Biology
The Neolithic Demographic Transition: Farming's Impact on Population Health
Quick fact
Despite the population boom that followed the advent of farming, skeletal evidence shows that early agriculturalists were often shorter, had more dental cavities, and suffered from more infectious diseases than their hunter-gatherer predecessors.
Why this is interesting
Before farming, our ancestors were healthy hunter-gatherers. But when they started agriculture, did their health improve or deteriorate? The answer might surprise you.