bioarchaeology

noun

bio·​ar·​chae·​ol·​o·​gy ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-ˌär-kē-ˈä-lə-jē How to pronounce bioarchaeology (audio)
: the scientific study of human biological remains (such as bones) from archaeological sites
Extrapolating from hard evidence drawn from human remains to conclusions about how people lived is at the heart of bioarchaeologyJames Gorman, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2012
Most bioarchaeology studies tend to tell the tale of illness and death of people from a single site, such as a burial pit for plague victims or an ancient cemetery.Ann Gibbons, Science, 1 May 2009
bioarchaeological adjective
bioarchaeological research
a bioarchaeological analysis
bioarchaeologist noun
plural bioarchaeologists

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bioarchaeology was in 1972

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Dictionary Entries Near bioarchaeology

Cite this Entry

“Bioarchaeology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bioarchaeology. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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