Human Bioarchaeology of the Transition to Agriculture

Human Bioarchaeology of the Transition to Agriculture provides a multidisciplinary account of the nature of the transition from hunting and gathering to pastoralism and farming in prehistory. It addresses for the first time important bioarchaeological aspects of the debate such as changes in growth; body size variation and adaptation; mobility, biomechanics and behaviour; and population dynamics. The volume also presents new research in molecular anthropology, including evidence for dietary change using isotope analysis, population history and adaptation using ancient DNA.

The volume features:

• Up-to-date evidence for the impact of the transition to agriculture on human biology and behaviour
• The integration of different approaches to the analysis of ancient human remains
• A global approach with chapters dealing with Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America
• Contributions from key researchers in the area

The book will prove invaluable to specialists, practitioners or professionals in the fields of biological anthropology, bioarchaeology and prehistoric archaeology needing a global and multidisciplinary prospective on the transition to agriculture.