Which field specifically examines the health of past populations through human remains?

The field that specifically examines the health of past populations through human remains is bioarchaeology. This discipline focuses on the study of human skeletal remains from archaeological sites to understand the health, lifestyle, and demographic features of past populations.

Bioarchaeologists analyze various aspects of skeletal remains, such as evidence of diseases, nutritional deficiencies, trauma, and other indicators of health and well-being. Through these analyses, they can reconstruct patterns of mortality, stress, and overall health in historical contexts, providing insights into how ancient populations responded to their environments, social structures, and even the impact of cultural practices on health.

While paleopathology is indeed related and involves the study of diseases in ancient bodies and the effects of those diseases on individuals, it does not encompass the broader aspects of health and lifestyle that bioarchaeology includes. Cultural anthropology focuses on contemporary cultures and their practices rather than historical health, and ethnobotany deals with the relationships between people and plants, which is not relevant to the analysis of human remains.