Biocultural Practices during the Transition to History at the Vat Komnou Cemetery, Angkor Borei, Cambodia

A distinct sexual division of labor is evident in the protohistoric Vat Komnou cemetery at Angkor Borei, Cambodia, based on degenerative joint disease patterns. The study reveals that inhabitants maintained a broad-spectrum diet with significant reliance on fish and estuarine resources, contrasting with a lower intake of soft, processed agricultural foods. Dental pathologies and faunal evidence suggest varied environmental use and cultural practices, including intentional dental filing, though its impact on oral health remains undetermined. Stable isotope analysis further indicates a preference for aquatic protein over terrestrial sources. The research combines skeletal analysis, dietary reconstruction, and isotopic studies to illuminate biocultural adaptations during the transition to history in Southeast Asia.

Ikehara-Quebral, R. M., Stark, M. T., Belcher, W., Vuthy, V., Krigbaum, J., Bentley, R. A., Douglas, M. T., & Pietrusewsky, M. (2017). Biocultural Practices during the Transition to History at the Vat Komnou Cemetery, Angkor Borei, Cambodia. Asian Perspectives, 56(2), 191–236. https://doi.org/10.1353/asi.2017.0008