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  • Book
  • © 2013

Handbook of Palaeodemography

  • With the contributions of Henri Caussinus, Université de Toulouse, and Daniel Courgeau, INED, France
  • Offers new research perspectives in paleodemography
  • Provides means to retrace the living conditions of past populations
  • Practical manual for anthropologists and archaeologists for interpreting ancient bones in demographic terms ?
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: INED Population Studies (INPS, volume 2)

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxii
  2. Introduction

    • Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet
    Pages 1-9
  3. The Data of Interest

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 11-11
    2. Epistemology of the Discipline

      • Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet
      Pages 13-30
    3. The Osteological Data

      • Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet
      Pages 31-51
    4. Establishing a Reference Population

      • Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet
      Pages 53-81
  4. Reconstructing Demographic Parameters

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 83-83
    2. Age at Death: Current Approaches and Methods

      • Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet
      Pages 85-98
    3. Current Demographic Models

      • Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet
      Pages 99-112
    4. Finding the Right Models for Pre-industrial Populations

      • Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet
      Pages 113-121
    5. Model Tables for Pre-industrial Populations

      • Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet
      Pages 123-141
    6. Definition and Exploration of a Pre-industrial Standard

      • Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet
      Pages 143-162
  5. Developing a Study Protocol

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 163-163
    2. Final Overview

      • Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet
      Pages 165-175
    3. Examples of Archaeological Applications

      • Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet
      Pages 177-214
  6. Further Analysis

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 215-215
    2. Critique of Current Methods

      • Daniel Courgeau
      Pages 217-253
    3. A New Method for Estimating Age-at-Death Structure

      • Henri Caussinus, Daniel Courgeau
      Pages 255-286
  7. Back Matter

    Pages 287-329

About this book

This book examines methods for linking osteo-archaeological data with historical and environmental sources to shed light on the living conditions of past populations. Covering all time periods from prehistory to the 20th century, it aims to construct models that capture plausible demographic dynamics from highly fragmentary evidence.

Starting from the known in order to explore the unknown, this book presents a historical view of methods used in the past and present as well as proposes original ones. The paleodemographic methods presented in this handbook have been tested on anthropological and archaeological data and can easily be applied.

This manual represents a fruitful collaboration between historical demographers and anthropological archaeologists who, with the help of mathematicians and statisticians, detail research that opens an important historical dimension to the discipline. Written in a readily understandable manner, it serves as an ideal resource for those wishing to interpret ancient bones in demographic terms.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Unite Histoire et Population,INED, Paris, France

    Isabelle Séguy

  • CEPAM-UMR 7264 CNRS, UNS, Nice, France

    Luc Buchet

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Handbook of Palaeodemography

  • Authors: Isabelle Séguy, Luc Buchet

  • Series Title: INED Population Studies

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01553-8

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2013

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-01552-1Published: 30 January 2014

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-34814-8Published: 27 August 2016

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-01553-8Published: 20 January 2014

  • Series ISSN: 2214-2452

  • Series E-ISSN: 2214-2460

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XXII, 329

  • Number of Illustrations: 78 b/w illustrations

  • Additional Information: Original French edition published by the INED, Paris, 2011.

  • Topics: Demography, Anthropology, Archaeology

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access