Prehistoric Subsistence Patterns on the North Carolina Coast: Nutritional Status as Measured by Cortical Bone Area

Measurements of percent cortical bone area in femoral sections recovered from two geographically distinct areas of North Carolina are presented. The femora were recovered from archaeological sites 1) on the North Carolina coast and 2) in the North Carolina Piedmont. Both groups represent the Late Woodland. The Piedmont group relied on hunting-gathering, supplemented with insipient agriculture. The coastal group relied primarily (almost exclusively) on estuarine resources as a subsistence base. The mean percent cortical area was significantly higher in the coastal group, suggesting a better dietary adaptation. Additionally, anteroposterior and mediolateral diameters of the femoral sections were taken in order to assess mechanical stress on the lower limbs. These measures indicate that the Piedmont group may have tended towards a higher division of labor associated with subsistence activities.