Human Skeletal Remains: Excavation, Analysis, Interpretation (Manuals on Archeology Series No. 2) - Hardcover

Ubelaker, Douglas H.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0960282254 ISBN 13: 9780960282258

Publisher: Taraxacum, 1996

Synopsis

Ubelaker's awareness of problems and inadequacies in the excavation procedures and preservation of osteological remains spurred him to publish this book. His aim was to produce a manual which would enhance the appreciation of all kinds of human remains and to outline the procedures for excavating, processing and analysing them. He deals with both the familiar and common problems and issues which arise and many of the anomalies which may be encountered. Technical terms are used and explained in an attempt to encourage use of correct terminology. Contents: Introduction; Skeletal recovery; Sex, stature, and age; Cultural and pathological alterations; Race, identity and time since death; Prehistoric population dynamics.

About this title

About the Author:

Douglas H. Ubelaker is curator and senior scientist at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. He has served as a consultant of forensic anthropology to the FBI since 1978 and has widely known for his work on the topic of human skeletal biology.

Review:

“Human Skeletal Remains merits the attention of all archaeologists concerned with the recovery and analysis of burials.... For introductory students and general readers, as well as for archaeologists interested in learning what human skeletal remains can reveal, this volume provides an outstanding distillation of the goals and methods of physical anthropology.”

—Marshall Joseph Becker, American Journal of Archaeology

“For any person who has wondered about the merits of burial excavation, and for any archaeologists likely to be faced with the task, this volume should be required reading.... [T]his book is quite good. It will certainly be a useful companion piece to standard osteology texts, which seldom touch on research problems or techniques appropriate for field-data recovery.... [T]his book is an excellent pioneer effort. Ubelaker is to be congratulated for attempting a most difficult task. He has set out to demonstrate that burial excavation is worthwhile and that quality data collection is imperative if osteological data are to be efficiently utilized. His arguments are most persuasive.”

—Jane E. Buikstra, American Anthropologist

About this edition

• Publisher: Taraxacum
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0960282254
• ISBN 13: 9780960282258
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 172