Acts of life: Assessing entheseal change as an indicator of social differentiation in post‐medieval Aalst (Belgium)

Abstract

Lower levels of physical activity are often linked to higher socio‐economic status (SES) in past societies. As an activity marker, changes at muscle attachment sites known as entheseal changes (EC) have been used with varying efficacy. This study investigates this proposed link between EC as a physical activity marker and socio‐economic status within one well‐defined temporo‐geographic context. EC data from 16 entheses in three skeletal collections from the post‐medieval town of Aalst, Belgium, were evaluated using the Coimbra method. The skeletal assemblages represent distinct socio‐economic groups, evidenced by historical and dietary isotope data. The Louis D'haeseleerstraat sample represents lower class individuals (n=46), the Hopmarkt sample middle class individuals (n=110), and the Saint Martin's church (n=13) higher class individuals. EC data are tested for correlation to status, age, and sex. EC patterns did not differ significantly between the SES groups at any entheses except the M. iliopsoas and common extensor, where the higher class showed more EC. Within the populations, at the Hopmarkt sexual differences were only observed in the Achilles tendon attachment, whereas at the Louis D'haeseleerstraat sexual differences were present in the M. triceps brachii, M. brachioradialis, and quadriceps entheses. Only some entheses showed a significant correlation with age, and these were inconsistent between populations. EC are not a reliable indicator of socio‐economic status in post‐medieval Aalst. This could suggest that the hypothesis that the wealthy were less physically active oversimplifies the lives of people in the past. It could also suggest that EC is not a suitable proxy for physical activity, or that it cannot be used without in‐depth knowledge of the types of activities performed by various socio‐economic groups in addition to consideration of all other etiological factors. This study illustrates the caution necessary when using EC as a proxy for social status in past societies.

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