Exploring the thrifty genotype's food-shortage assumptions: a cross-cultural comparison of ethnographic accounts of food security among foraging and agricultural societies

American Journal of Physical Anthropology • Vol/Iss. 131 • Published In • Pages: 120-126 •
By Benyshek, Daniel C., Watson, James T.

Abstract

This article tests the assumption that foragers are more likely to experience regular and severe food shortages than sedentary agriculturalists. The results indicate that there is no statistical difference in the quantity of available food or the frequency or extent of food shortages between preindustrial foragers, recent foragers, and agriculturalists.
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings  Jessie Cohen  abbe.mccarter