Skeleton Keys: An Introduction to Human Skeletal Morphology, Development and Analysis

In Skeleton Keys: An Introduction to Human Skeletal Morphology, Development, and Analysis, Second Edition, Jeffrey H. Schwartz presents a detailed yet highly accessible introduction to the study of the human skeleton. This unique volume examines the skeleton from its developmental basis to the expression of individual variation. It reviews a variety of different approaches used to determine an individual's sex, age, and pathological history and challenges readers to think critically about how to analyze a human skeleton rather than learning formulas for quick results. An ideal text for courses in human osteology, skeletal analysis, and bioarchaeology, this book is also a helpful reference for professionals.

Thoroughly revised and updated, the second edition of Skeleton Keys features:

* The companion website contains hundreds of color images of skeletons and skeletal elements--demonstrating morphology, pathology, and nonmetric variation--that can be used as classroom projections or for individual study
* Coverage of the most recent developments in the field, including the molecular regulation of bone and tooth formation
* Expanded studies in each area of analysis: sex, age, nonmetric variation, pathology, biodistance and bioarchaeology, and stable isotope analysis
* Additional photographic images, especially in the pathology and sexing chapters
* Two separate and extensively illustrated chapters on the skull, one dealing with articulated elements and one with isolated bones (these topics were covered in one chapter in the first edition)
* Integration of material--such as anthropometric landmarks--from appendices in the previous edition into relevant chapters as tables
* More accessible language throughout and an extensive glossary