Category Archives: Osteology

Wolff’s Law

Posted on February 9, 2017 by JB

Ever heard the expression “use it or lose it”? That pithy phrase encapsulates Wolff’s law, an anatomical rule that describes how bone grows and changes over time. The law was developed by German surgeon Julius Wolff, whose name you will now always remember … Continue reading →

Posted in Bioarchaeology, Bioarchaeology Vocab, Osteology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Osteology Everywhere: Lithic Edition

Posted on March 14, 2016 by JB

It’s been a relaxing few months in Ann Arbor – lots of lounging around, sipping hot beverages around a warm fireplace, and quietly contemplating life. JUST KIDDING. I’ve been firing on all cylinders recently, dividing my time between applying for … Continue reading →

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Hip hip hooray: Orienting and identifying features of the os coxae

Posted on October 31, 2015 by JB

One of the ranges in my museum is decorated with a number of different osteological puns, and every time I walk past their on point door makes me jealous.  I’ve always been particularly envious of the “Hip Hip Hooray” slogan, … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy, Osteology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Anthropology Teaching Tips: Playdoh

Posted on September 28, 2015 by JB

As you may have garnered from the radio silence that blanketed the blog for week-long periods this summer, in July and August I solo taught my first self-designed course. Now, at this point in my academic career, I have a … Continue reading →

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Skeleton Keys – Talk for the Michigan Archaeological Society

Posted on September 17, 2015 by JB

Tonight I’m going to be giving a public talk for the Huron Valley chapter of the Michigan Archaeological Society. The talk will discuss how to lose ten pounds in a single week, how to make $10,000 a month while working from … Continue reading →

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Supination

Posted on July 6, 2015 by JB

I recently started teaching my first self-designed course at the University of Michigan, an intro to bioarchaeology class titled The Science of Skeletons. We had our first meeting last Thursday, and in addition to demonstrating the appropriate way to handle human … Continue reading →

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Splanchnocranium

Posted on June 25, 2015 by JB

I’ve been reading a lot of research on the bioarchaeology of violence of late, thought-provoking  pieces by Haagen Klaus, Deb Martin and Gwen Robbins Schug that detail the ways in which the ideology of oppression is mediated by violence. In theory, this … Continue reading →

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Pop Culture Osteology: Scandal

Posted on June 18, 2015 by JB

I was recently unwinding by watching Scandal, a show that I think about entirely in capslock. INTRIGUE. OLIVIA POPE. SUSPENSE. THINGS BEING HANDLED. Sample quote: “My mother blew up the church that’s costing you your presidency.” As you can tell, this level … Continue reading →

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Nutrient foramen

Posted on May 27, 2015 by JB

A nutrient foramen is a small, smooth-walled hole for blood vessels found on the external surface of a bone. Size-wise these tend to be in the range of what you’d expect if you poked the tip of a pen through the … Continue reading →

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Identifying and Siding the Hamate

Posted on April 29, 2015 by JB

For the most part, I am a dependably frugal human – I pack my own lunch, I live with a roommate, and the average garment in my closet is curated for at least four years. However, when it comes to osteological … Continue reading →

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