Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
however, these works assume that the reader already understands how to develop
a problem-oriented question (e.g.,
Katzenberg and Saunders, 2008
; Blau and Ubelaker,
2011). The text here is rather directed to the new researcher early in their academic career
to guide them in developing a research focus that will later develop into a research program.
Each chapter either specifically recommends further reading, or the bibliographies can be
used as starting points for further exploration.
This text is not exclusively geared towards either bioarchaeology or forensic anthropology.
We chose to focus on skeletal biology because the inherent themes are relevant for practi-
tioners of both fields within biological anthropology, with potential relevance for other areas
as well. This topic assumes that the reader's knowledge of biological anthropology is at or
above the level of an undergraduate major or minor in anthropology. Specific anthropological
terms and concepts are therefore used with the presupposition that the reader understands
the context. We do not cover anatomical orientations, names of bones and features, or how to
measure bones. For bone features, several authoritative textbooks are available, including
Human Osteology (
White et al., 2012
), and Developmental Juvenile Osteology (
Scheuer and Black,
2000
), which you should have on your bookshelf. A glossary containing bolded terms
throughout the volume is found at the end of the topic to serve as a reference for terminology.
One of the key figures in the development of our discipline, Ale
cka, famously asked
a colleague to make an announcement following a paper at the American Association of
Physical Anthropologists' meeting in 1940: “Statistics will be the ruination of the science”
(quoted in
Brace, 2005
:226). Despite this proclamation, much has changed over the decades.
Today, to be a successful researcher in skeletal biology, comfort with statistical analysis is
a requirement. However, comprehensive coverage of statistical methods applicable for
skeletal biology projects is beyond this topic's scope. Therefore, while quantitative statistical
analysis is essential to research methods in biological anthropology, only the chapters for
which statistics is inextricably linked with method go into the details for conducting specific
analyses (e.g., Konigsberg and Frankenberg [Chapter 11]).
For a detailed introduction to statistics, the following texts are written for the novice: Intro-
duction to the Practice of Statistics (
Moore et al., 2010
) and Discovering Statistics Using SPSS
(
Field, 2009
). For more advanced multivariate analyses,
1
Using Multivariate Statistics
(
Tabachnick and Fidell, 2012
) and Principles of Multivariate Analysis (
Krzanowski, 2000
) are
recommended. We additionally suggest that college statistics courses be taken to increase
competency in this area.
s Hrdli
WHY STUDY THE HUMAN SKELETON?
Skeletal biology is, quite simply, the study of the biology of the human skeleton. The study
of the skeleton therefore includes its evolution, its structure, its function, its growth and
development, and how it is affected by the environment. Biology itself is the study of life,
and as such, remember that the skeleton is (or once was) a living thing. Muscles attach to
it via tendons, bones articulate with other bones, and it receives nutrients from the blood-
stream. Due to the durability of skeletal tissues, bones and teeth are often all that remains
1
All bolded terms are defined in the glossary at the end of this volume.
