The Routledge Handbook of Archaeological Human Remains and Legislation: An international guide to laws and practice in the excavation and treatment of archaeological human remains

Methodologies and legislative frameworks regarding the archaeological excavation, retrieval, analysis, curation and potential reburial of human skeletal remains differ throughout the world. As work forces have become increasingly mobile and international research collaborations are steadily increasing, the need for a more comprehensive understanding of different national research traditions, methodologies and legislative structures within the academic and commercial sector of physical anthropology has arisen. The Routledge Handbook of Archaeological Human Remains and Legislation provides comprehensive information on the excavation of archaeological human remains and the law through 62 individual country contributions from Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Australasia. More specifically, the volume discusses the following: What is the current situation (including a brief history) of physical anthropology in the country? What happens on discovering human remains (who is notified, etc.)? What is the current legislation regarding the excavation of archaeological human skeletal remains? Is a license needed to excavate human remains? Is there any specific legislation regarding excavation in churchyards? Any specific legislation regarding war graves? Are physical anthropologists involved in the excavation process? Where is the cut-off point between forensic and archaeological human remains (e.g. 100 years, 50 years, 25 years!)? Can human remains be transported abroad for research purposes? What methods of anthropological analysis are mostly used in the country? Are there any methods created in that country which are population-specific? Are there particular ethical issues that need to be considered when excavating human remains, such as religious groups or tribal groups? In addition, an overview of landmark anthropological studies and important collections are provided where appropriate. The entries are contained by an introductory chapter by the editors which establish the objectives and structure of the book, setting it within a wider archaeological framework, and a conclusion which explores the current European and world-wide trends and perspectives in the study of archaeological human remains. The Routledge Handbook of Archaeological Human Remains and Legislation makes a timely, much-needed contribution to the field of physical anthropology and is unique as it combines information on the excavation of human remains and the legislation that guides it, alongside information on the current state of physical anthropology across several continents. It is an indispensible tool for archaeologists involved in the excavation of human remains around the world.

Table of Contents:
FOREWARD – Professor Don Brothwell PART 1 – INTRODUCTION - Nicholas Márquez-Grant and Linda Fibiger PART 2 EUROPE 1. Albania – Maria Grazia Amore 2. Andorra – Abel Fortó García 3. Armenia - Maureen E. Marshall and Ruzan A. Mkrtchyan 4. Azerbaijan - David Maynard and Najaf Museyibli 5. Belarus - Lydia Tegako and Olga Sorokina 6. Belgium - Kim Quintelier, Agnès Malevez, Rosine Orban, Michel Toussaint, Marit Vandenbruaene and Geneviève Yernaux 7. Bosnia and Herzegovina - Amila Zukanović, Nermin Sarajlić and Senem Škulj 8. Bulgaria - Bisserka Gaydarska 9. Croatia - Mario Šlaus, Mario Novak and Marin Vodanović 10. Cyprus - Kirsi O. Lorentz 11. Czech Republic - Petr Velemínsky and Lumír Poláček 12. Denmark - Tina Christensen and Pia Bennike 13. Finland - Milton Núñez, Markku Niskanen, Marja-Leena Kortelainen, Juho-Antti Junno, Kirsti Paavola, Sirpa Niinimäki and Mirette Modarress 14. France - Juliette Michel and Phillipe Charlier 15. Germany - Jörg Orschiedt, Ursula Wittwer-Backofen and Stefan Flohr 16. Greece - Constantine Eliopoulos, Konstantinos Moraitis, Velissaria Vanna and Sotiris Manolis 17. Hungary - Ildikó Pap and György Pálfi 18. Iceland - Guðny Zoëga and Hildur Gestsdóttir 19. Ireland - Laureen Buckley 20. Italy - Dario Piombino-Mascali and Albert R. Zink 21. Kosova - Shirley J. Schermer, Edi Shukriu and Sylvia Deskaj 22. Lithuania - Rimantas Jankauskas 23. Luxembourg - Ilka Weidig, Christiane Bis-Worch, Nils-Jörn Rehbach, Ulrich Nothwang, Anja Sindermann, Jean Krier, Foni Le Brun-Ricalens and Jeannot Metzler 24. Macedonia, FYRO - Fanica Veljanovska 25. Malta - Anthony Pace 26. Moldova - Sergiu Musteaţă and Alexander Varzari 27. Monaco - Luca Bianconi 28. Montenegro - Mile Baković and Ivana Medenica 29. The Netherlands - Elisabeth Smits 30. Norway - Berit J. Sellevold 31. Poland - Wiesław Lorkiewicz, Iwona Teul and Paulina Kubacka 32 Portugal - Cláudia Umbelino and Ana Luísa Santos 33. Romania - Szilárd Sándor Gál 34. Russia - Alexandra Buzhilova 35. Serbia - Marija Djurić and Andrej Starović 36. Slovakia - Radoslav Beňuš, Soňa Masnicová, Zuzana Obertová and Drahoslav Hulínek 37. Slovenia - Petra Leben-Seljak and Pavel Jamnik 38. Spain - Nicholas Márquez-Grant, Carme Rissech, Olalla López Costas, Inmaculada Alemán and Luis Caro Dobón 39. Sweden - Torbjörn Ahlström, Elisabeth Iregren, Lena Strid and Kristina Jennbert 40. Turkey - Handan Üstündağ 41. Ukraine - Inna Potekhina 42. United Kingdom - Bill White PART 3 REST OF THE WORLD AFRICA 43. Egypt - Salima Ikram 44. Sudan - Tina Jakob and Mongeda Khalid Magzoub Ali 45. South Africa - Willem Coenraad Nienaber and Maryna Steyn NORTH AMERICA 46. Canada - Jerome S. Cybulski 47. USA - Douglas H. Ubelaker 48. Mexico - Lourdes Márquez Morfín and Ernesto González Licón 49. Guatemala - Lourdes Penados 50. Puerto Rico - Myriam Llorens-Liboy and Milton Núñez SOUTH AMERICA – Coordinated by Paola Ponce South America [Introduction by Paola Ponce] 51. Argentina - Marina L. Sardi 52. Brazil - Sheila Maria Ferraz Mendonça de Souza 53. Chile - Eugenio Aspillaga Fontaine and Bernardo Arriaza 54. Uruguay - Mónica Sans ANTARTICA 55. Human remains in Antartica – a unique historical and legal context - Michael Pearson ASIA 56. Israel - Yossi Nagar 57. Thailand - Siân Halcrow, Nancy Tayles, Natthamon Pureepatpong and Korakot Boonlop OCEANIA 58. Australia - Denise Donlon and Judith Littleton 59. New Zealand - Nancy Tayles and Siân Halcrow 60. Vanuatu - Stuart Bedford, Ralph Regenvanu, Matthew Spriggs, Hallie Buckley and Frédérique Valentin PART 4. CONCLUDING REMARKS – Nicholas Márquez-Grant and Linda Fibiger APPENDIX A1. BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES - Karl Harrison A2. GIBRALTAR - Kimberly Brown and Clive Finlayson A3. BURIALS RELATED TO RECENT MILITARY CONFLICTS: CASE STUDIES FROM FRANCE - Michel Signoli and Guillaume de Vedrines

Review :
'This will be an incredibly useful source of information for scholars around the world who are, or may be hoping to be, working with human remains from archaeological contexts in particular places across the globe. It will, furthermore, save much time searching for relevant information to help their work, and provide much needed contacts ... an essential reference text for students working on archaeological human remains.' - Charlotte Roberts, Durham University, UK