MOLECULAR-BIOLOGY AND ARCHAEOLOGY - A PROSPECTUS FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

This editorial-cum-paper reviews some of the main areas of interest in which biomolecular archaeology has either made a significant contribu tion, or promises to do so in the near future. Six major research area s are considered: hominid evolution, including the origins of anatomic ally-modern humans; human migrations, dispersals and past population b iology, including disease; reconstructing human diets, food webs and s ubsistence systems; the analysis of artefact use; site-based interpret ations; and the reconstruction of past human environments.