Description
Book SynopsisThe Archaeology of Human Bones provides an up to date account of the analysis of human skeletal remains from archaeological sites, introducing students to the anatomy of bones and teeth and the nature of the burial record.
Drawing from studies around the world, this book illustrates how the scientific study of human remains can shed light upon important archaeological and historical questions. This new edition reflects the latest developments in scientific techniques and their application to burial archaeology. Current scientific methods are explained, alongside a critical consideration of their strengths and weaknesses. The book has also been thoroughly revised to reflect changes in the ways in which scientific studies of human remains have influenced our understanding of the past, and has been updated to reflect developments in ethical debates that surround the treatment of human remains. There is now a separate chapter devoted to archaeological fieldwork on burial
Table of Contents
1. THE NATURE OF BONES AND TEETH; 2. THE NATURE OF THE BURIAL RECORD; 3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK ON BURIAL GROUNDS; 4. THE ASSESSMENT OF AGE AND SEX; 5. METRIC VARIATION IN THE SKULL; 6. METRIC VARIATION IN THE POST-CRANIAL SKELETON; 7. NON-METRIC VARIATION; 8. BONE DISEASE; 9. DENTAL DISEASE; 10. TRACES OF INJURY ON THE SKELETON; 11. STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS; 12. DNA ANALYSIS; 13. CREMATED BONE; 14. ETHICS AND HUMAN REMAINS
