Old Bones: A Brief Introduction to Bioarchaeology

Bioarchaeology is the study of human skeletal remains from archaeological sites to aid in reconstructing the biology and culture of past populations. Bioarchaeology is one of the lesser-known fields of physical anthropology and yet it is one of the most researched topics in physical anthropology. It has gained in popularity around the world and we have a renaissance of anthropological studies coming from both Western and Eastern Europe. North and South American anthropologists continue to make significant contributions to the field of bioarchaeology as well. Old Bones: A Brief Introduction to Bioarchaeology explains the science and literature behind some of the hottest topics in bioarchaeology, such as: activity reconstruction through the use of osteoarthritis, origins of tuberculosis, the use of aDNA to determine biological relationships, examining weaning patterns through isotopic element analyses, understanding cranial deformation in relation to modern populations, and evidence of cannibalism and violence. The book s emphasis is on helping readers understand the most current research coming from both the New and Old World published in the top peer-reviewed journals. There are over 50 illustrations, photos, and graphs to help readers grasp key concepts throughout the book.