The Archaeology of Disease

The Archaeology of Disease shows how the latest scientific and archaeological techniques can be used to identify the common illnesses and injuries that humans suffered from in antiquity. The authors study the evidence that can be gained from written records and works of art as well as from ancient human remains, and they combine a clinical interpretation of prevalent diseases with a graphic description of their social, economic and cultural consequences. This completely revised editon of the book includes case studies from all over the world and gives a full account of the rapid technical advances which have dramaticallly increased our knowledge of illness in the distant past.In order to give a vivid picture of ancient disease and trauma the authors present the results of the latest scientific research and incorporate information gathered from documents, from other areas of archaeology and from art and ethnography. The clinical knowledge that can be gained about specific ailments and accidents is set in context by considering ancient demography, basic bone biology, funerary practices and prehistoric medicine.The book provides a practical, up-to-date account of this important topic, and it is written in a clear and accessible style which should make it a stimulating introduction for readers who are not specialists in the field. It will also be required reading for undergraduate and postgraduate archaeology and anthropology students, professional and amateur archaeologists and medical historians.

Politics & Social Sciences

Roberts, Charlotte

MANCHESTER, Keith

Anthropology

Cornell Univ Pr

Praise for earlier editions— 
"This book is recommended as a good reference source which will provide both historical background and cultural data on disease. It will be most valuable to the person who seeks information about diseases past, their virulence, and their effect upon a population. As new techniques come into being, they can be adapted to the investigation of old bones and bodies."—Journal of the American Medical Association 
"Well structured, clearly written, and extremely accurate from both a historical and scientific point of view."—The Lancet 
"A concise, informative, and very readable introduction to the field of paleopathology."—Journal of the History of Medicine 
The Archaeology of Disease shows how the latest scientific and archaeological techniques can be used to identify the common illnesses and injuries from which humans suffered in the past. Charlotte Roberts and Keith Manchester study evidence gleaned from written records and works of art as well as from ancient human remains. They combine a clinical interpretation of prevalent diseases with a graphic description of their social, economic, and cultural consequences. This fully revised third edition includes 90 black-and-white illustrations and has been updated to encompass the rapidly developing research methods of a fascinating field.

Archaeology

Cornell University Press

The Archaeology of Disease shows how the latest scientific and archaeological techniques can be used to identify the common illnesses and injuries from which humans suffered in antiquity. Charlotte Roberts and Keith Manchester offer a vivid picture of ancient disease and trauma by combining the results of scientific research with information gathered from documents, other areas of archaeology, art, and ethnography. The book contains information on congenital, infectious, dental, joint, endocrine, and metabolic diseases. The authors provide a clinical context for specific ailments and accidents and consider the relevance of ancient demography, basic bone biology, funerary practices, and prehistoric medicine. This fully revised third edition has been updated to and encompasses rapidly developing research methods of in this fascinating field.

Roberts, Charlotte A.

"This second edition . . . illustrates how the latest techniques in paleopathology and archaeology are used to identify injury and disease patterns in past human populations. . . . The quality of the text is accentuated by the addition of numerous high quality illustrations, tables, and photographs along with a comprehensive bibliography."--Choice 
"[The authors] enhance their study by employing the biocultural approach. [They] stress the importance of using both the physical evidence, which is obvious, and the cultural proof, which is often less clear, in a multidisciplinary approach to diseases in people who lived in the past. . . . This book is recommended as a good reference source, which will provide both historical background and cultural data on disease. It will be most valuable to the person who seeks information about diseases past, their virulence, and their effect upon a population."--Journal of the American Medical Association 
"Anyone generally interested in the history of medicine in antiquity will want to keep this useful reference book at hand."--Bryn Mawr Classical Review 
"This is an excellent, thought-provoking account, packed with fascinating information. . . . A thoroughly useful book. . . . The authors are to be congratulated on successfully surveying such a broad field of study."--Journal of the History of Medicine

Medical Books

History

The archaeology of disease

University of Bradford

Duffin, Jacalyn

Lewis, Mary E.

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