Petercsák Tivadar – Váradi Adél szerk.: A népvándorláskor kutatóinak kilencedik konferenciája : Eger, 1998. szeptember 18-20. / Heves megyei régészeti közlemények 2. (Eger, 2000)

Considerations in the Analysis of Infant Mortality Ration in Historical Periods

SZEMPONTOK TÖRTÉNETI KOROK CSECSEMŐHALANDÓSÁGI VISZONYAINAK ELEMZÉSÉHEZ 479 CONSIDERATIONS IN THE ANALYSIS OF INFANT MORTALITY RATION IN HISTORICAL PERIODS Balázs Gusztáv Mende The number of the infants in cemeteries from historical periods unearthed and interpreted with archaeological methods does not fit the demographic models. The divergence is due partly to the problematic features of demographic modelling and partly to external causes. These latter ones are closely or loosely interrelated and can be grouped and organised in several ways. The infant mortality ration of historical periMende Balázs Gusztáv MTA Régészeti Intézet 1014 Budapest Úri utca 49. ods cannot mechanically be adopted in models since the unearthed cemeteries are not of full value from a demographic aspect. The mortality rate reconstructed from the infant remains found in the cemeteries and the consequent historical conclusions are to be evaluated with the greatest care. The paper would like to point to some considerations that justify this circumspection. Translated by Katalin Simán