Life stresses of slavery

TLDR

Skeletal remains of 120 enslaved Black individuals from 25 sites in Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas reveal nutritional, occupational, and lead exposure stresses through dental lesions, stature, muscle development, and bone lead content. The study compares skeletal age at death across four temporal and occupational groups: 1690–1770, 1790–c.1820 at Catoctin Furnace, 1800–c.1860, and a twentieth‑century forensic sample. Age at death increased from 36 y (female) and 30 y (male) in the eighteenth century to 34.8 y (female) and 36.3 y (male) in the nineteenth century, with Catoctin Furnace slaves showing higher longevity (34.6 y female, 41.2 y male), while anemia, sicklemia, and trauma lesions were the most common pathologies.

Abstract

Abstract Skeletal evidence exists for life stresses of 120 Black individuals from 25 sites in Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Periods for statistical comparison are eighteenth century, 1690–1770; Catoctin Furnace, Maryland industrial slaves, 1790–ca.1820; 1800–ca.1860, nineteenth century; and a twentieth‐century Black sample compiled from forensic (accidental deaths) cases. From these archaeological sources, skeletal age at death shifts from 36 years, female, and 30 years, male in eighteenth century (N=29) to 34.8, female, and 36.3, male in nineteenth century (N=56). Catoctin Furnace slaves' longevity may reflect special conditions for skilled males (34.6 years, female; 41.2 years, male (N=16). Nutritional stresses are indicated by dental lesions, hypoplasias, stature, and skull base height and pelvic brim index. Occupational stress occurs in some adolescents and in many adults as exaggerated development of lifting muscles (deltoid and pectoral crests) and early vertebral and shoulder breakdown. Lead content of bone may reflect site of occupation. The most common pathology is anemia or sicklemia; parietal depressions and ulna fractures (“parry”) indicate violence‐related trauma.