Locked up within human bone are tantalizing clues concerning the diets

consumed by ancient peoples. On the one hand the amounts of certain elementsin bone (strontium, zinc) serve as measures of protein, fiber, and calcium intake. On the other hand, the ratios of carbon isotopes and of

nitrogen isotopes provide information on questions of fish vs.

meat, herbivore vs. carnivore, or (for animals) browser (shrubs) vs.

grazer (grasses). Such information can provide a window on many aspects of prehistoric cultures and can supplement the nonskeletal archaeological

record. In addition to these two approaches, the biochemical record in bone from protein and nucleic acids such as DNA serves as a source

of nondietary information such as genetic relationships. This volume

treats all three subjects.: elemental, isotopic, and biochemical. The

foremost experts in the areas provide fundamental descriptions of the

techniques, express their concerns over the limitations of the methods, and describe recent applications to archaeological studies.