Advances in Human Palaeopathology (eBook)

Ron Pinhasi received his PhD from the University of Cambridge, England in 2003. He spent two years in a Lise Meitner postdoctoral position at the Natural History museum, Vienna, examining the health status of early medieval Austrian populations. He is currently a lecturer in Archaeology, University College Cork, Ireland. His research focuses on growth and development in past populations, the origin and spread of leprosy in Eurasia, and the origins and spread of farming in the Near East. he carries out fieldwork in Israel and directs prehistoric excavations in Armenia. Key publications include 'Morbidity, rickets, and long bone growth in post-medieval Britain - a cross-population analysis' (with Shaw, White and Ogden), Annals of Human biology, 2006; 'A cross-population analysis of the growth of long bones and the os coxae of three early medieval Austrian populations' (with Teschler-Nicola, Knaus and Shaw), American Journal of Human biology, 2005; 'Tracing the origin and spread of agriculture in Europe' (with Fort and Ammerman), PLoS Biology, 2005; and 'A regional biological approach to the spread of farming in Europe: Anatolia, the Levant, south-eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean' (with Pluciennik), Current Anthropology, 2004. He is a member of the European Archaeological Association, and the Paleopathology Association. Simon Mays received his PhD from the University of Southampton, England, in 1987. He is currently Human Skeletal Biologist for English Heritage and is a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Southampton. His research encompasses most areas of human osteoarchaeology. Key publications include: the Archaeology of Human Bones (Routledge, 1998); Human Osteology in Archaeology and Forensic Science (Greenwich Medical Media, 2000, co-edited with M.Cox); 'Palaeopathological and bimolecular study of tuberculosis in a mediaeval skeletal collection from England (with Taylor, Legge, Shaw & Turner-Walker), American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2001; Skeletal manifestations of rickets in infants and young children in an historic population from England' (with Brickley and Ives), American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2006. He is a member of the managing committee of the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO), of the Human Remains Advisory Panel of the UK Governmental Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and is Secretary of the Advisory Panel on the Archaeology of Christian Burials in England.

Preface (Simon Mays and Ron Pinhasi).

Contributors.

Part 1: Analytical Approaches in Palaeopathology.

1. The Chemical and Microbial Degradation of Bones and Teeth
(Gordon Turner-Walker).

2. How Representative Are Human Skeletal Assemblages for
Population Analysis? (Ron Pinhasi and Chryssi Bourbou).

3. Epidemiological Approaches in Palaeopathology (Ron Pinhasi
and Katy Turner).

4. Macroscopic Analysis and Data Collection in Palaeopathology
(Anne L. Grauer).

5. Radiography and Allied Techniques in the Palaeopathology of
Skeletal Remains (Simon Mays).

6. Computed Tomography Scanning and Three-Dimensional
Visualization of Mummies and Bog Bodies (Niels
Lynnerup).

7. Histological Studies on Ancient Bone (Gordon Turner-Walker
and Simon Mays).

8. Molecular Palaeopathology of Human Infectious Disease
(Helen D. Donoghue).

9. Databases (William White).

Part 2: Diagnosis and Interpretation of Disease in Human
Remains.

10. Differential Diagnosis of Skeletal Lesions in Infectious
Disease (Donald J. Ortner).

11. Metabolic Bone Disease (Simon Mays).

12. Tumours and Tumour-like Processes (Don
Brothwell).

13. Advances in the Palaeopathology of Teeth and Jaws (Alan
Ogden).

14. Trauma (Pia Bennike).

15. Congenital Anomalies (Ethne Barnes).

16. Growth in Archaeological Populations (Ron
Pinhasi).

Index.

"Overall this is an informative, timely, and extensive book on the
recent Advances in Human Paleopathology and as such it
should be added to one's repertoire of books to rely upon for
explanations of how we arrived at our pres-ent state today and
where our discipline can and should go in the future."
(PaleoAnthropology, 2010)

"An excellent and detailed account of recent developments in the
field of human palaeopathology. ... This book offers an
impressive amount of information for both students and more
advanced researchers." (Paleopathology Newsletter, December
2009)

"Pinhasi and Mays have produced an excellent, balanced
compilation that reflects what is currently happening in
paleopathology research and that nicely addresses paleopathology as
both discipline and tool, highlighting technical advanced and
schooling us on how disease manifests in the human skeleton. This
is valuable resource that students and professionals interested in
human paloepathology should consider adding to their libraries."
(American Journal of Human Biology, March 2009)

"Visually and textually, this volume is of exceptional value for
guiding future generations of paleopathologists." (American
Journal of Physical Anthropology, January 2009)

"The strengths of the book are numerous ... This important
collection of 16 chapters provides state-of-the-art overviews of
key elements of palaeopathology.... I strongly recommend the
book" (The Quarterly Review of Biology, September 2008)

"Visually and textually, this volume is of exceptional value for
guiding future generations of palaeopathologists." (American
Journal of Physical Anthropology, September 2008)

"The volume nicely demonstrates the shift from the descriptive,
diagnostic approach of old to population-oriented
research...strongly recommend the book." (The Quarterly
Review of Biology, September 2008)