bioarchaeological
BY-oh-ar-kee-uh-LAH-jih-kuhl
Definition
Relating to the scientific study of human remains and biological materials from archaeological sites to understand the lives and health of past populations.
Etymology
The word is a compound of the Greek 'bios' (life) and 'archaeological,' derived from the Greek 'arkhaios' (ancient) and 'logos' (study of). It entered the English language as a specialized term to describe the intersection of biology and archaeological discovery.
In the news
The article uses bioarchaeological techniques, such as strontium analysis of teeth, to determine if the individuals in the mass graves were local residents of Athens or outsiders. This method allows researchers to interpret human history through biological evidence found at burial sites.
Study: Shackled men in ancient Greek burial site were locals, not foreigners
Read the full article ↗ASU News