Summary

Dr. Wilczak talks about functional adaptions of the skeleton, or occupational stress markers. She explains how bioarchaeologists use changes in the skeleton to deduce what an individual’s regular physical activity patterns might have been like. Dr. Wilczak provides plenty of examples and also discusses the limitations of the science. Additionally, Dr. Wilczak and I talk about uses for an anthropology degree beyond academia.

Book recommendations

• What to read to learn more: Smithsonian Magazine or the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
• What she’s reading for work: See Reference Articles section
• What she’s reading for fun: Calypso by David Sedaris

Reference articles

• Milella, Marco & Alves Cardoso, Francisca & Assis, Sandra & Lopreno, Geneviève & Speith, Nivien. (2015). Exploring the Relationship Between Entheseal Changes and Physical Activity: A Multivariate Study. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 156. 10.1002/ajpa.22640.
• Karakostis, Fotios & Wallace, Ian & Konow, Nicolai & Harvati, Katerina. (2019). Experimental evidence that physical activity affects the multivariate associations among muscle attachments (entheses). 10.5061/dryad.ksn02v70p.
• Karakostis, Fotios & Hotz, Gerhard & Tourloukis, Vangelis & Harvati, Katerina. (2018). Evidence for precision grasping in Neandertal daily activities. Science Advances. 4. eaat2369. 10.1126/sciadv.aat2369.
• Zumwalt, Ann. (2006). The Effect of Endurance Exercise on the Morphology of Muscle Attachment Sites. The Journal of experimental biology. 209. 444-54. 10.1242/jeb.02028.