Human osteology in archaeology and forensic science.

Human osteology in archaeology and forensic science. MARGARET COX & SIMON MAYS (ed.). Human osteology osteology/os��te��ol��o��gy/ (os?te-ol��ah-je) scientific study of the bones. os��te��ol��o��gyn.The branch of anatomy that deals with the structure and function of bones. in archaeologyand forensic science. xxi+ 522 pages, 102 figures, 37 tables. 2000.London: Greenwich Medical Media; 1-841-100-463 hardback 39.50 [poundssterling]. RENFREW & BAHN, a popular textbook, has been revised andup-dated. Some passages have been moved about, new technicaldevelopments are explained (e.g., DNA DNA:see nucleic acid. DNAor deoxyribonucleic acidOne of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. , GIS, Internet), and recenttheoretical principles receive more attention (e.g., interpretation atCatalhoyuk). COX & MAYS comprises 28 chapters, brief thematic introductions(on juveniles, palaeodemography, diseases, `Human variation',trauma, adaptation and cremation cremation,disposal of a corpse by fire. It is an ancient and widespread practice, second only to burial. It has been found among the chiefdoms of the Pacific Northwest, among Northern Athapascan bands in Alaska, and among Canadian cultural groups. , and `Microscopic, biochemical andanalytical approaches') plus a short article by D. Brothwell on thehistory of research. Admirable balance of theory, methodology anddescriptions of techniques both new and traditional is backed up withample references and presented in generally sympathetic and lucid prose-- with enough space for interesting background and the odd personaltouch (`strong stomach is an absolute necessity' for work on moistforensic material, p. 494). Pages designed with elegance, clear andvaried print, carefully selected and lively illustrations, all sturdilybound, give this book the look of a standard for practitioners and thespecializing student. The guide to Geographical Information Systems has been produced bythe Archaeology Data Service with support from the Higher EducationFunding councils of the UK. It is succinctly and clearly set out.Appended are lists of sources of data from Europe and North America andof standards for archaeological and spatial data. Dr KIPFER is a lexicographer `who writes useful ... publicationsfor other archaeologists' (p. v). Offa's Dyke, Orientalizing,onager, optimal foraging theory “OFT” redirects here. For other uses, see Office of Fair Trading.A central concern of ecology has traditionally been foraging behavior. In its most basic form, optimal foraging theory , opus vermiculatum, otolith otolith/oto��lith/ (o��to-lith) statolith. o��to��lithn.1. Any of numerous minute calcareous particles found in the inner ear of certain lower vertebrates and in the statocysts of many , oxygenisotope analysis, Ozette and Ozieri Culture or 11 entries on phrasesbeginning `secondary' (altriciality to use) serve as a sample ofher scope. The entries are balanced and sober. Appended aresupplementary lists of `sites and terms' (`Aberffraw: N. WalesMesolithic settlement', `Zumpango: C Mexico Aztec center') anda list of dates from `First ... visual symbols ... (Mousterian)' torecent discoveries (a couple of little misjudgements and errors here). See also Mesoamerica and South America in `Americas', above.