Child Bioarchaeology: Perspectives on the Past 10 Years

Mays, Simon; Gowland, Rebecca; Halcrow, Siân; Murphy, Eileen

Abstract

This article aims to provide an overview of some of the more important developments in the bioarchaeology of childhood over the past decade. Analysis of publication trends in the major osteoarchaeology and physical anthropology journals demonstrated a rise in research papers dealing with skeletal remains of children, with dietary and palaeopathological studies especially predominant. Innovations in these areas are discussed in more detail, together with some important developments in theoretical frameworks for using skeletal evidence to situate children in past societies. Among these latter is the life course approach, in which childhood is considered within the context of the trajectory of the entire life course. The integration of studies of child skeletal remains with those of adults helps to provide a more complete picture of communities in the past.

Citation

Mays, S., Gowland, R., Halcrow, S., & Murphy, E. (2017). Child Bioarchaeology: Perspectives on the Past 10 Years. Childhood in the Past, 10(1), 38-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/17585716.2017.1301066

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Apr 22, 2017
• Publication Date: Apr 22, 2017
• Deposit Date: May 12, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: May 31, 2017
• Journal: Childhood in the Past
• Print ISSN: 1758-5716
• Electronic ISSN: 2040-8528
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 38-56
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17585716.2017.1301066
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1387629