Human Paleopathology

This volume presents a truly integrated methodological and biocultural approach to the expanding discipline of human palaeopathology. The book provides researchers and practitioners with a comprehensive guide to the main methods and techniques that are currently available for studying diseases and related conditions from human skeletal remains. It also describes the ways in which these methods can be applied to the reconstruction of health and disease in the past. The first part of the book deals with the survival of palaeopathological evidence and provides an up-to-date account of some of the latest techniques for studying disease in ancient remains. These include imaging techniques, such as radiography and CT scanning, and biochemical and histological analyses. Part two discusses the diagnosis and interpretation of particular classes of disease. The emphasis here is on what can be learnt by taking a biocultural or holistic approach to the study of disease frequencies at a population level. Combines theoretical, methodological and diagnostic aspects with key biocultural approaches. Includes overviews of the latest applicable techniques from molecular biology, biochemistry, histopathology and medical imaging. Written by an international team of experts. This book is an invaluable resource for biological anthropologists and archaeologists who study health and disease in past populations. It is also of interest to medical researchers dealing with epidemiological, diagnostic and pathophysiological aspects of diseases, who need a perspective upon the ways in which particular diseases affected earlier generations. Praise from the reviews: “... This book offers an impressive amount of information for both students and more advanced researchers. Its value lies in the vast expertise the contributors have to offer, with all of them being experts with long-standing careers in their respective fields, as well as the geographical distribution of examples that are given to illustrate specific diseases... outstanding and it truly is an important resource for anyone interested in palaeopathology.” PALEOPATHOLOGY NEWSLETTER “The strengths of the book are numerous, but I am especially impressed with the clarity of presentation... I strongly recommend the book, and plan on using it in my classes as assigned reading to emphasize the very complex nature of diagnosis and its essential role of providing baseline information for interpreting health profiles of ancient populations.” THE QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY “It may be asked if we really need yet another book on paleopathology, especially because there are many acclaimed sources available. In this case, the answer must be a resounding ‘‘Yes!’’...Visually and textually, this volume is of exceptional value for guiding future generations of paleopathologists.” AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY "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

Ortner's Identification of Pathological Conditions in Human Skeletal Remains, Third Edition, provides an integrated and comprehensive treatment of the pathological conditions that affect the human skeleton. As ancient skeletal remains can reveal a treasure trove of information to the modern orthopedist, pathologist, forensic anthropologist, and radiologist, this book presents a timely resource. Beautifully illustrated with over 1,100 photographs and drawings, it provides an essential text and material on bone pathology, thus helping improve the diagnostic ability of those interested in human dry bone pathology. Presents a comprehensive review of the skeletal diseases encountered in archaeological human remains Includes more than 1100 photographs and line drawings illustrating skeletal diseases, including both microscopic and gross features Based on extensive research on skeletal paleopathology in many countries Reviews important theoretical issues on how to interpret evidence of skeletal disease in archaeological human populations

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Paleopathology is a major reference work for all those interested in the identification of disease in human remains. Many diseases leave characteristic lesions and deformities on human bones, teeth and soft tissues that can be identified many years after death. This comprehensive volume includes all conditions producing effects recognizable with the unaided eye. Detailed lesion descriptions and over 300 photographs and diagrams facilitate disease recognition and each condition is placed in context with discussion of its history, antiquity, etiology, epidemiology, geography, and natural history. Uniquely, diseases affecting the soft tissues are also included as these are commonly present in mummified remains.

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 violence

Excerpt from Human Paleopathology: Current Syntheses and Future Options In 1985 Dr. Pavao Rudan asked one of us (DJO) to organize a symposium on paleopathology for the International Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, planned for July 1988 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. This invitation was intriguing for many reasons but principally because we felt that research in paleopathology had reached a plateau. In our opinion the time had arrived to evaluate research conducted thus far as a basis for suggesting what needed to be done to continue the development of research in the discipline. In 1985 initial invitations for papers for the symposium went out to a large and diverse group of leading scholars in paleopathology. The response was remarkably supportive and definite plans were made. A commensal scholarly/scientific relationship in paleopathology between anthropologically and medically trained researchers has existed for many decades. It clearly was in the interest of good science to have both these disciplines involved in planning the symposium. Arthur C. Aufderhcide, M.D., a medically trained pathologist, became coorganizer of the symposium and coeditor of the proceedings in the early stages of planning. Donald J.Ortner, Ph.D., a physical anthropologist, provided the anthropological perspective in the organization and editorial process. Objectives for the symposium included: (1) review of the current status of research in paleopathology, (2) an effort to explore what can and cannot presently be said about paleopathology, (3) the contributions of paleopathology to our understanding of the history and evolution of disease, (4) an effort to explore the possibility of paleoepidemiology, (5) an attempt to establish criteria that would permit comparative research in paleopathology, (6) an effort to establish the antiquity of modern diseases, (7) an exploration of what paleopathology could contribute in an ideal research context, (8) ways to achieve the above objective, and (9) the directions research in paleopathology could take in the future. There are four major subject areas in paleopathology: (1) soft tissue research generally conducted by medically trained scientists, (2) skeletal tissue research more often conducted by anthropologists, (3) analysis of historical and archeological materials in which medical historians are the major scholars, and (4) biochemical research on trace elements and more recently on Dna and immunoglobulins generally conducted by biochemists or medically trained scientists. The organizers attempted to have a significant representation of papers in each of these general research areas. We Zagreb Palt opalhology Symp. 1988 achieved only partial success. We did get a good group of papers on theory and methodology, another group on skeletal paleopathology, and a fairly substantial cluster of papers on soft-tissue and biochemical research. We were less successful in stimulating papers on the use of archeological and historical materials in research on paleopathology. This partially reflects the inadequate efforts by paleopathologists to create scholarly networks and linkages with the historians of disease and medicine. This clearly is a problem that needs to be corrected. Given the international nature of the Congress we also stressed the need to have scholars from many countries. Clearly the research interests and focus vary somewhat in different nations. It is equally true that writing a scientific paper in a language other than ones native tongue may place colleagues from other than English-speaking countries in a difficult position. We felt, however, that the rewards of international scholarship outweighed the problems inherent in writing in another language. The coeditors have rewritten portions of some of the manuscripts in an attempt to convey more effectively our understanding of what the author was attempting to communicate. The pressur.

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