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Transgenerational Impact of Structural Violence: Epigenetics and the Legacy of Anthracite Coal

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Abstract

This project connects past forms of structural violence to current health conditions found in communities. Using historical and archaeological material from deindustrializing region in the United States, it appears that nutritional and livelihood stress in the late nineteenth century may have resulted in the transgenerational inheritance of negative human health outcomes experienced by descendants today. While more in-depth genetic research is needed, it is clear that the study of health disparities found today may be situated in the long-term stresses (environmental and nutritional) that communities faced generations ago. Historical archaeology is a way to develop a longitudinal study of health disparities.

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Acknowledgements

Much of the archaeology discussed in this paper has been a product of several archaeology field schools operated through the University of Maryland. Michael Roller oversaw the excavations at Lattimer 1 and one of the sites at Lattimer 2. V. Camille Westmont and Justin Uehlein supervised the work at the second site at Lattimer 2. V. Camille Westmont also supervised the archaeology work at Eckley. I appreciate the invitation of Bode Morin, Site Manager of Eckley Miners’ Village, as well as the support of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission, to explore the lifeways of the new immigrants to this historic community. He also made me aware of the “happiness studies” related to Northeastern pennsylvania I appreciate the comments by Barnet Pavao-Zuckerman, Christina Getrich, and Megan Bailey, as well as any annonymous reviewers on an earlier draft of this manuscript.

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    Paul A. Shackel

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Shackel, P.A. Transgenerational Impact of Structural Violence: Epigenetics and the Legacy of Anthracite Coal. Int J Histor Archaeol 22, 865–882 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10761-017-0451-0

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