Content:

Tangible places and objects are often used as evidence of mobility. However, this evidence removes the individual from the discussion of mobility. Bioarchaeology enables the individual to be brought back into focus. Bones and teeth present a multifaceted array of data from which mobility can be reconstructed. The human skeleton is malleable, or plastic, responding and adapting throughout the life of an individual to external environmental and social pressures. The dynamic nature of bone means that they provide a bio-narrative for individuals, providing a record of life conditions, health and lifestyle from infancy to adulthood. Two aspects of mobility, although not mutually exclusive, can be studied: mobility itself and its impact.

Recent scientific advances have enabled the creation of a detailed timeline for single individuals, in terms of mobility and its effects. This can help bring to light the rhythms and social relations of mobility directly from human remains. This paper will present an integrative methodological approach to studying mobility and its impact. It will bring together traditional approaches with recent advances in the field of bioarchaeology into a single methodological framework. There will be a particular focus on the study of short-term mobility as identifying short-term and sub-group mobility using the archaeological record has been particularly challenging.

EAA2021: Abstract

Title & Content

authors