Bioarchaeology: the human skeleton as a historical document.

Bioarchaeology is a discipline that emphasises the human biological component, especially bones and teeth, of the archaeological record. The bioarchaeological approach to the study of human skeletons underlines their importance as Cultural Heritage. The skeleton in fact is an important biological archive and preserves the marks of the individuals life history and the history of ancient populations (age at death, sex, health and alimentary status, traumas, physical activities, etc.) and contributes to the reconstruction of the biology and behaviour, style and quality of life (socio-economic and hygienic conditions, health status, type and availability of food resources, level of physical stress, etc.) of ancient humans, allowing us to estimate a date for ancient human adaptive strategies. This information becomes more and more important when other sources and documents are lacking as when it comes from very ancient human remains.