Biomechanical investigations in bioarchaeology have yielded key details about the physical behaviors undertaken by past populations. Interpretations rely on connecting morphology to loading patterns often based on observations in living participants. However, relationships between morphology and activity could be investigated among contemporary participants with greater diversity. Most research into how activities affect bone morphology focuses on locomotion or tool use, but the impact of other types of loads, such as carrying, warrants further study. Biomechanical properties arise during growth and development, so assessing how these properties emerge among living children and adolescents would also be beneficial. Stronger engagement with archaeological and social theory, including gender studies and debates around ethnographic analogy, may improve interpretations. Biomechanical methods have become more accessible, but questions remain about who holds power in this research area and how this field of study can transcend bioarchaeology to have greater impacts on our current world.
Michelle E. Cameron (Mon,) studied this question.