This comparative analysis aids the fieldworker in identifying fossil proboscidean bones from early man sites. It also describes the skulls, mandibles, and posteranial skeletons of forty families of birds frequently found in archaeological excavations in the United States.

This advanced textbook provides the reader with an up-to-date account of recent developments and future potential in the study of human skeletons from both an archaeological and forensic context. It is well-illustrated, comprehensive in its coverage and is divided into six sections for ease of reference, encompassing such areas as palaeodemography, juvenile health and growth, disease and trauma, normal skeletal variation, biochemical and microscopic analyses and facial reconstruction. Each chapter is written by a recognised specialist in the field, and includes in-depth discussion of the reliability of methods, with appropriate references, and current and future research directions. It is essential reading for all students undertaking osteology as part of their studies and will also prove a valuable reference for forensic scientists, both in the field and the laboratory.

This comparative analysis aids the fieldworker in identifying fossil proboscidean bones from early man sites. It also describes the skulls, mandibles, and posteranial skeletons of forty families of birds frequently found in archaeological excavations in the United States.

Introduction. Bone Biology. Anatomical Terminology. Skull. Dentition. Hyoid and Vertebrae. Thorax: Sternum and Ribs. Shoulder Girdle: Clavicle and Scapula. Arm: Humerus, Radius, Ulna. Hand: Carpals, Metacarpals, and Phalanges. Pelvic Girdle: Sacrum, Coccyx, and Os Coxae. Leg: Femur, Patella, Tibia, and Fibula. Foot: Tarsals, Metatarsals, and Phalanges. Recovery, Preparation, and Curation of Skeletal Remains. Analysis and Reporting of Skeletal Remains. Ethics in Osteology. Assessment of Age, Sex, Stature, Ancestry, and Identity. Osteological and Dental Pathology. Postmortem Skeletal Modification. The Biology of Skeletal Populations: Discrete Traits, Distance, Diet, Disease, and Demography. Molecular Osteology. Forensic Case Study: Homicide: "We Have the Witnesses but No Body." Forensic Case Study: Child Abuse, The Skeletal Perspective. Archaeological Case Study: Anasazi Remains from Cottonwood Canyon. Paleontological Case Study: The Pit of the Bones. Paleontological Case Study: Australopitheus Mandible from Maka, Ethiopia. Appendix: Photographic Methods and Provenance. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.

Engaging a longstanding controversy important to archaeologists and indigenous communities, Repatriation and Erasing the Past takes a critical look at laws that mandate the return of human remains from museums and laboratories to ancestral burial grounds. Anthropologist Elizabeth Weiss and attorney James Springer offer scientific and legal perspectives on the way repatriation laws impact research. Weiss discusses how anthropologists draw conclusions about past peoples through their study of skeletons and mummies and argues that continued curation of human remains is important. Springer reviews American Indian law and how it helped to shape laws such as NAGPRA (the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act). He provides detailed analyses of cases including the Kennewick Man and the Havasupai genetics lawsuits. Together, Weiss and Springer critique repatriation laws and support the view that anthropologists should prioritize scientific research over other perspectives.