Preliminary bioarchaeological analysis of the Qijia culture Mogou site (2400-1900 BCE), Gansu Province, China.

Summary

At the Mogou site 1000 graves were excavated from 2008-2011. A preliminary bioarchaeological analysis was done on 154 individuals. The male to female sex ratio is the same as other Qijia sites, with more males than females. The sample population was heterogeneous with 8% of the individuals originating from the west (Xinjiang), north (Mongolia), and east (China) of the region. This may be a result of the site being situated on trade routes from the West into China. Analysis was done on trauma patterns, infection rates, anemia, enamel defects, infectious diseases, and congenital defects. The individuals buried at Mogou are from very closely related family groups. Six individuals suffered from one to three periods of starvation starting at 2 years of age until 5 years of age. All of these individuals died young. Trauma patterns were concentrated in males as opposed to females or children. The majority of the injuries appear to be warfare related. There is a high percentage of infectious disease at Mogou, which suggests continual contact with outsiders (trade route), domesticated animals, and a large enough population for endemic diseases.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Qijia Culture of Northwest China – Entering a New Era of Research   •
• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage