Population density and developmental stress in the Neolithic: A diachronic study of dental fluctuating asymmetry at Çatalhöyük (Turkey, 7,100–5,950 BC)

A moderate decrease in dental fluctuating asymmetry during the late phase of occupation at Çatalhöyük suggests improved living conditions, possibly linked to reduced population density. This study analyzed a large sample (N = 259) of Neolithic adults, examining mesio-distal and bucco-lingual diameters of canines and molars to assess developmental stress. While no sex differences were observed, the findings indicate persistent stressors throughout the site's occupation, with diet acting as a buffer against demographic pressures. The research highlights the biological impacts of population density changes during the Neolithic transition from foraging to farming.

Milella, M., Betz, B. J., Knüsel, C. J., Larsen, C. S., & Dori, I. (2018). Population density and developmental stress in the Neolithic: A diachronic study of dental fluctuating asymmetry at Çatalhöyük (Turkey, 7,100–5,950 BC). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 167(4), 737–749. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23700