ABSTRACT
Mortality rates through the lifespan represent the most fundamental of all life history constraints that affect living organisms. For small human populations, the probability of mortality or survivorship in some time interval can be calculated using mathematical formulas that take into account the number of individuals at risk of death, and the number that actually experience death during some period of risk. The comparison of the Ache with the bush-living !Kung shows significantly higher infant mortality among the !Kung, but similar mortality rates throughout childhood and the middle adult years. Age- and sex-specific mortality rates at the reservations since 1978 can be compared with forest period mortality rates in order to evaluate some of the consequences of missionary indoctrination, state intervention to eliminate violence, change in diet, and access to western medicine. Ache age-specific mortality curves differ considerably from any regional model life table developed from studies of modern nation-state populations.
