Product Description

The aim of this book is to provide an introduction to what can be learnt from the scientific study of human skeletal remains from archaeological sites.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #112883 in Books
• Published on: 1998-01-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From the Back Cover
The most direct evidence we have concerning earlier human populations is the physical remains of the people themselves. This volume provides a pragmatic and up-to-date account of scientific analysis of human skeletal remains, and its application in tackling major historical and archaeological issues.
The Archaeology of Human Bones starts with a brief introduction to the anatomy, structure and development of bones and teeth. It analyses the biasing effects of decay and incomplete recovery on burial data from archaeological sites, and discusses what we may learn about ancient burial rituals from human remains. Subsequent chapters focus on the demographic analysis of ancient populations, normal skeletal variation, disease and injury, the chemical analysis of bone, the study of ancient DNA, and the study of cremated remains. Examples are taken from archaeological studies around the world.
The Archaeology of Human Bones is a well-illustrated textbook for students of archaeology, explaining current sci

Customer Reviews

Excellent book covering many aspects of bone study.
This book covers almost all aspects of the study of human skeletal remains. Sections include the nature of bone material, determining age and gender, and variations in bone. It also includes information on disease, trauma and the latest knowledge using chemical and DNA analysis of bone. Although this book is not completely exhaustive on aspects of bone study, it attempts to bring in as much information as possible. Finally, it is a good read, not full of jargon as it attempts to explain bone study in a basic language. Ideal for those thinking of going into the study of human bones, professionals wanting reminding of various information, and anyone else interested in how archaeologists extract so much knowledge from bones!