Human Biology and History

The biology of people in the past is a rapidly expanding field of historical study. Our capacity to understand the biology of historical populations is experiencing remarkable developments on both theoretical and analytical fronts.
Human Biology and History weaves together the fields of biology, archaeology, and anthropology in an exchange of methods and theoretical perspectives that exemplify the interaction between human biology and history. The book presents methods developed for the analysis of biological material that can be applied to historical specimens to reveal the lifestyles and environments of individuals who lived thousands of years ago. Historical data sources are used to reveal the biology and population structure of past civilizations, while biological methods are used to interpret historical patterns and processes.
This multi-disciplinary volume presents a unique interlacing of human biology and history to illustrate how individuals and societies have evolved over time. It is an insightful reference for human biologists, historians, and students interested in the intriguing connections that can be made when scientific techniques are applied within a historical context.

Malcolm Smith

Human Biology and History: The Scope and Scale of Interaction. Adaptation and the English Demographic Regime. British Polygyny. Warfare and Population Structure. Isonymy Analysis: The Potential for Application of Quantitative Analysis of Surname Distributions to Problems in Historical Research. Calculating Nutritional Status in the Past from Historical Sources. The Achievements of Anthropometric History. Palaeobiology as a Tool for the Study of Survival of Past Populations. 'Observe: Our Noses Were Made to Carry Spectacles, So We Have Spectacles'. Mines, Meals and Movement: A Human Ecological Approach to the Interface of 'History and Biology