ABSTRACT
Human osteology is the study of the bones of the human skeleton (“osteo” means “bone” and “ology” means “the study of”). Forensic anthropologists receive extensive training in human osteology. A well-trained osteologist has a thorough understanding of microscopic and macroscopic bone anatomy, bone growth and development, normal and pathological variation, and comparative osteology. To develop skills in comparative osteology, many forensic anthropologists take courses in nonhuman osteology, or zooarchaeology. Proper knowledge of human and nonhuman osteology is necessary, because many forensic anthropology cases contain both human and nonhuman skeletal remains. ‹is chapter provides a brief overview of human osteology and supplementary reading and reference materials for more detailed coverage.
