The tragedies of violence have seldom been told with such a compelling use of the biocultural perspective. Building on a solid methodological foundation, we are served theoretical perspectives that are unusually rich and nuanced in their application to the case studies. This collection of case studies is a valuable contribution to the bioarchaeological literature. George Armelagos, Emory University

Violence has played an essential role in human social relations. Violence and conflict often have the ability to unite, create stability, and be a productive force while at the same time...

"Pulls together a global sampling of excellent research on a topic of great interest to scholars of prehistory that otherwise would be difficult to assemble or in some cases to even access."--Patricia M. Lambert, Utah State University

Twenty years ago Mark Nathan Cohen coedited a collection of essays that set a new standard in using paleopathology to identify trends in health associated with changes in prehistoric technology, economy, demography, and political centralization. Ancient Health expands and celebrates that work.

Confirming earlier conclusions that human...

A rich, synthetic view of East Asian (pre)history the migration patterns, the cultural interactions, and the health profiles of these large and diverse populations. This daunting task is well achieved through thoughtful bioarchaeological studies that incorporate varied methodological and theoretical perspectives. Tiffiny A. Tung, Vanderbilt University

Successful in meeting its rather ambitious goal of drawing together bioarchaeological research over a very large and complex region of the globe. A significant contribution to many central archaeological questions in an area of the...

Stojanowski takes you on an amazing trip to different historic Spanish missions in the southeastern United States. These missions are filled with skeletons that are a chorus of Native American voices speaking of church services they attended both in life and in death. Keith P. Jacobi, author of Last Rites for the Tipu Maya: Genetic Structuring in a Colonial Cemetery

Mission Cemeteries, Mission Peoples is a must-have for any student or scholar of bioarchaeology. . . . An instant anthropological classic. Richard C. Sutter, Indiana University Purdue University Fort...

Makes an important contribution to our understanding of the challenges our ancestors faced during the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture. . . . A well-organized and highly readable volume that synthesizes an enormous amount of data on what is perhaps the most significant economic transformation in the history of our species. American Anthropologist

In 1982, the Conference on Paleopathology and Socioeconomic Change at the Origins of Agriculture was held in Plattsburgh, New York, to examine previously untested theories about how the adoption of...

"A ground-breaking study that provides one of the best case studies we have in the bioarchaeology of violence. A must-read for anyone interested in the origin and evolution of aggression and violence in human societies."--Debra L. Martin, University of Nevada

"In this exciting new work, Dr. Tung provides the first comprehensive view of life and the bodies inside ancient Peru's Wari Empire. Situating the study of archaeological human remains where bioarchaeology and the contemporary archaeology intersect, Tung focuses on the lived experience of Wari inhabitants to explore the creation...

"Using subadult skeletons from the Deccan Chalcolithic period of Indian prehistory, along with archaeological and paleoclimate data, this volume makes an important contribution to understanding the effects of ecological change on demography and childhood growth during the second millennium B.C. in peninsular India."--Michael Pietrusewsky, University of Hawai'i at Manoa

In the context of current debates about global warming, archaeology contributes important insights for understanding environmental changes in prehistory, and the consequences and responses of past populations to...

"The tragedies of violence have seldom been told with such a compelling use of the biocultural perspective. Building on a solid methodological foundation, we are served theoretical perspectives that are unusually rich and nuanced in their application to the case studies. This collection of case studies is a valuable contribution to the bioarchaeological literature."--George Armelagos, Emory University

Human violence is an inescapable aspect of our society and culture. As the archaeological record clearly shows, this has always been true. What is its origin? What role does it play in...