Weaning and Early Childhood Diets at Two Early Period Sites: Implications for Parental Investment and Population Growth in Central California

Abstract

Using stable isotope analysis of serial samples in permanent first molars, we reconstruct age of weaning and early childhood diets for eight individuals at CA-SJO-112, a 3,000–3,300 cal B.P. site in central California. We compare the results to previously published data from a nearby contemporary site, CA-CCO-548. Data show that, on average, children were weaned earlier at CA-SJO-112, but unlike at CA-CCO-548, boys and girls were eating similar types of foods and overall dietary composition was more homogenous among all children at CA-SJO-112. These differences suggest alternative parental investment strategies at the two sites, perhaps due to greater sharing and communal foraging at CA-SJO-112. Combined with low apparent infant mortality rates and similar rates of stress, as measured by rates of linear enamel hypoplasia, earlier weaning at CA-SJO-112 has important implications for population growth in the region.