Bioarchaeology

Abstract

This entry considers bioarchaeology, or the contextualized study of archaeological human remains, with an emphasis on multimethod, multidisciplinary approaches. Bioarchaeology's scope, including the methods used, is outlined, alongside the history of its study. Available training is described, as are the ethics associated with studying human remains. Current and future research areas are outlined, which cover osteobiographical versus population‐based approaches, the increasing focus on social bioarchaeology, the developmental origins of human disease, and the use of advanced scientific methods such as stable isotope and ancient DNA analyses to unlock more nuanced data about people's lives in times past.