Bioarchaeology: An Introduction to the Archaeology and Anthropology of the Dead

by Mark Q. Sutton

Bioarchaeology covers the history and general theory of the field plus the recovery and laboratory treatment of human remains.Bioarchaeology is the study of human remains in context from an archaeological and anthropological perspective. The book explores, through numerous case studies, that how a society deals with their dead can reveal a great deal about that society, including its religious, political, economic, and social organizations. It details recovery methods and how, once recovered, human remains can be analyzed to reveal details about the funerary system of the subject society and inform on a variety of other issues, such as health, demography, disease, workloads, mobility, sex and gender, and migration. Finally, the book highlights how bioarchaeological techniques can be used in contemporary forensic settings and in investigations of genocide and war crimes.In Bioarchaeology , theories, principles, and scientific techniques are laid out in a clear, understandable way, and students of archaeology at undergraduate and graduate levels will find this an excellent guide to the field.

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2020

About the author

Mark Q. Sutton is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of San Diego, USA. He is Principal Investigator at Statistical Research, Inc., San Diego. His publications include An Introduction to Native North America 5e (2016), A Prehistory of North America (2011), Introduction to Cultural Ecology 3e with E.N. Anderson (2013), Paleonutrition (2010), and Archaeological Laboratory Methods: An Introduction 6e with Brooke S. Arkush (2014).