It is clear that there are many perspectives on human populations and that these are studied within different disciplines, whose terminology and literature are becoming increasingly specialised. Furthermore, the features and conditions of the populations are always changing and the processes of this are viewed and reported upon from different angles. What is required, therefore, for a complete understanding of the complex dynamics of human populations is an appreciation of the work of specialists in different disciplines, something which this volume provides. It is anticipated that the book will be useful to all who consider human populations in their research or their studies, and particularly those who are undertaking degree courses in human sciences, anthropology, demography, human geography, ecology and human biology. The book will also have a wider appeal for the more general reader who wishes to advance their understanding of human population dynamics by adopting a wide-ranging disciplinary focus.

This volume arises from the fifteenth workshop of the Biosocial Society, which was held at the Pauling Human Sciences Centre, Oxford, in 2000. The Society thanks Ros Odling-Smee and the Centre for accommodating the conference. The help with arrangements for and at the workshop by the team of postgraduates from Oxford Brookes {University} is gratefully acknowledged, and the Society is thanked for providing finances for the workshop. The Editors also wish to thank Chris McDonaugh for reading the book and making helpful suggestions, Jennifer Jay for work on the glossary, index and referencing, and finally Geoff Harrison for writing the Foreword.