Our picture of human life thus becomes clearer. For instance, we know that humans evolved from apes in Africa and spread from there around the rest of the world. However, we do not know which route they took. In which countries did they settle first and how did they migrate further? Research into the subtle differences in skeletons around the world provides greater clarity about this. It also enables us to explain external differences between populations, for instance in facial structure.
The discovery of several skeletons together provides the opportunity to research a group. If certain traces are found on the bones of all the members of the group, this can be a sign of an issue to do with the joints, such as a disease that everyone within a community contracted or a certain action that everyone performed.If one skeleton differs from the rest, then this person may have enjoyed a special status. For instance, a member of the nobility would have done less physical work than someone from a lower class. This difference is apparent from the signs of wear on the skeleton.

Osteoarchaeological research is also relevant to the present. It provides us with insight into the origin and spread of diseases that have already affected humans for centuries, and it helps improve current research methods for human remains (forensic research). The large number of skeletons that are excavated makes it possible to test new techniques. These can then be used by forensic anthropologists as they try to establish cause of death in murder investigations, and they help provide more information about the victim’s identity. The research of human remains is conducted in the Leiden University Laboratory for Human Osteoarchaeology.