Complex sentence: Evidence from archaeology suggested that foot binding was practiced among the wives and daughters of officials by the thirteenth century, and it became increasingly common in the following centuries among the gentry families, later spreading to the general population.
Split into simpler sentences: Evidence from archaeology indicated that footbinding was practiced among the wives and daughters of officials in the thirteenth century. The practice became increasingly common in the following centuries among the gentry families, later spreading to the general population.