how healthy were the cavemen ?

[Oscar_Actuary]

That's pretty open ended and I'll fill in more if the discussion gets going

(back to work)

[ironmaiden708]

Idk how that question can be answered. People also generally didn't live that long either.

[stuward]

The archaeological evidence was that infant mortality was low and large numbers lived to old age. Those that died young usually came to a violent end. There was little disease until agriculture came along. The average height dropped about 6" at that time.

[Jebus]

If we could survive childhood, we become tall, lean, strong, intelligent animals.

[Oscar_Actuary]

I guess I could do my own research but am... eh.. lazy... or busy too.

So with a lot of emphasis from some of our brighter, influential members touting the cavemen like diets, well, it got me thinking. We have advanced meds and prenatal care now. But I'm trying to see if there good proof? or some measure to compare from such different eras

[mark74]

The archaeological evidence was that infant mortality was low and large numbers lived to old age. Those that died young usually came to a violent end. There was little disease until agriculture came along. The average height dropped about 6" at that time.

That's what I've been reading on Mark's Daily Apple. Don't know what you people think about Sisson but here's some easy reading on this matter:

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/hunter-g ... -lifespan/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/life-exp ... -gatherer/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/bone-dating-life-span/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I also remember finding these ones interesting:

http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/nut ... built1.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/nut ... built2.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[stuward]

I'm currently reading Robb Wolf's book, The Paleo Solution. He says that the fossilised remains look like a cross between an Olympic athelete and a rodeo clown.

[Oscar_Actuary]

great links Mark and wonderful analogy Stu.

[Matt Z]

I remember reading a National Geographic article a few years back that compared Neanderthals to rodeo clowns, since both had/have so many major tramatic injuries. In the case of Neanderthals, this was attributed to hunting large, dangerous animals like wild cattle with thrusting spears (Neanderthals didn't use bows or throwing spears).

[stuward]

It's kind of interesting to see the lengths that prehistoric people went to to get the animals with the most fat.