tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227780861638767023.post8611282178127262841..comments2024-01-27T00:27:45.851+00:00Comments on race/history/evolution notes: Upper Paleolithic Europeans: not fat, not Khoisanoidn/ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02378473351485233448noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227780861638767023.post-8620373906584373382009-05-20T23:38:32.099+01:002009-05-20T23:38:32.099+01:00"2) natural selection will compensate by increasin..."2) natural selection will compensate by increasing the width and density of certain bones, like the femur;"<br /><br />No, that's not the argument. Mechanical stress induces bone remodeling during the individual's life.<br /><br />"Any estimate of adiposity would therefore be dependent on assumptions about muscle thickness (which also varies significantly)."<br /><br />This argument would make more sense if you were talking about men and trying to account for high BMIs. A BMI of 23 means not morbidly obese in any human population living or imaginable.n/ahttp://racehist.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227780861638767023.post-5602692496334768452009-05-20T19:56:19.551+01:002009-05-20T19:56:19.551+01:00You seem to be making the following argument: 1) f...You seem to be making the following argument: 1) fatty tissue imposes a weight load on the skeletal frame; 2) natural selection will compensate by increasing the width and density of certain bones, like the femur; 3) therefore, it's possible to estimate the adiposity of an extinct human by examining the width and density of the supporting bones.<br /><br />Frankly, I'm not convinced (nor am I convinced by appeals to authority). First, the skeletal frame has to support not only fatty tissues but also muscle (which is denser and heavier than fat). Any estimate of adiposity would therefore be dependent on assumptions about muscle thickness (which also varies significantly). Second, and more importantly, it is doubtful that variations in bone width would be able to capture variations in fatty tissue thickness, all the more so because we're dealing with small samples of skeletal remains whose age and sex are often conjectural.Peter Frosthttp://www.evoandproud.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227780861638767023.post-63181522526298638352009-05-20T15:06:49.738+01:002009-05-20T15:06:49.738+01:00You are right they weren't 'fat', 'few of the stat...You are right they weren't 'fat', 'few of the statuettes represent gross obesity'. The propensity to put on some extra adipose tissue may have increased in Early and Late Upper Paleolithic European females as an adaptation to cold weather and long winters.<br /><br /> The amount of fat they carried would vary over a year. The long winter would restrict the season for gathering (berries ect) while colder weather increases energy expenditure, So winter would be a long seasonal period of scarcity when fat stores were burnt off.<br /><br /> Summer would be a happy time, with abundant food and relatively chubby people. I think the figurines would usually show women in summer. The artist probably tended to exaggerate the amount of fat, Artists do tend to accentuate positive characteristics. <br /><br />The proportion of their limbs inclined to the African. With few exceptions the engravings and figurines adhere to a style depicting feminine silhouettes with over represented buttocks.Todnoreply@blogger.com