Bioarchaeology

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The study of human remains to understand past civilizations, cultures, and societies.

Who is credited with coining the term bioarchaeology?

- "The term bioarchaeology has been attributed to British archaeologist Grahame Clark."

How did Grahame Clark initially define bioarchaeology?

- "Grahame Clark... defined it as the study of animal and human bones from archaeological sites."

Who redefined the term bioarchaeology in the United States?

- "Redefined in 1977 by Jane Buikstra..."

How does bioarchaeology differ from osteoarchaeology?

- "Compared to bioarchaeology, osteoarchaeology is the scientific study that solely focuses on the human skeleton."

What information can be obtained from the human skeleton in bioarchaeology?

- "The human skeleton is used to tell us about health, lifestyle, diet, mortality, and physique of the past."

What is palaeo-osteology?

- "Furthermore, palaeo-osteology is simply the study of ancient bones."

How is bioarchaeology defined in Europe?

- "The term bioarchaeology is used in Europe to describe the study of all biological remains from archaeological sites."

What did New Archaeology advocate for?

- "New Archaeology... developed in the United States in the 1970s as a reaction to a mainly cultural-historical approach to understanding the past."

What is the biocultural approach in bioarchaeology?

- "Proponents of New Archaeology advocated using processual methods to test hypotheses about the interaction between culture and biology, or a biocultural approach."

How do some archaeologists advocate for a more holistic approach to bioarchaeology?

- "Some archaeologists advocate a more holistic approach to bioarchaeology that incorporates critical theory and is more relevant to modern descent populations."

What type of analysis is typically done on human remains in bioarchaeology?

- "If possible, human remains from archaeological sites are analyzed to determine sex, age, and health."

What purpose do the results of analyzing human remains serve in bioarchaeology?

- "The results are used to determine patterns relevant to human behavior at the site."

What other disciplines are included within bioarchaeology besides the study of human remains?

- "Although Clark used it to describe just human remains and animal remains (zoology/archaeozoology/zooarchaeology), increasingly modern archaeologists also include botanical remains."

What is the significance of including botanical remains in bioarchaeology?

- "The results are used to determine patterns relevant to human behavior at the site." (Note: This quote intersects with question 12.)

How can the study of animal bones contribute to bioarchaeology?

- "The term bioarchaeology has been attributed to British archaeologist Grahame Clark who... defined it as the study of animal and human bones from archaeological sites."

What historical approach did New Archaeology react against?

- "developed in the United States in the 1970s as a reaction to a mainly cultural-historical approach to understanding the past."

What are some aspects of the past that the human skeleton can reveal?

- "The human skeleton is used to tell us about health, lifestyle, diet, mortality, and physique of the past."

What is the main focus of osteoarchaeology?

- "Compared to bioarchaeology, osteoarchaeology is the scientific study that solely focuses on the human skeleton."

What is the main focus of palaeo-osteology?

- "Furthermore, palaeo-osteology is simply the study of ancient bones."

What is the main difference in the usage of bioarchaeology between Europe and the United States?

- "The term bioarchaeology is used in Europe to describe the study of all biological remains from archaeological sites."