Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton

An Indispensable Resource on Advanced Methods of Analysis of Human Skeletal and Dental Remains in Archaeological and Forensic Contexts

Now in its third edition, Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton has become a key reference for bioarchaeologists, human osteologists, and paleopathologists throughout the world. It builds upon basic skills to provide the foundation for advanced scientific analyses of human skeletal remains in cultural, archaeological, and theoretical contexts.

This new edition features updated coverage of topics including histomorphometry, dental morphology, stable isotope methods, and ancient DNA, as well as a number of new chapters on paleopathology. It also covers bioarchaeological ethics, taphonomy and the nature of archaeological assemblages, biomechanical analyses of archaeological human skeletons, and more.

• Fully updated and revised with new material written by leading researchers in the field
• Includes many case studies to demonstrate application of methods of analysis
• Offers valuable information on contexts, methods, applications, promises, and pitfalls 

Covering the latest advanced methods and techniques for analyzing skeletal and dental remains from archaeological discoveries, Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton is a trusted text for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals in human osteology, bioarchaeology, and paleopathology. 

M. Anne Katzenberg, Ph.D., is Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Calgary, Canada. She is co-editor of the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology and an associate editor for the International Journal of Paleopathology. She has been published extensively, having co-edited seven contributed books and authored or co-authored over seventy journal articles and book chapters.

Anne L. Grauer, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair in the Department of Anthropology at Loyola University Chicago, USA. She is the editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Paleopathology, the editor of A Companion to Paleopathology (Wiley Blackwell, 2012) and numerous articles and book chapters, and is the president of the American Association of Physical Anthropology (2019-2021).

Preface to the third edition xi

Preface to the first edition xiii

Notes on contributors xix

PART I THEORY AND APPLICATION IN STUDIES OF PAST PEOPLES 1

1 Bioarchaeological Ethics: Perspectives on the Use and Value of Human Remains in Scientific Research 3 
Patricia M. Lambert and Phillip L. Walker (deceased)

2 Forensic Anthropology: Methodology and Applications 43 
Douglas H. Ubelaker

3 Taphonomy and the Nature of Archaeological Assemblages 73 
Ann L.W. Stodder

PART II MORPHOLOGICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL ANALYSES 117

4 Children in Bioarchaeology: Methods and Interpretations 119 
Mary E. Lewis

5 Histomorphometry of Human Cortical Bone: Applications to Age Estimation 145 
Timothy P. Gocha, Alexander G. Robling, and Sam D. Stout

6 Biomechanical Analyses of Archaeological Human Skeletons 189 
Christopher B. Ruff

7 Incremental Structures in Teeth: Keys to Unlocking and Understanding Dental Growth and Development 225 
Daniel Antoine, Charles M. FitzGerald, and Jerome C. Rose

8 Dental Morphology 257
Richard Scott and Marin A. Pilloud

PART III PREHISTORIC HEALTH AND DISEASE 293

9 Dental Pathology 295 
Simon Hillson

10 Analysis and Interpretation of Trauma in Skeletal Remains 335 
Nancy C. Lovell and Anne L. Grauer

11 Understanding Bone Aging, Loss, and Osteoporosis in the Past 385 
Sabrina C. Agarwal

12 Infectious and Metabolic Diseases: A Synergistic Relationship 415 
Charlotte A. Roberts and Megan Brickley

13 Paleopathology: From Bones to Social Behavior 447 
Anne L. Grauer

PART IV CHEMICAL AND GENETIC ANALYSES OF HARD TISSUES 467

14 Stable Isotope Analysis: A Tool for Studying Past Diet, Demography, and Life History 469 
M. Anne Katzenberg and Andrea L. Waters‐Rist

15 Strontium Isotopes and the Chemistry of Bones and Teeth 505 
James Burton and M. Anne Katzenberg

16 Ancient DNA Analysis of Archaeological Remains 515 
Maria A. Nieves‐Colón and Anne C. Stone

PART V QUANTITATIVE METHODS AND POPULATION STUDIES 545

17 Traditional Morphometrics and Biological Distance: Methods and an Example 547 
Michael Pietrusewsky

18 Paleodemography: Problems, Progress, and Potential 593 
George R. Milner, James W. Wood, and Jesper L. Boldsen

Index 635

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