Abstract
[…] The present study is an attempt to elucidate these conditions for a small group of people living on the Eastern Shore of Palliser Bay in the twelfth century A.D. The success of the group under observation in relation to the stress under which it existed is expressed in terms of the longevity of the individuals who composed it, their health throughout life and the ability of the group to perpetuate itself through the successful rearing of children.
A statement of the degree of success achieved is presented in two parts. In the first, all the presently discoverable details of the medical and social life history of each of the individuals under study is presented. Each of these records begins with the basic information of sex, length of life and cause of death. From there, the details of illness during life, its periodicity, severity and effect upon the individual, is documented.
Relationships with other individuals in or absent from the samples available are also considered in terms of genetic links (Berry and Berry, 1967; Anderson, 1968). Kinship ties are inferred including paternalism where evidence of parity and pregnancy is observed on females (Angel, 1969; Stewart, 1970; Houghton, n.d.). Evidence of any aggressive behaviour between the individuals under study is also included in the records.
This discussion of the links between individuals within the samples is basic to the second stage of the appraisal of 'success'. The records for individuals are brought together to form a picture of the conditions of life for a small group of people, and of the viability of that group in relation to these conditions. […] [Extract from Chapter 1]