Provides researchers and practitioners with a guide to the main methods and techniques that are available for studying diseases and related conditions from human skeletal remains. This work describes the ways in which these methods can be applied to the reconstruction of health, disease, and activity patterns in the past.

Written by an international team of experts, this book provides the first truly integrated methodological and biocultural approach to human palaeopathology. This will be essential reading for all researchers and practitioners concerned with health and disease in past populations.

PrefaceSimon Mays and Ron PinhasiPART I: ANALYTICAL APPROACHES IN PALAEOPATHOLOGY1. The chemical and microbial degradation of bones and teethGordon Turner-Walker2. How representative are human skeletal assemblages for population analysis?Ron Pinhasi and Chryssi Bourbou3.Epidemiological approaches in palaeopathologyRon Pinhasi and Katy Turner4. Macroscopic analysis and data collection in palaeopathologyAnne L. Grauer5. Radiography and allied techniques in the palaeopathology of skeletal remainsSimon Mays6. CT-scanning and 3D-visualisation of mummies and bog bodiesNiels Lynnerup7. Histological studies on ancient boneGordon Turner-Walker and Simon Mays8. Molecular palaeopathology of human infectious diseaseHelen D. Donoghue9. DatabasesWilliam WhitePART II: DIAGNOSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DISEASE IN HUMAN REMAINS10. Differential diagnosis of skeletal lesions in infectious diseaseDonald J. Ortner11. Metabolic bone diseaseSimon Mays12. Tumours and tumour-like processesDon Brothwell13. Advances in the palaeopathology of teeth and jawsAlan Ogden14. TraumaPia Bennike15. Congenital AnomaliesEthne Barnes16. Growth in past archaeological populationsRon PinhasiINDEX