Development and Distribution of Discontinuous Morphological Variation of the Human Infracranial Skeleton


Book Description

Over 1,400 individual skeletons from three major skeletal populations were examined for a series of approximately fifty infracranial non-metric traits. Trait frequencies are studied for size, sex and age differences, trait intercorrelations, and association with bone robusticity. Skeletal population studies are performed using various combinations of the traits and two distance statistics.







Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton


Book Description

"This book is virtually required reading for biological anthropologists and will be a useful, up-to-date primer on osteological analyses for a wider audience." —The Quarterly Review of Biology, March 2009 "... a comprehensive guide to the ever-changing discipline of physical anthropology... provides an in depth introduction to human skeletal biology. The structure of the book makes it easy for the reader to follow the progression of the field of human skeletal biology." —PaleoAnthropology, 2009 Issue The First Edition of Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton is the market-leading reference and textbook on the scientific analysis of human skeletal remains recovered from archaeological sites. Now, featuring scores of new or thoroughly revised content, this Second Edition provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of the topic available. Like the previous edition, this Second Edition is organized into five parts with contributing chapters written by experts in the field of human skeletal biology: Part One covers theory and application; Part Two discusses morphological analyses of bone, teeth, and age changes; Part Three reviews prehistoric health and disease; Part Four examines chemical and genetic analysis of hard tissues; and Part Five closes with coverage of quantitative methods and population studies. Each chapter includes a review of recent studies, descriptions of analytical techniques and underlying assumptions, theory, methodological advances, and speculation about future research. New or thoroughly revised content includes: Techniques in the analysis of human skeletal and dental remains Extensive coverage of new technologies, including modern morphometric techniques Advances in the field of forensic anthropology Enhanced discussion of ethical terms regarding the study of aboriginal peoples' remains where those people are no longer the dominant culture This book serves as an indispensable research guide to biological anthropologists, osteologists, paleoanthropologists, and archaeologists. Now with a stronger focus on teaching complex material to students, this revised edition provides enhanced case studies and discussions for future directions, making it an invaluable textbook for advanced undergraduates and graduate students in biological anthropology and forensic anthropology programs.




Asymptomatic Osseous Variations of the Postcranial Human Skeleton


Book Description

Since ancient times, asymptomatic bone variations have been studied in many different disciplines. In radiology, for example, they enable the differentiation of the typical from the anomalous, but in biological anthropology they are especially useful in answering questions about humans and their diachronic and synchronic variability. This book provides an easily accessible presentation of the osseous variations of the postcranial skeleton (from the spine to the feet), which are sometimes poorly understood by the scientific community. These variations are examined one by one, with definitions, population frequencies and complete illustrations given for each. Asymptomatic Osseous Variations of the Postcranial Human Skeleton is intended as a comprehensive reference manual for further research on these types of skeletal variations.




PHOTOGRAPHIC REGIONAL ATLAS OF BONE DISEASE


Book Description

The Photographic Regional Atlas of Bone Disease is intended to serve the needs of a diverse audience including paleopathologists, physical anthropologists and other anthropologists, police, crime scene technicians, medical examiners, radiologists, anatomists, and other medical specialists, regardless of training or experience. Although originally written as a manual for physical anthropologists, it has become a reference for anyone examining skeletal remains or dealing with bone disease, especially in dry-bone specimens. Over the years it has gained in popularity as one of the few “required” manuals in most skeletal laboratories throughout the U.S. and, in fact, many countries. The purpose of the book is to bridge the gap between clinical medicine, radiology and physical anthropology by providing researchers with a single source and photographic atlas of what they might encounter in one bone or an entire skeletal collection, regardless of antiquity or origin. Unlike most texts written by clinicians for clinicians, or those that focus on one specialty, the Regional Atlas was compiled by biological anthropologists using a “dry bones” approach and simple yet precise terminology, based on examination of nearly 10,000 skeletons. The authors’ expertise and diversity in anatomy, radiology, pathology and human variation provide them with a unique perspective for distinguishing normal variation from pathological conditions. The book was written as a basic stand-alone reference for bone disease and normal variation. It contains black and white photographs and an extensive use of color plates depicting a variety of disease conditions and stages of progression that one might expect to encounter in one or many skeletons. The purpose of this text is to provide readers with sufficient information on bone disease and human variation for them to recognize, describe and interpret them. Once they have identified a disease, normal variant or other condition, they can turn to the bibliography for references and additional information. The Regional Atlas is intended to provide readers with enough information to do their own skeletal analysis. It is this “dry bones” approach, combined with the vast experiences of the authors, vivid photos and simple terminology, that sets the Regional Atlas apart from all others.




Bioarchaeology


Book Description

Now including numerous full colour figures, this updated and revised edition of Larsen's classic text provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of bioarchaeology. Reflecting the enormous advances made in the field over the past twenty years, the author examines how this discipline has matured and evolved in fundamental ways. Jargon free and richly illustrated, the text is accompanied by copious case studies and references to underscore the central role that human remains play in the interpretation of life events and conditions of past and modern cultures. From the origins and spread of infectious disease to the consequences of decisions made by humans with regard to the kinds of foods produced, and their nutritional, health and behavioral outcomes. With local, regional, and global perspectives, this up-to-date text provides a solid foundation for all those working in the field.




The Routledge Handbook of Archaeological Human Remains and Legislation


Book Description

Methodologies and legislative frameworks regarding the archaeological excavation, retrieval, analysis, curation and potential reburial of human skeletal remains differ throughout the world. As work forces have become increasingly mobile and international research collaborations are steadily increasing, the need for a more comprehensive understanding of different national research traditions, methodologies and legislative structures within the academic and commercial sector of physical anthropology has arisen. The Routledge Handbook of Archaeological Human Remains and Legislation provides comprehensive information on the excavation of archaeological human remains and the law through 62 individual country contributions from Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Australasia. More specifically, the volume discusses the following: What is the current situation (including a brief history) of physical anthropology in the country? What happens on discovering human remains (who is notified, etc.)? What is the current legislation regarding the excavation of archaeological human skeletal remains? Is a license needed to excavate human remains? Is there any specific legislation regarding excavation in churchyards? Any specific legislation regarding war graves? Are physical anthropologists involved in the excavation process? Where is the cut-off point between forensic and archaeological human remains (e.g. 100 years, 50 years, 25 years...)? Can human remains be transported abroad for research purposes? What methods of anthropological analysis are mostly used in the country? Are there any methods created in that country which are population-specific? Are there particular ethical issues that need to be considered when excavating human remains, such as religious groups or tribal groups? In addition, an overview of landmark anthropological studies and important collections are provided where appropriate. The entries are contained by an introductory chapter by the editors which establish the objectives and structure of the book, setting it within a wider archaeological framework, and a conclusion which explores the current European and world-wide trends and perspectives in the study of archaeological human remains. The Routledge Handbook of Archaeological Human Remains and Legislation makes a timely, much-needed contribution to the field of physical anthropology and is unique as it combines information on the excavation of human remains and the legislation that guides it, alongside information on the current state of physical anthropology across several continents. It is an indispensible tool for archaeologists involved in the excavation of human remains around the world.




The Roman and Byzantine Graves and Human Remains


Book Description

This study describes and interprets the graves and human remains of Roman and Byzantine date recovered by excavation between 1954 and 1976 in several locales around the Isthmian Sanctuary and the succeeding fortifications. This material provides important evidence for both death and life in the Greek countryside during the Late Roman to Early Byzantine periods. Examination of burial within the local settlement, comparative study of mortuary behavior, and analysis of skeletal morphology, ancient demography, oral health and paleopathology all contribute to a picture of the rural Corinthians over this transitional era as interactive, resilient and modestly innovative. Winner of the 2012-2013 CAMWS Outstanding Publication Award.




FORENSIC OSTEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS


Book Description

This timely volume on case studies in forensic osteology with background information on how osteological analysis is applied to human/faunal remains found in legal contexts is primarily designed for students of forensic anthropology/osteology who have a background in human anatomy and/or osteology. It also will be of interest to those individuals lacking this background and who may very well want to read the book for its many case studies. Although many journals publish case reports, there are instances when a more detailed and full description of circumstances are warranted. Further, beginning students initially require a more thorough treatment of the thinking behind the application of analytical techniques; an important aspect that may not be covered in the professional literature. Based on the foregoing, the premise of this book is that each case has a unique quality and thus presents unique problems for the analyst to approach. It is important for the reader to understand the limits for forensic osteology by examining not only its successes but also its failures. This book presents this type of information. The chapters appear as follows: Forensic Osteological Analysis: An Introduction; Of Beasts and Humans: A Case of Recognition; Identification of Human Skeletal Remains: Was He a She or She a He?; Sex Determination: XX or XY from the Human Skeleton; Identification of a Missing Person Using Biomechanical and DNA Analysis: A Case Study; DISH Rats and a Rolex; Death on the Danforth; The Identification of the Remains of Don Francisco Pizarro; Clinkers on the Little Bighorn Battlefield: In Situ Investigation of Scattered Recent Cremains; The Wrong Urn: Commingling of Cremains in Mortuary Practices; Cremated Remains and Expert Testimony in a Homicide Case; An Anthropological Investigation of a Rural Homicide Scene; Forensic Osteology of Strangulation; Pathological Changes on Human Skeletal Remains: Before, During or After?; Unusual Skeletal Anomalies and Pathologies in Forensic Casework; Biker's Bones: An Avocational Syndrome; Identity Crisis: Two Case Studies -- Success and Failure in Personal Identification Determination; Mass Disasters: Comments and Discussion Regarding the Hinton Train Collision of 1986; The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Human Rights Issues; and Forensic Entomology: The Use of Insects in Death Investigations.