Bioarchaeological Interpretations of the Human Past: Local, Regional, and Global Perspectives

Edited by Clark Spencer Larsen, The Ohio State University and Marin A. Pilloud, University of Nevada, Reno

Series Description:

Focusing on bioarchaeology, the study of human remains from archaeological contexts, authored and edited volumes highlight central issues, such as biocultural responses to stress, health, lifestyle and behavioral adaptation, biomechanical function and adaptive shifts in human history, dietary reconstruction and foodways, biodistance and population history, warfare and conflict, demography, social inequality, and environmental impacts on population. Collectively, authors and editors emphasize integrative, interdisciplinary analysis of the links between biology and culture in past societies and the range of cultural, social, and economic conditions and circumstances that have shaped the human experience.

For more Information:

Clark Spencer Larsen
Distinguished University Professor
The Ohio State University
Department of Anthropology
4034 Smith Laboratory
Columbus, OH 43210-1106
larsen.53@osu.edu

Marin A. Pilloud
Associate Professor
University of Nevada, Reno
Department of Anthropology
1664 N. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557
mpilloud@unr.edu


There are 31 books in this series.


Please note that while you may order forthcoming books at any time, they will not be available for shipment until shortly before publication date

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Bioarchaeology of East Asia: Movement, Contact, Health

Bioarchaeology of East Asia integrates studies on migration, diet, and diverse aspects of health through the study of human skeletal collections in a region that developed varying forms of agriculture.

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Paleopathology at the Origins of Agriculture

Now back in print and for the first time in paperback,Paleopathology at the Origins of Agriculture is a foundational piece in bioarchaeological literature and a central source of information regarding the impact of early farming on socioeconomic evolution. It remains a highly cited reference for archaeologists and physical anthropologists.

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Bioarchaeology and Behavior: The People of the Ancient Near East

While mortuary ruins have long fascinated archaeologists and art historians interested in the cultures of the Near East and eastern Mediterranean, the human skeletal remains contained in the tombs of this region have garnered less attention. In Bioarchaeology and Behavior, Megan Perry presents a collection of essays that aim a spotlight on the investigation of the ancient inhabitants of the circum-Mediterranean area.

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The Bioarchaeology of Violence

Experts on a wide range of ancient societies highlight the meaning and motivation of past uses of violence, revealing how violence often plays an important role in maintaining and suppressing the challenges to the status quo, and how it is frequently a performance meant to be witnessed by others.

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The Bioarchaeology of Individuals

From Bronze Age Thailand to Viking Iceland, from an Egyptian oasis to a family farm in Canada, The Bioarchaeology of Individuals invites readers to unearth the daily lives of people throughout history.

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Violence, Ritual, and the Wari Empire: A Social Bioarchaeology of Imperialism in the Ancient Andes

This study of human skeletons reveals the biological and social impact of Wari imperialism on people's lives, particularly its effects on community organization and frequency of violence of both ruling elites and subjects. 

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Bioarchaeology and Climate Change: A View from South Asian Prehistory

Gwen Robbins Schug integrates the most recent paleoclimate reconstructions with an innovative analysis of skeletal remains from one of the last abandoned villages to provide a new interpretation of the archaeological record of this period.

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The Bioarchaeology of the Human Head: Decapitation, Decoration, and Deformation

Building on the notion that human remains provide a window into the past, especially regarding identity, the contributors to this volume reflect on intentional and ritualized practices of manipulating the human head within ancient societies. These essays explore the human head’s symbolic role in political, social, economic, and religious ritual over the centuries.

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Island Shores, Distant Pasts: Archaeological and Biological Approaches to the Pre-Columbian Settlement of the Caribbean

This unique collection synthesizes our archaeological and biological knowledge about the pre-Columbian settlement of the Caribbean and highlights the various techniques we can use to analyze human migration and settlement patterns throughout history.

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Bioarchaeology and Identity in the Americas

Bioarchaeology and Identity in the Americas represents an important shift in the interpretation of skeletal remains in the Americas.