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Abstract Objectives The role of migration in the cultural development of central Mexico has long been debated. Archaeological models suggest that central Mexico likely experienced increased migration during the Epiclassic period (600–900 CE) and that migrants may have originated in northwestern Mexico. While previous biodistance analyses of Classic and Postclassic populations have come to similar conclusions, none have incorporated Epiclassic skeletal populations. This study uses multi‐scalar biodistance analyses to directly evaluate archaeological Epiclassic migration models within central Mexico.
Materials and Methods This study uses finite mixture and relationship (R) matrix analyses of cervicometric tooth dimensions to reconstruct patterns of biological affinity among Classic and Epiclassic Mesoamerican populations (
n = 333), including at the central Mexican Epiclassic shrine site of Non‐Grid 4 where the remains of at least 180 individuals were interred.Results Estimated inter‐site phenotypic distances demonstrate support for some degree of both biological continuity and extra‐local gene flow within central Mexican populations during the Classic‐Epiclassic transition. Furthermore, estimated phenotypic distances and finite mixture posterior probabilities indicate central Mexican Epiclassic populations were biologically diverse, originating from various source populations throughout Mesoamerica, including the Bajío region, the Malpaso Valley, and the Oaxaca Valley.
Discussion Results suggest that emphasizing both local and extra‐local gene flow rather than population replacement may be more appropriate to understand central Mexican population structure during the Classic‐Epiclassic transition. Moreover, analyses support previous archaeological migration models positing that Epiclassic migrants into central Mexico originated in northwestern Mexico, but also find evidence of Epiclassic migrants originating from previously unanticipated locales like southern Mexico.
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Abstract Objectives Linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) is a common skeletal marker of physiological stress (e.g., malnutrition or illness) that is studied within and across populations, without reference to familial risk. We examine LEH prevalence in a population with known genealogical relationships to determine the potential influence of genetic heritability and shared environment.
Methods LEH data of 239 individuals from a single population were recorded from the Ohio State University Menegaz‐Bock collection dental casts. All individuals were of known age, sex, and genealogy. Narrow‐sense heritability estimates were obtained for LEH presence and count data from all unworn, fully erupted teeth (excluding third molars) using SOLAR (v.8.1.1). Age, sex, and age–sex interaction were included as covariates. Models were re‐run with a household effect variable.
Results LEH persists across generations in this study population with moderate, significant heritability estimates for presence in four teeth, and count in four teeth (three teeth were significant for both). When a household effect variable was added, no residual heritability remained for LEH count on any tooth. There was no significant household effect for three of the four teeth that had significant heritability estimates for LEH presence. Age was a significant covariate. Further analyses with birth year data revealed a secular trend toward less LEH.
Conclusions This study provides evidence for familial risk of LEH (genetic and environmental) that has consequences for the broad use of this skeletal marker of stress. These results have repercussions for archaeological assemblages, or population health studies, where genetic relatives and household groups might be heavily represented.