The Bioarchaeology of Tuberculosis A Global View on a Reemerging Disease 1st Edition by Charlotte Roberts, Jane Buikstra ISBN 0813026431 9780813026435

The Bioarchaeology of Tuberculosis: A Global View on a Reemerging Disease (1st Edition) by Charlotte A. Roberts and Jane E. Buikstra offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of one of humanity’s oldest and most persistent infectious diseases. This landmark volume integrates data from bioarchaeology, paleopathology, medical history, and modern epidemiology to trace the origins, evolution, and social impact of tuberculosis (TB) across time and geography. Drawing on skeletal and archaeological evidence from both the Old and New Worlds, the authors examine how TB has manifested in human populations for thousands of years, presenting cases from ancient Egypt, prehistoric Europe, and the Americas before and after European contact. The book begins with an overview of TB’s biology and clinical presentation, then moves into detailed discussions of its osteological signatures and diagnostic challenges in ancient remains. Roberts and Buikstra analyze how the disease’s prevalence and transmission were influenced by changes in human behavior, urbanization, poverty, migration, and colonialism. They also highlight the sociopolitical factors that contributed to the stigmatization and medical responses to TB, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries when it became known as the “White Plague.” Importantly, the book brings the narrative into the present, connecting historical patterns with the modern resurgence of TB, especially among vulnerable populations impacted by HIV/AIDS, poor healthcare infrastructure, and drug-resistant strains. With over 800 scholarly references and an accessible yet authoritative tone, this work stands as a definitive resource for anyone interested in the deep human history of disease. Through a global lens, Roberts and Buikstra demonstrate that understanding the long-term interactions between humans and tuberculosis is not only essential for bioarchaeologists and anthropologists, but also vital for informing contemporary public health strategies in the fight against this reemerging disease.