Clark Spencer Larsen

Now including numerous full colour figures, this updated and revised edition of Larsen's classic text provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of bioarchaeology. Reflecting the enormous advances made in the field over the past twenty years, the author examines how this discipline has matured and evolved in fundamental ways. Jargon free and richly illustrated, the text is accompanied by copious case studies and references to underscore the central role that human remains play in the interpretation of life events and conditions of past and modern cultures. From the origins and spread of infectious disease to the consequences of decisions made by humans with regard to the kinds of foods produced, and their nutritional, health and behavioral outcomes. With local, regional, and global perspectives, this up-to-date text provides a solid foundation for all those working in the field.

Interpreting Behavior from the Human Skeleton

Bioarchaeology

Richard H. Steckel

Charlotte A. Roberts

Joerg Baten

Represents the largest recorded dataset based on human skeletal remains from archaeological sites across the continent of Europe.

Health, Diet, Work and Violence over Two Millennia

The Backbone of Europe

"South End Mound I is one of more than 50 mortuary sites (mostly burial mounds) excavated by Clarence Bloomfield Moore (1897) during his five-month expedition to the Georgia coast, and it is one of seven mounds he described on St. Catherines Island. The mound was subsequently tested by Larsen and Thomas (1986), who reported on a small sample of fragmentary human remains left at the site by Moore. This monograph reports on human remains recovered from a large-scale excavation undertaken by Larsen. This excavation revealed that Moore disturbed skeletal remains, but these remains were left in the general location of their original discovery. Our conjoining of fragmentary bones and teeth allowed identification of 26 of the 50 skeletons encountered by Moore. Importantly, this sample provides the only late prehistoric (Irene period) skeletal series from St. Catherines Island, allowing for the first time temporal comparisons with both earlier prehistoric populations (e.g., Johns Mound) and later historic populations (Santa Catalina de Guale) from the island. Analysis of faunal remains and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen indicates that the population consumed a variety of terrestrial and marine fauna, along with significant amounts of maize in diet. Analysis of dental caries prevalence is consistent with this reconstruction. In addition, presence of skeletal infections indicates poorer health in general relative to prehistoric St. Catherines Islanders. At least some of the periosteal reactions displayed on tibiae reflect treponematosis (nonvenereal syphilis). The overall pattern of health is strikingly similar to contemporary late prehistoric populations from the Georgia coast in particular and to the Eastern Woodlands of North America in general. Lastly, study of body size and postcranial skeletal morphology indicates a similar pattern of activity and lifestyle as for other groups from the Georgia Bight during the late prehistoric era. Overall, this bioarchaeological analysis reveals that the shift from a foraging lifeway to one that incorporated maize agriculture likely had a profound impact on health and lifestyle"--P. 5.

South End Mound I, St. Catherines Island, Georgia

Bioarchaeology of the Late Prehistoric Guale

Biocultural interpretations of a population in transition

The Archaeology of Mission Santa Catalina de Guale

The dead tell no tales. Or do they? This book shows that the dead can speak to us - about their lives, and ours - throught he remarkable insights of bioarchaeology, which reconstructs the lives and lifestyles of skeletal remains.

Revealing Our Past Through Bioarchaeology

Skeletons in Our Closet

With an unparalleled art program, Our Origins is an accessible, up-to-date text that focuses on anthropology's big questions and the scientific process.

Discovering Physical Anthropology

Our Origins

Robert M. Matter

Daniel Lee Gebo

This updated, illustrated guide to the fossil record of human evolution brings together for easy reference, in one source, all the major finds of fossil hominoids and hominids. An essential source in physical anthropology classrooms and laboratories. 1. Introduction 2. Dawn Apes: Oligocene and Miocene Hominoids 3. Australopithecus: Pliocene-Pleistocene Hominids 4. Homo Habilis: Pliocene-Pleistocene Hominids 5. Homo Erectus: Pleistocene Hominids 6. Early Archaic Homo Sapiens: Middle Pleistocene Hominids 7. Late Archaic Homo Sapiens: Upper Pleistocene Hominids 8. Modern Homo Sapiens: Late Pleistocene-Holocene Hominids

The Fossil Record

Human Origins

The Third Edition of this best-selling text now includes an update to the evolutionary primate taxonomy and even more tools to help students grasp the major concepts in physical anthropology—including new, photorealistic art.

Discovering Physical Anthropology, Third Edition

An extensive overview of the rapidly growing field of biologicalanthropology; chapters are written by leading scholars who havethemselves played a major role in shaping the direction and scopeof the discipline. Extensive overview of the rapidly growing field of biologicalanthropology Larsen has created a who’s who of biologicalanthropology, with contributions from the leadingauthorities in the field Contributing authors have played a major role in shaping thedirection and scope of the topics they write about Offers discussions of current issues, controversies, and futuredirections within the area Presents coverage of the many recent innovations anddiscoveries that are transforming the subject

A Companion to Biological Anthropology

The big picture of physical anthropology.

Discovering Our Origins

Essentials of Physical Anthropology

The dead tell no tales. Or do they? In this fascinating book, Clark Spencer Larsen shows that the dead can speak to us--about their lives, and ours--through the remarkable insights of bioarchaeology, which reconstructs the lives and lifestyles of past peoples based on the study of skeletal remains. The human skeleton is an amazing storehouse of information. It records the circumstances of our growth and development as reflected in factors such as disease, stress, diet, nutrition, climate, activity, and injury. Bioarchaeologists, by combining the methods of forensic science and archaeology, along with the resources of many other disciplines (including chemistry, geology, physics, and biology), "read" the information stored in bones to understand what life was really like for our human ancestors. They are unearthing some surprises. For instance, the shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture approximately 10,000 years ago has commonly been seen as a major advancement in the course of human evolution. However, as Larsen provocatively shows, this change may not have been so positive. Compared to their hunter-gatherer ancestors, many early farmers suffered more disease, had to work harder, and endured a poorer quality of life due to poorer diets and more marginal living conditions. Moreover, the past 10,000 years have seen dramatic changes in the human physiognomy as a result of alterations in our diet and lifestyle. Some modern health problems, including obesity and chronic disease, may also have their roots in these earlier changes. Drawing on vivid accounts from his own experiences as a bioarchaeologist, Larsen guides us through some of the key developments in recent human evolution, including the adoption of agriculture, the arrival of Europeans in the Americas and the biological consequences of this contact, and the settlement of the American West in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Written in a lively and engaging manner, this book is for anyone interested in what the dead have to tell us about the living.

Revealing Our Past through Bioarchaeology

Using human skeletal remains, this volume traces health, workload and violence in the European population over the past 2,000 years. Health was surprisingly good for people who lived during the early Medieval Period. The Plague of Justinian of the sixth century was ultimately beneficial for health because the smaller population had relatively more resources that contributed to better living conditions. Increasing population density and inequality in the following centuries imposed an unhealthy diet - poor in protein - on the European population. With the onset of the Little Ice Age in the late Middle Ages, a further health decline ensued, which was not reversed until the nineteenth century. While some aspects of health declined, other attributes improved. During the early modern period, interpersonal violence (outside of warfare) declined possibly because stronger states and institutions were able to enforce compromise and cooperation. European health over the past two millennia was hence multifaceted in nature.

Larsen is one of the world's top researchers, and he is also a gifted teacher. These twin skills exhibit themselves on every page of Our Origins. In addition, the book is illustrated with state-of-the-art drawn figures and images from several of the world's leading photographers. The Second Edition has been thoroughly revised to stay abreast of developments in this fast-moving field-in particular, the significance of the Arbi discovery (announced in the fall of 2009) has been incorporated throughout.

Clark Spencer Larsen

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