News from Britain

(1) Developing from discussions held at a conference (Human Osteology: A British Perspective) at the University of Bournemouth in June 1998, the newly formed British Association of Biological Anthropologists and Osteoarchaeologists aims to bring together people working in all areas of the study of human remains. This association is aimed at everyone interested in or working in any associated field at any level: archaeological units and trusts, museums, universities, professional bodies, organisations and local societies. The Association intends to approach a number of international organisations with the aim of affiliation. There will be an annual two day conference with a minimum of two basic themes per year; the first was from the 10th-12th September 1999 at the University of Birmingham. A number of objectives had been proposed, including the setting of minimum recording standards for osteological analysis in Britain (following on from the American Guidelines), the production of a comprehensive list of all human bone assemblages in the UK, whether published or unpublished and a continuing increase in the standard of primary data collection in the field with more dialogue between excavators and people working on human bone assemblages. For membership details write to: Linda O'Connell, School of Conservation Sciences, University of Bournemouth, Dorset House, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB (cosh@tcp.co.uk).

 

(2)On 7/9 April 2000, the University of Birmingham will host an International Colloquium on Cranial Trepanation in Human History, organised jointly with the Institute of Archaeology (University of Salzburg ) and the Russian Postgraduate Medical Academy in Moscow. We aim to bring together a group of specialists, human palaeopathologists, clinical neurologists, neurosurgeons, archaeologists and medical historians with the aim of examining the extent and history of cranial trepanation and its impact on the development of surgery. The multidisciplinary programme will include sessions on the pathological identification of trepanation, the evolution of techniques, the interpretation of cranial trepanation (medicine or magic ), and the future direction of study. Further details can be obtained from the Colloquium Secretary; Robert Arnott, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. Telephone 44 0121 414 5511 or 5497; Fax 44 0121 414 3595; E-mail: R.G.Arnott@bham.ac.uk

 

News from USA

Palaeopathology and Related Subjects: An International Bibliography: Rose Tyson announces that Supplement 2 (1999) compiled by Daniel V. Elerick, is now available on disk. (Supplement 1, issued in 1998, was also on disk and is still available.) Price per supplement is $17.50, plus packing and postage. To order, please contact Rose Tyson, San Diego Museum of Man, 1350 Balboa Park, San Diego CA 92101; Telephone 619-239-20001; Fax 619-239-2749; E-mail rtyson@acusd.edu Dan Elerick is continuing to compile citations for the third supplement, again to be issued on disk. Errors in the current version or citations that should be included should be notified to Dan or Rose.

(Perhaps we can include this newsletter in the new version )