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Every year hundreds of human skeletal remains are brought to the surface by engineering works, quarrying or planned archaeological exploration. These remains provide vital clues to unraveling man's antiquity--their position and location, relation to other remains, state of preservation and "medical" condition all provide important information on ancient man and his living environment. Inferences regarding length of life, nutritional standards, diseases and origin of injuries can all be made in bones that are thousands of years old. However, many of these features are open to interpretation and the information gained is only as good as the records and analysis made at that time. The purpose of this book is to describe the many techniques now available for the proper excavation, preparation and analysis of human skeletal remains, so that the most effective use can be made of them. As such it will prove invaluable to both amateur and professional archaeologists, students of anthropology and anatomy, and the layman who has an interest in this ancestors' modus vivendi.
The first comprehensive global history of the discipline of paleopathology
This is a volume of papers presented in honour of the archaeologist and palaeopathologist, Don Brothwell. The eclectic mix reflects the diversity of Brothwell's career over four decades, and the influence that he has had upon many aspects of archaeological science. The papers are linked together by the theme of people - our evolution, our bodily remains and burial practices, and our behaviour with respect to other animals (particularly as it may be inferred from animal bones). Many of the contributions were presented at an international conference held in 1999 at the University of York to celebrate Don Brothwell's career in the year of retirement.
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.
A Companion to Paleopathology offers a comprehensive overview of this rapidly growing sub- field of physical anthropology. Presents a broad overview of the field of paleopathology, integrating theoretical and methodological approaches to understand biological and disease processes throughout human history Demonstrates how paleopathology sheds light on the past through the analysis of human and non-human skeletal materials, mummified remains and preserved tissue Integrates scientific advances in multiple fields that contribute to the understanding of ancient and historic diseases, such as epidemiology, histology, radiology, parasitology, dentistry, and molecular biology, as well as archaeological, archival and historical research. Highlights cultural processes that have an impact on the evolution of illness, death and dying in human populations, including subsistence strategies, human environmental adaptations, the effects of malnutrition, differential access to resources, and interpersonal and intercultural violence
The archaeological record is a combination of what is seen by eye, as well as the microscopic record revealed with the help of instrumentation. The information embedded in the microscopic record can significantly add to our understanding of past human behaviour, provided this information has not been altered by the passage of time. Microarchaeology seeks to understand the microscopic record in terms of the type of information embedded in this record, the materials in which this information resides, and the conditions under which a reliable signal can be extracted. This book highlights the concepts needed to extract information from the microscopic record. Intended for all archaeologists and archaeological scientists, it will be of particular interest to students who have some background in the natural sciences as well as archaeology.
Archaeological chemistry is a subject of great importance to the study and methodology of archaeology. This comprehensive text covers the subject with a full range of case studies, materials, and research methods. With twenty years of experience teaching the subject, the authors offer straightforward coverage of archaeological chemistry, a subject that can be intimidating for many archaeologists who do not already have a background in the hard sciences. With clear explanations and informative illustrations, the authors have created a highly approachable text, which will help readers overcome that intimidation. Topics covered included: Materials (rock, pottery, bone, charcoal, soils, metals, and others), Instruments (microscopes, NAA, spectrometers, mass spectrometers, GC/MS, XRF & XRD, Case Studies (Provinience, Sediments, Diet Reconstruction, Past Human Movement, Organic Residues). The detailed coverage and clear language will make this useful as an introduction to the study of archaeological chemistry, as well as a useful resource for years after that introduction.
A readable and fascinating account of the story of mummification from around the world.
The Anthropological Papers of the University of Arizona is a peer-reviewed monograph series sponsored by the School of Anthropology. Established in 1959, the series publishes archaeological and ethnographic papers that use contemporary method and theory to investigate problems of anthropological importance in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and related areas.
Excavations at the site of the medieval chapter house of St Albans Abbey in 1978 uncovered fragments of decorated floor tiles of the Anglo-Saxon abbey and associated burials, along with the magnificent floor of relief-decorated tiles of the medieval chapter house, and the graves of 16 known figures of the late 11th-to 15th-century abbey.