23. Geophagy Flashcards
What is geophagy
practice of eating soil or soil like substances such as clay and chalk
where does geophagy occur most frequently
rural or pre-industrial societies
children and pregnant women from poor backgrounds in developing countries
what does wikipedia say geophagy is related to
PICA
what is PICA
abnormal cravings for non-nutritive items
is geophagy widespread
yes amongst non human primates, which means it predates human evolution
what does vermeer say about soil consumption
that it is normal range of human behaviour
what is oldest evidence of geophagy
calcium rich white clay found alongside bones of Homo Habilus at Kalambo Falls near Zambia and Tanzania borders
what did pilny note about geophagy
noted soil ingestion in Lemnos, an island in Greece, noted till 14th century
what does Hippocrates book mention
geophagy seems to link to anaemia
Historical evidence from South America
who was interested
which tribe
where was it
Alexander Von Humboldt was fascinated by eating earth practices
Otomacs tribe
By Orinoco River in Venezuela
what did alexander von humboldt find out about south america geophagy
otomacs eat earth to appease hunger
very fine clay, yellowish gray colour
slightly baked in fire
crust hardened to red, due to iron oxides mingled
only eat the smoothest clay
what was the historical evidencee of geophagy from Indonesia
island name
how did they cook it and sell it
what was clay rich in
Island : JAVA
square reddish cakes called Taanampo were slighly baked clay
Iron rich clay
rolled into cylinders like cinammon called ampo
what was the historical evidencee of geophagy from africa
who wrote about it
who ate soil
which city ate soil
how did they come about that habit
David Livingstone
slaves eating soil
Zanzibar
Brought along soil-eating practices when they were shipped to new world during transatlantic slave trade
why did slaves in america continue to practice geophagy
- for medicinal purposes and precieved nutrition
- cultural reasons
- eat excessively so they get sick and don’t have to work
- commit suicide so their spirit would return to home land
was this suicide tactic used by slaves useful
yes plantations had to be abandoned
some slave owners forced slaves to wear masks so they can’t eat the soil
what was the historical evidencee of geophagy from africa
who else was it common with except slaves
why did they eat it
why have some women gone to eat it
is it still sold
Southern part of US poor whites used to eat it too in early 1900s
men : thought it increased sexual prowess
women: easier delivery
Less prevlant now as rural americans have assimilated into urban culture
but it is still cooked, baked and processeed, this dirt and clay is still sold in rural flea markets
what is the type of clay eaten in africa
Kaolin
why is kaolin eaten
to surpress hunger and pleasure
