Bioarchaeology

Comprehensive reference to use of human bones and teeth in interpreting past lives.

Human bones and teeth provide a huge amount of information on the health and lifestyle of past populations. This book is the first comprehensive synthesis of this growing field of bioarchaeology and will be an indispensable resource for all those interested in biological and physical anthropology and archaeology.Human remains recovered from archaeological sites can help us interpret lifetime events such as disease, physiological stress, injury and violent death, physical activity, tooth use, diet and demographic history of once-living populations. This is the first comprehensive synthesis of the emerging field of bioarchaeology. A central theme is the interaction between biology and behaviour, underscoring the dynamic nature of skeletal and dental tissues, and the influences of environment and culture on human biological variation. It emphasises research results and their interpretation, covering palaeopathology, physiological stress, skeletal and dental growth and structure, the processes of aging and biodistance. It will be a unique resource for students and researchers interested in biological and physical anthropology or archaeology.