The role of bioarchaeology today? Exploring social and scientific implications through Central and Southern African case studies

This article focuses on the role of bioarchaeology, a hybrid discipline that analyses human remains from various archaeological contexts. It reviews the work of bioarchaeologists in sub-Saharan Africa, to discuss the scientific and growing social implications for contemporary human groups (e.g., population history, restitution of ancestors). The contribution of recent case studies in bioarchaeology is discussed, focusing on Central Africa, a region less well documented due to poor skeletal preservation but, nevertheless, at the centre of academic research. Case studies from southern Africa are also included, given their crucial role in the decolonisation of research. The article is structured around the following three topics: 1) the evolution of bioarchaeology to date; 2) the discipline’s ability to reconstruct the history of groups and individuals; and 3) its key role in addressing current ethical issues concerning human remains. To conclude, it is argued that bioarchaeology must question its ethical approach and scientific contributions, which should benefit African descendant communities.

archaeological human remains, interdisciplinary research, ethics, Africa, osteobiography