:00pm) • Rebecca Street Cemetery • Collection of demographic data • Calculation of life expectancy tables in class (Tuesday August 29th, 2006) ANA 328