Health’s Wayward Sisters: An Examination of Diet, Disease, and Mortality Using a Syndemic Perspective

My proposed Mitacs-funded research will study health and disease in the medieval (11th-15th centuries AD) population from St. Peter’s Monastery in Osor, Croatia through a study of disease patterns, biochemical analysis of diet, and mortality trends. I will use syndemic theory to frame my research, which maintains that diseases and health conditions can interact with one another to significantly impact health burdens and mortality outcomes. When we investigate diseases and facets of health as disconnected variables, we can miss important data by overlooking their interconnected relationships. My research addresses significant questions within bioarchaeology concerned with more comprehensive approaches to the study of health and disease in the past, and how we can thus better apply our research to aid contemporary health issues. My objectives for this doctoral project are to produce at least three publications, to present my results at conferences both locally and internationally, and to develop networks with scholars in my field.

Faculty Supervisor:

Tracy Prowse

Student:

Partner:

Institute for Anthropological Research

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Other; Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Life Sciences (not health)

University:

McMaster University

Program: