Steve wrote: 

> High birth rates are left over from paleo times when having 
> as many children as possible was a primary means of passing 
> on genes since so many children died young.  A paleo society 
> could expect to have the traditional short and brutish and 
> red in tooth and claw lifespans with a very high childhood 
> mortality.  


I think that these are features of the pre-birth control Neolithic. 
Best Wishes, 
Ron