From Optimism to Opportunity: New Perspectives on the Osteological Paradox

Abstract

The Osteological Paradox has had an immeasurable impact on bioarchaeology. It has spurred introspection, increased scientific rigor, and encouraged a suite of new and valuable approaches and methods to deal with the challenges it raises. Contrastingly, it has also been perceived as insurmountable, or a problem that simply needs to be acknowledged but not dealt with. In this synthesis, we discuss past and current approaches to the Osteological Paradox, the promise we believe agent-based modeling holds for future research, and broadly contextualize the Paradox within a philosophically optimistic outlook. Our synthesis represents a range of diverse perspectives from bioarchaeology and philosophy, and seeks to identify a path forward. We conclude that the Osteological Paradox represents a springboard more than a hurdle; one that continues to propel the discipline forward and supports the ongoing integration of new technologies to answer questions about past societies.