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Books Received
Primate-Science / PrimateLit


Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton

BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE HUMAN SKELETON

Edited by

M. Anne Katzenberg
Department of Archaeology
University of Calgary

Shelley R. Saunders
Department of Anthropology
McMaster University

Wiley-Liss
A John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Publication
New York, Chichester, Weinheim, Brisbane, Singapore, Toronto

2000

FROM THE BACK COVER

The biology of prehistoric and early peoples is studied largely through the 
analysis of hard tissue.  Fascinating changes have occurred in the analysis 
of human skeletal and dental remains over the past few years for various 
reasons.  Factors such as new technology, advances in the fields of 
forensic anthropology, and heightened ethical concerns regarding the study 
of aboriginal peoples' remains where those people are no longer the 
dominant culture have emerged as significant themes for research and are 
examined in this comprehensive book.

Organized into five parts with contributing chapters written by experts in 
the field of human skeletal biology, Biological Anthropology of the Human 
Skeleton delves into a variety of areas unique to literature.  Part One 
covers theory and application, which leads to Part Two's discussion of 
morphological analysis of bone, teeth, and age changes.  Following in Part 
Three are reviews of prehistoric health and disease.  Part Four examines 
chemical and genetic analyses of hard tissues, and Part Five closes with 
coverage of quantitative methods and population studies.  Such in-depth 
topics as how humans have regarded the dead over time and across cultures, 
the ethics of skeletal research, and the contribution and advances in 
research analysis are essential elements contained within this book.  Other 
subjects covered are:

* Dental morphology, highlighting new methods of characterizing tooth size 
and shape
* Recent investigations of microstructural growth markers in dental tissues
* Studies based on gross observation of bones, gross observations of teeth, 
and microscopic studies
* Bone structure at the histological level and the factors that account for 
variation
* Stable isotope analysis, trace element analysis, and the extraction and 
amplification of ancient DNA
* Plus many other topics that contain the common thread of determining 
information about past peoples from their skeletal and dental remains

Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton covers a scope of major 
topics in human skeletal biology and will be an indispensable research 
guide to biological anthropologists, osteologists, paleoanthropologists, 
and archaeologists.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface   ix
M. Anne Katzenberg and Shelley R. Saunders

Acknowledgments   xv

Contributors   xvii

PART I: THEORY AND APPLICATION IN STUDIES OF PAST PEOPLES   1

1. Bioarchaeological Ethics: A Historical Perspective on the Value of Human 
Remains   3
Phillip L. Walker

2. Methodological Considerations in the Forensic Applications of Human 
Skeletal Biology   41
Douglas H. Ubelaker

PART II: MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSES AND AGE CHANGES   69

3. Biomechanical Analyses of Archaeological Human Skeletons   71
Christopher B. Ruff

4. Dental Morphology: Techniques and Strategies   103
John T. Mayhall

5. Subadult Skeletons and Growth-Related Studies   135
Shelley R. Saunders

6. Reading Between the Lines: Dental Development and Subadult Age 
Assessment Using the Microstructural Growth Markers of Teeth   163
Charles M. FitzGerald and Jerome C. Rose

7. Histomorphometry of Human Cortical Bone: Applications to Age 
Estimation   187
Alexander G. Robling and Sam D. Stout

PART III: PREHISTORIC HEALTH AND DISEASE   215

8. Paleopathological Description and Diagnosis   217
Nancy C. Lovell

9. Dental Pathology   249
Simon Hillson

10. Palaeohistology: Health and Disease   287
Susan Pfeiffer

PART IV: CHEMICAL AND GENETIC ANALYSES OF HARDTISSUES   303

11. Stable Isotope Analysis: A Tool for Studying Past Diet, Demography, and 
Life History   305
M. Anne Katzenberg

12. Trace Element Research in Anthropology: New Perspectives and 
Challenges   329
Mary K. Sandford and David S. Weaver

13. Ancient DNA from Skeletal Remains   351
Anne C. Stone

PART V: QUANTITATIVE METHODS AND POPULATION STUDIES   373

14. Metric Analysis of Skeletal Remains: Methods and Applications   375
Michael Pietrusewsky

15. Building the Bases for Paleodemographic Analysis: Adult Age 
Determination   417
Mary Jackes

16. Paleodemography   467
George R. Milner, James W. Wood and Jesper L. Boldsen

Subject Index   499

WHERE TO ORDER:

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
1 Wiley Dr.
Somerset, NJ, 08875-1272  U.S.A.
Phone: 800-225-5945
Fax: 732-302-2300
Web site:  www.wiley.com
COST:  $95 Hardcover  (ISBN:  0471316164)

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