Human Bone and Dental Histology in an Archaeological Context

Histological examination of thin sections can reveal skeletal features at the micron level, providing insights into skeletal biology, such as metabolism, growth, ageing, health and disease. These features are important for reconstructing the biology and adaptations of ancient humans. In this chapter we provide an overview of histological approaches to ancient human adult bone and juvenile teeth. Secondly, we apply this methodology to a British Medieval human population from Canterbury, UK, to reveal aspects of their skeletal biology.