Companion to Paleopathology

A Companion to Paleopathology offers a comprehensive overview of this rapidly growing sub- field of physical anthropology.§Presents a broad overview of the field of paleopathology, integrating theoretical and methodological approaches to understand biological and disease processes throughout human history§Demonstrates how paleopathology sheds light on the past through the analysis of human and non-human skeletal materials, mummified remains and preserved tissue§Integrates scientific advances in multiple fields that contribute to the understanding of ancient and historic diseases, such as epidemiology, histology, radiology, parasitology, dentistry, and molecular biology, as well as archaeological, archival and historical research.§Highlights cultural processes that have an impact on the evolution of illness, death and dying in human populations, including subsistence strategies, human environmental adaptations, the effects of malnutrition, differential access to resources, and interpersonal and intercultural violenceA Companion to Paleopathology offers a comprehensive overview of this growing interdisciplinary field with newly commissioned essays written by distinguished researchers from the biological, medical and social sciences. Together, these essays explore advances and provide analyses for a more effective understanding of the history of human illness and disease.§Each essay provides a snapshot of a key area of research in paleopathology, such as histology, epidemiology, diet, or DNA analysis, describing its theoretical underpinnings, methods and techniques, and exposing ongoing issues and controversies. A Companion to Paleopathology provides a unique resource on the scope and future direction of paleopathology.