Illustrated thoroughly,Biomolecular Archaeology is the first book to clearly guide students through the study of ancient DNA: how to analyze biomolecular evidence (DNA, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) to address important archaeological questions.

The first book to address the scope and methods of this new cross-disciplinary area of research for archaeologistsOffers a completely up-to-date overview of the latest research in this innovative subjectGuides students who wish to become biomolecular archaeologists through the complexities of both the scientific methods and archaeological goals.Provides an essential component to undergraduate and graduate archaeological research

Terry Brown is Professor of Biomolecular Archaeology at The University of Manchester. His publications includeGene Cloning and DNA Analysis: An Introduction (6th edition, Blackwell Science, 2010) andGenomes (3rd edition, 2006).

Keri Brown is Honorary Lecturer in Biomolecular Archaeology at the University of Manchester; she taught the M.Sc in Biomolecular Archaeology at Manchester and Sheffield Universities for 10 years. She has published articles in both Italian archaeology and ancient DNA.

List of Figures.

List of Tables.

Preface.

Part I: Biomolecules and How They Are Studied.

Chapter 1 What is Biomolecular Archaeology?

Chapter 2 DNA.

Chapter 3 Proteins.

Chapter 4 Lipids.

Chapter 5 Carbohydrates.

Chapter 6 Stable Isotopes.

Part II: Preservation and Decay of Biomolecules in Archaeological Specimens.

Chapter 7 Sources of Ancient Biomolecules.

Chapter 8 Degradation of Ancient Biomolecules.

Chapter 9 The Technical Challenges of Biomolecular Archaeology.

Part III: The Applications of Biomolecular Archaeology.

Chapter 10 Identifying the Sex of Human Remains.

Chapter 11 Identifying the Kinship Relationships of Human Remains.

Chapter 12 Studying the Diets of Past People.

Chapter 13 Studying the Origins and Spread of Agriculture.

Chapter 14 Studying Prehistoric Technology.

Chapter 15 Studying Disease in the Past.

Chapter 16 Studying the Origins and Migrations of Early Modern Humans.

Glossary.

Index.