Abstract:

This paper presents an archaeological study of human bone remains and stable isotope analysis of 19 Yuan Dynasty human bone specimens excavated from the Shicun North Cemetery in Guangrao, Shandong in 2021. Based on burial items and tomb layout, it is concluded that the Shicun North Cemetery dates back to the Yuan Dynasty. With a minimal quantity of mostly common burial objects per tomb, this cemetery is identified as a civilian cemetery. The research aims to gain insights into the survival stress of the people in Guangrao, Shandong during the Yuan Dynasty.

Three individuals had fractures, including lumbar vertebra compression fractures, metatarsal fractures, and frontal bone fractures. The frontal bone’s depressed fracture, potentially caused by violence, was relatively rare. This indicates that society was likely stable at that time. There might have been occasional minor disputes, but overall, people lived in peace.

The results of C and N isotope analysis show that the cemetery population mainly consumed millet and wheat, which is consistent with the grain-consumption structure of the Yuan Dynasty in Shandong, where both millet and wheat were equally emphasized. Meanwhile, the meat supply for the population was relatively abundant and nutritious, yet there were differences in individual consumption levels.

In the study of survival stress, most people in this cemetery community survived the vulnerable growth and development stages, with only a small number failing to do so due to nutritional status or other factors. To conduct the analysis, the population was divided into adults and minors using osteological paradox and life-history studies. The four minor cases had varying stress-bearing capacities, but none developed strong resistance and adaptability after experiencing severe growth-related stress. One individual was in a vulnerable state and had the strongest pressure-bearing ability among them. Another individual had a weaker pressure-bearing ability compared to others.

Adult individuals, benefiting from sufficient nutrition, entered a healthy period after reaching adulthood, with high levels of physical and physiological health, strong resilience, and the ability to tolerate and adapt to stress to a certain extent. However, adults also faced higher stress levels because, due to social status and other reasons, they lacked adequate cultural buffering mechanisms.

Key words: cemetery, Yuan Dynasty, human skeleton, paleopathology