> The argument about the superior health of the hunter gatherers is probably
> exaggerated or based on a small statistical base of a few archeological
> finds.
Not exaggerated. Essentially all the data available show that the shift to
agriculture resulted in a huge spike in epidemic disease, shorter lifespan,
shrinkage in stature (suggesting poorer nutrition), tooth and bone problems,
arthritis, etc. There aren't a lot of sites, it's true, probably no more than
40 or so that cover the transition, but they all show the same thing
consistently. We paid a huge price nutritionally for the shift to agriculture
(not to mention the loss of freedom, which is far more significant to me).
Okay, I really am procrastinating on writing a tough section of the patterns
book. Back to it!