Osteology

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Osteology is the scientific study of bones. A subdiscipline of anthropology and archeology, osteology is a detailed study of the structure of bones, skeletal elements, teeth, morphology, function, disease, pathology, the process of ossification (from cartilaginous molds), the resistance and hardness of bones (biophysics), etc. Often used by scientists with identification of human remains with regard to age, death, sex, growth, and development in a biocultural context.

[edit] Methods

A typical analysis will include:

an inventory of the skeletal elements present
a dental inventory
aging data, based upon epiphyseal fusion, dental eruption and tooth wear
sexing data, based upon bone morphology
stature and other metric data
ancestry
non-metric traits
pathology and/or cultural modifications
taphonomy, including weathering, gnawing, butchery, burning and related processes...

[edit] Applications

Osteological approaches are frequently applied to investigations in disciplines such as forensic science, physical anthropology and archaeology, and has a place in research on topics including:

health
demography
diet
disease
activity patterns
physique
genetics of early populations
population migration
Ancient warfare
social inequality
identification of unknown remains
criminal investigations
war crimes

[edit] References

Bass, W M. 2005. Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual. 5th Edition. Columbia: Missouri Archaeological Society.
Buikstra, J. E and Ubelaker, D. H. (eds.) 1994. Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains. Arkansas Archeological Survey Research Series No. 44.
Cox, M and Mays, S. (eds.) 2000. Human Osteology in Archaeology and Forensic Science. London: Greenwich Medical Media.