Broken Bones, Broken Bodies

An engaging collection of papers concerning a health condition that many bioarchaeologists will have encountered but may not have formally identified. The cultural contexts of the studies are quite varied, and this helps to illustrate the different circumstances in which injury recidivism may occur.... I hope this stimulating volume encourages scholarly attention to these areas. * International Journal of Paleopathology *
This book captures a zeitgeist in the study of human remains, reflecting the coming-together of shared research themes and ethical concerns in the disciplines of forensic anthropology and bioarcheology. These diverse studies show that regardless of time and space, the lives of injury recidivists have shared commonalities: structural violence and socio-economic inequalities. Their osteobiographies are powerful; and at times, make for heart-breaking reading. They serve to remind us that our work has impact and resonance for understanding the wider social context in which injuries are sustained, all too frequently by the most vulnerable in a community. -- Rebecca Redfern, Museum of London