The early morphological research on the skeletal remains of the people who once lived in ancient Nubia was beleaguered by biased interpretations stemming from racist paradigms. Corresponding with subjective explanations of archaeological material remains, individuals from ancient Nubia were assumed to be incapable of grand accomplishments by many researchers who equated biological or racial characteristics with intellectual achievements. Moving beyond these antiquated and racist perspectives, modern research on ancient Nubians using a holistic bioarchaeological approach emphasizes biocultural variability and situates similarities and differences within a contextual perspective to reconstruct identity and group composition. Additionally, the ways in which archaeology is conducted in the region is highlighted as a means to decolonize the discipline, including diverse research teams and substantial involvement with the local communities.
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