The human skeleton, often ignored or even discarded by early archaeologists, has become of great interest and importance to their modern counterparts. Known as physical anthropology, the study of skeletons is a vital part of environmental archaeology. Human bones provide accurate evidence for the physical characteristics of a previous community, and are a major source of evidence for diseases that scar bone, such as tuberculosis, leprosy, and syphilis, and their subsequent evolution within populations. Ann Stirland describes human skeletons and their variations as a result of diet, environment, and disease, along iwth the effects on the bones of various burial conditions and rituals. Guidance is offered on methods of excavation, treatment, recording and analysis, and numerous illustrations show the reader what to look for.
- ISBN10 0852637594
- ISBN13 9780852637593
- Publish Date October 1986
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 8 August 1997
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Imprint Shire Publications
- Format Paperback
- Pages 64
- Language English