Progress and Future Prospects in Roman Bioarchaeology

Chapter 11 endeavors to demonstrate that Roman bioarchaeology is a constantly evolving field and is effectively in a “state of becoming.” Bews and Marklein begin by outlining what Roman bioarchaeology aims to become—a field that strives to improve data standardization and accessibility. The authors also maintain that Roman bioarchaeologists should engage more explicitly with theoretical frameworks and put ethical considerations at the forefront of their research projects. The chapter also discusses how archaeology will achieve these goals, with the authors identifying major themes that have moved the field forward in recent years: acknowledging the importance of agency and connectivity, holistic analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Lastly, chapter 11 acknowledges that while immense progress has been made in Roman bioarchaeology over the last thirty years, there remains room for methodological, theoretical, and ethical improvement in the field.