High altitude agriculture in the Titicaca basin (800 BCE –200 CE): Impacts on nutrition and disease load

ConclusionsWe interpret these results as an indication that while diets remained nutritious, investment in the landscape exposed populations to issues of sanitation and disease. The high‐altitude of the Titicaca Basin did not exacerbate the biological impacts of agriculture in terms of increased malnutrition. Additionally, disease load was likely related to problems faced by many sedentary groups as opposed to unique challenges posed by high altitude. In sum, despite the high elevation, the Titicaca Basin is not truly a marginal environment for humans.
Source: American Journal of Human Biology - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research