Osteoarchaeology
A Guide to the Macroscopic Study of Human Skeletal Remains
- 2nd Edition - October 1, 2027
- Latest edition
- Author: Efthymia Nikita
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 4 4 1 2 5 - 7
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 4 4 1 2 6 - 4
Osteoarchaeology: A Guide to the Macroscopic Study of Human Skeletal Remains, Second Edition is a comprehensive and practical resource, meticulously revised to reflect the latest… Read more
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Osteoarchaeology: A Guide to the Macroscopic Study of Human Skeletal Remains, Second Edition is a comprehensive and practical resource, meticulously revised to reflect the latest advancements in the field. This edition serves as an essential resource for students and professionals in osteoarchaeology, human osteology, biological anthropology, and forensic anthropology. Covering topics such as bone and teeth identification, taphonomy, sex assessment, age estimation, and paleopathology, this book equips readers with the fundamental knowledge and practical skills necessary for conducting macroscopic analyses of human skeletal remains. The first chapter introduces the human skeleton, detailing bone function, structure, growth, and identification, complemented by ample illustrations. The following chapters explore critical subjects, including taphonomic processes, sex and ancestry assessment, age estimation methodologies, and biological distance analysis. Readers will also find insights into growth patterns, activity markers, and pathological conditions, culminating in a thorough examination of statistical methods in human osteology. Each chapter is enhanced with updated references and pedagogical features such as case studies, revision exercises, and a glossary, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience. This revised edition not only updates existing content but also integrates significant methodological advancements, including machine learning applications and open-source statistical tools. It is an invaluable companion for those seeking to deepen their understanding of osteoarchaeological methods while addressing contemporary research questions. With its clear, stepwise approach, this guide empowers readers to apply their knowledge effectively, fostering an appreciation for the rich narratives embedded within human skeletal remains.
• Past edition was a 2018 PROSE Awards - Honorable Mention, Textbook/Social Services: Association of American Publishers
• Contains coverage of nearly every aspect of human osteological macroscopic analysis, with detailed methods description enabling application
• Instructs in R code for facilitating data processing and analysis, with companion data sets
• Features ample illustrations, case study material, revision exercises, a glossary, and chapter summaries
• Includes a variety of online companion resources, including review exercises, macros and software modeling for analysis, and sample data sets for R code analysis, among other resources
• Contains coverage of nearly every aspect of human osteological macroscopic analysis, with detailed methods description enabling application
• Instructs in R code for facilitating data processing and analysis, with companion data sets
• Features ample illustrations, case study material, revision exercises, a glossary, and chapter summaries
• Includes a variety of online companion resources, including review exercises, macros and software modeling for analysis, and sample data sets for R code analysis, among other resources
Students studying bioarchaeology, osteoarchaeology, physical and biological anthropology, biology, and archaeology both in undergraduate and graduate levels
Chapter 1. The Human Skeleton
1.1. Bone Function
1.2. Bone Classification
1.3. Bone Structure
1.4. Bone Composition and Cells
1.5. Bone Growth and Development
1.6. Planes of Reference and Directional Terms
1.7. Bone Identification
1.8. Teeth Tooth Identification
Chapter 2. Taphonomy
2.1. Taphonomy in Archaeological and Forensic Contexts
2.2. Decomposition Process
2.3. Scavengers
2.4. Human Agents
2.5. Natural Environment
2.6. Intrinsic Preservation Factors
2.7. Commingling
Chapter 3. Sex and Ancestry Assessment
3.1. Sex Assessment
3.1. Morphological Methods
3.2. Metric Methods
3.3. Machine Learning Approaches
3.3. Sex Assessment in Juveniles
3.2. Ancestry
Chapter 4. Age Estimation
4.1. Age Estimation
4.2. Juveniles
4.3. Adults
Chapter 5. Biological Distance
5.1. Metric Methods
5.2. Nonmetric Traits
5.3. Mixed Datasets
5.3. R-Matrix Analysis
Chapter 6. Growth Patterns
6.1. Growth in Human Populations
6.2. Growth Patterns as a Stress Marker
6.3. Catch-Up and Catch-Down Growth
6.4. Osteoarchaeological Applications
6.5. Methodological Approaches
6.6. Limitations of Growth Pattern Studies
6.7. Stature Estimation
6.8. Body Mass Estimation
Chapter 7. Activity Patterns Mechanical Stress
7.1. Entheseal Changes
7.2. Long-Bone Cross-Sectional Geometric Properties
7.3. Dental Wear
Chapter 8. Pathological Conditions
8.1. The Osteological Paradox and One Paleopathology
8.2. Macroscopic Paleopathological Examination
8.3. Developmental Anomalies
8.4. Metabolic Diseases
8.5. Hematopoietic Diseases
8.6. Endocrine Disorders
8.7. Infectious Diseases
8.8. Tumors
8.9. Trauma
8.10. Joint Disease
8.11. Dental Diseases
8.12. Calculation of Disease Prevalence and Statistical Analysis
Chapter 9. Statistical Methods in Human Osteology
9.1. Basic Statistical Concepts
9.2. Descriptive Statistics
9.3. Inferential Statistics: Statistical Hypothesis Testing
9.4. Tests of Significance Between Two Samples
9.5. Statistical Tests Among Many Samples
9.6. Tests for Categorical Data
9.7. Data Modeling
9.8. Correlation
9.9. Multivariate Analysis
1.1. Bone Function
1.2. Bone Classification
1.3. Bone Structure
1.4. Bone Composition and Cells
1.5. Bone Growth and Development
1.6. Planes of Reference and Directional Terms
1.7. Bone Identification
1.8. Teeth Tooth Identification
Chapter 2. Taphonomy
2.1. Taphonomy in Archaeological and Forensic Contexts
2.2. Decomposition Process
2.3. Scavengers
2.4. Human Agents
2.5. Natural Environment
2.6. Intrinsic Preservation Factors
2.7. Commingling
Chapter 3. Sex and Ancestry Assessment
3.1. Sex Assessment
3.1. Morphological Methods
3.2. Metric Methods
3.3. Machine Learning Approaches
3.3. Sex Assessment in Juveniles
3.2. Ancestry
Chapter 4. Age Estimation
4.1. Age Estimation
4.2. Juveniles
4.3. Adults
Chapter 5. Biological Distance
5.1. Metric Methods
5.2. Nonmetric Traits
5.3. Mixed Datasets
5.3. R-Matrix Analysis
Chapter 6. Growth Patterns
6.1. Growth in Human Populations
6.2. Growth Patterns as a Stress Marker
6.3. Catch-Up and Catch-Down Growth
6.4. Osteoarchaeological Applications
6.5. Methodological Approaches
6.6. Limitations of Growth Pattern Studies
6.7. Stature Estimation
6.8. Body Mass Estimation
Chapter 7. Activity Patterns Mechanical Stress
7.1. Entheseal Changes
7.2. Long-Bone Cross-Sectional Geometric Properties
7.3. Dental Wear
Chapter 8. Pathological Conditions
8.1. The Osteological Paradox and One Paleopathology
8.2. Macroscopic Paleopathological Examination
8.3. Developmental Anomalies
8.4. Metabolic Diseases
8.5. Hematopoietic Diseases
8.6. Endocrine Disorders
8.7. Infectious Diseases
8.8. Tumors
8.9. Trauma
8.10. Joint Disease
8.11. Dental Diseases
8.12. Calculation of Disease Prevalence and Statistical Analysis
Chapter 9. Statistical Methods in Human Osteology
9.1. Basic Statistical Concepts
9.2. Descriptive Statistics
9.3. Inferential Statistics: Statistical Hypothesis Testing
9.4. Tests of Significance Between Two Samples
9.5. Statistical Tests Among Many Samples
9.6. Tests for Categorical Data
9.7. Data Modeling
9.8. Correlation
9.9. Multivariate Analysis
- Edition: 2
- Latest edition
- Published: October 1, 2027
- Language: English
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Efthymia Nikita
Dr Efthymia Nikita is an Assistant Professor at the Science and Technology in Archaeology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, in Nicosia. She is a bioarchaeologist with an undergraduate degree in Archaeology (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) and a PhD in Biological Anthropology (University of Cambridge). Her research aligns with biocultural approaches and seeks to provide insights into the activity, mobility, demography, health, and diet of past populations using macroscopic and microanalytical methods. Geographically, her projects span North Africa, Greece, and the United Kingdom, while, temporally, they cover prehistoric to medieval times. In addition, she is engaged in refining the available osteoarchaeological methodology by evaluating current methods and suggesting new approaches in the study of commingled remains, biodistances, and activity markers. Her research has received funding from European and American foundations and has resulted in more than 40 articles and book chapters.
Affiliations and expertise
Associate Professor, Science and Technology in Archaeology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus