Bioarchaeology: Interpreting Behavior from the Human SkeletonHuman remains recovered from archaeological sites can help us interpret lifetime events such as disease, physiological stress, injury and violent death, physical activity, tooth use, diet, and demographic history of once-living populations. This is the first comprehensive synthesis of the emerging field of bioarchaeology. A central theme is the interaction between biology and behavior, underscoring the dynamic nature of skeletal and dental tissues, and the influences of environment and culture on human biological variation. It emphasizes research results and their interpretation, covering palaeopathology, physiological stress, skeletal and dental growth and structure, and the processes of aging and biodistance. It will be a unique resource for students and researchers interested in biological and physical anthropology or archaeology. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Stress and deprivation during the years of growth and development and adulthood | 6 |
skeletal | 8 |
dental | 23 |
24 Skeletal and dental pathological markers of deprivation | 29 |
25 Adult stress | 56 |
26 Summary and conclusions | 61 |
Exposure to infectious pathogens | 64 |
63 Histomorphometric biomechanical adaptation | 219 |
64 Behavioral inference from whole bone measurements | 220 |
65 Summary and conclusions | 224 |
Masticatory and nonmasticatory functions craniofacial adaptation | 226 |
72 Cranial form and function | 227 |
73 Dental and alveolar changes | 242 |
74 Dental wear and function | 247 |
75 Summary and conclusions | 268 |
32 Dental caries | 65 |
33 Periodontal disease periodontitis and tooth loss | 77 |
34 Nonspecific infection | 82 |
treponematosis tuberculosis and leprosy | 93 |
36 Summary and conclusions | 107 |
Injury and violent death | 109 |
42 Accidental injury | 110 |
43 Intentional injury and interpersonal violence | 119 |
44 Medical care and surgical intervention | 152 |
45 Interpreting skeletal trauma | 154 |
46 Summary and conclusions | 159 |
Activity patterns 1 Articular and muscular modifications | 161 |
52 Articular joints and their function | 162 |
54 Nonpathological articular modifications | 185 |
55 Nonarticular pathological conditions relating to activity | 188 |
56 Summary and conclusions | 193 |
Activity patterns 2 Structural adaptation | 195 |
Crosssectional geometry | 197 |
Isotopic and elemental signatures of diet and nutrition | 270 |
82 Isotopic analysis | 271 |
83 Elemental analysis | 290 |
84 Methodological issues in bioarchaeological chemistry | 300 |
Historical dimensions of skeletal variation tracing genetic relationships | 302 |
92 Classes of biodistance data | 305 |
temporal perspectives | 310 |
spatial perspectives | 324 |
95 Summary and conclusions | 331 |
Changes and challenges in bioarchaeology | 333 |
102 Sample representation | 334 |
103 Data recording standards | 340 |
104 Bioarchaeology and cultural patrimony | 341 |
References | 343 |
432 | |
459 | |
Other editions - View all
Bioarchaeology: Interpreting Behavior from the Human Skeleton Clark Spencer Larsen Limited preview - 1997 |
Bioarchaeology: Interpreting Behavior from the Human Skeleton Clark Spencer Larsen Limited preview - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
adaptation adult males agriculturalists agriculture American Journal analysis anemia archaeological Arikara Armelagos articular asymmetry behavior Bioarchaeology biodistance biological Buikstra C. S. Larsen changes comparison cortical cortical bone coworkers cranial craniofacial cultural dental caries dentition diaphyseal Dickson Mounds diet dietary differences disease documented enamel defects Eskimos especially evidence factors femoral foragers fractures frequency Georgia Gerven Goodman groups growth human populations human remains humerus hunter-gatherers hypoplasias Illinois incisors increase indicates individuals infection injuries iron deficiency anemia isotope Jantz Journal of Physical Katzenberg late prehistoric lesions long bones maize masticatory mechanical Mesolithic microwear Milner Mississippian molars morphology native Neolithic Nubia nutritional occlusal osteoarthritis Owsley Paleopathology pattern period periosteal Physical Anthropology porotic hyperostosis Press reduction region Research reveals Ruff samples Schoeninger skeletal remains skeletal series skeletons spondylolysis status stress strontium subsistence suggests teeth temporal tibia tissue tooth loss traits trauma Trinkaus tuberculosis Ubelaker variation vertebral Walker Woodland