montane foragers
reading another book again.
this one is called Montane Foragers and is written by a professor at UCSB.
it's so far about high-altitude living and the effects on one's body who is native to that type of living, and those who migrate to the areas.
i believe he mostly focuses on andean cultures prior to european contact, but i think he uses tibet and stories of early spanish explorers to the andes to support his ideas.
a couple of interesting things:
1. it seems that natives have a greater amount of blood vessels than those living at sea level. (everyone knows this)
but there is an age range between 9 and 13 years where children can move from low altitudes to high altitudes and end up with the same physiology if they spend this whole crucial developmental period at higher elevations. adult migrants will never reach the potential that these natives or young migrants obtain.
the only difference for native dwellers and young migrants is that the native children have a much higher mortality rate because of the harsher living conditions. the young migrants are more prepared to face the tough environment.
2. there are some deadly high-altitude sicknesses. they effect either your heart or lungs. they create dizziness, nausea, and hallucinations. its onset can only be cured by returning to lower elevations or adding an increased oxygen flow to the body.
it tends to only present itself with a quick increase in elevation, and became more common after the advent of cars and planes, but was recorded to have caused a death on the Silk Road in Asia in the 5th Century.
3. according to the author and his sources, fatty foods don't have as much of a great taste as they do nearer to sea level (according to the author, high-altitude unless noted otherwise, is considered to be >2,500 meters/~8,200 feet).
and oddly enough, along with the less-enjoyable taste, fat doesn't metabolize as well in your body at high elevations as it does near sea level. absorbtion can be reduced as much as 48%. so when living at such altitudes, a high-carbohydrate diet is preferrable.
(side-thought: maybe that's why the andean people were the domesticators of a many variety of potatoes and potato-like tubers.)
4. many aspects of life are more difficult at high altitudes. pregnancies are generally at higher risk, and general working habits or travel can be up to 40% more difficult at higher elevations than at sea level. those not used to elevations have a decrease of up to 24% of their aerobic activity.
when doing wokr, for the same strenuous activity, acclimatized people can work at 40% of their maximum oxygen uptake whereas those new to the environment will use 60%.
fatigue will force more and often resting as well.
so the book so far is just focusing on biophysical aspects, but i'm sure the archaeology will come soon after this foundation is laid.
i'm glad he put this info in here, cuz it makes you realize that it's not only climate and geography, but also topography that can mold one's culture and lifestyle. and to a slight degree, genetics.
this one is called Montane Foragers and is written by a professor at UCSB.
it's so far about high-altitude living and the effects on one's body who is native to that type of living, and those who migrate to the areas.
i believe he mostly focuses on andean cultures prior to european contact, but i think he uses tibet and stories of early spanish explorers to the andes to support his ideas.
a couple of interesting things:
1. it seems that natives have a greater amount of blood vessels than those living at sea level. (everyone knows this)
but there is an age range between 9 and 13 years where children can move from low altitudes to high altitudes and end up with the same physiology if they spend this whole crucial developmental period at higher elevations. adult migrants will never reach the potential that these natives or young migrants obtain.
the only difference for native dwellers and young migrants is that the native children have a much higher mortality rate because of the harsher living conditions. the young migrants are more prepared to face the tough environment.
2. there are some deadly high-altitude sicknesses. they effect either your heart or lungs. they create dizziness, nausea, and hallucinations. its onset can only be cured by returning to lower elevations or adding an increased oxygen flow to the body.
it tends to only present itself with a quick increase in elevation, and became more common after the advent of cars and planes, but was recorded to have caused a death on the Silk Road in Asia in the 5th Century.
3. according to the author and his sources, fatty foods don't have as much of a great taste as they do nearer to sea level (according to the author, high-altitude unless noted otherwise, is considered to be >2,500 meters/~8,200 feet).
and oddly enough, along with the less-enjoyable taste, fat doesn't metabolize as well in your body at high elevations as it does near sea level. absorbtion can be reduced as much as 48%. so when living at such altitudes, a high-carbohydrate diet is preferrable.
(side-thought: maybe that's why the andean people were the domesticators of a many variety of potatoes and potato-like tubers.)
4. many aspects of life are more difficult at high altitudes. pregnancies are generally at higher risk, and general working habits or travel can be up to 40% more difficult at higher elevations than at sea level. those not used to elevations have a decrease of up to 24% of their aerobic activity.
when doing wokr, for the same strenuous activity, acclimatized people can work at 40% of their maximum oxygen uptake whereas those new to the environment will use 60%.
fatigue will force more and often resting as well.
so the book so far is just focusing on biophysical aspects, but i'm sure the archaeology will come soon after this foundation is laid.
i'm glad he put this info in here, cuz it makes you realize that it's not only climate and geography, but also topography that can mold one's culture and lifestyle. and to a slight degree, genetics.
3 Comments:
Interesting! I read "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer, true story about climbing Mt. Everest (you might like it; lemme know if you want to borrow), and those high-altitude sicknesses happened to the climbers--no sleep, exhausted all the time 'cause they don't have enough oxygen, they all lost tons of weight from the stress, one guy goes almost into a coma from lack of oxygen, but then they have the sherpas who just kinda walk along carrying all the gear, and are barely out of breath...it's scary, but really good book.
is that the one where they ate each other? or was that "Alive"?
i wonder if they mentioned that each other tasted shitty.
cuz then they'd go back and give a bad representation of how human tastes.
i've actually heard firsthand that it tastes like chicken.
goddammit.
No, the one I read where they ate each other is called "Snow Mountain Passage." You can borrow that one too, if you want. The Everest one isn't so desperate..they don't run out of food & they have plenty of gear so they don't freeze to death or anything.
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