Physical Anthropology is the ninth volume in the Handbook of Middle American Indians, published in cooperation with the Middle American Research Institute of Tulane University under the general editorship of Robert Wauchope (1909–1979). The volume editor is T. Dale Stewart (1901–1997), senior physical anthropologist of the United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, former director of its Museum of Natural History, and a past president of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.

The articles in this volume, together with illustrations, tabular data, bibliographies, and index, constitute an invaluable reference work on the human biology of Middle America and its relationships to human society and culture.

Contents include the following articles:

• “History of Physical Anthropology,” by Juan Comas
• “Preceramic Human Remains,” by Arturo Romano
• “Anthropometry of Late Prehistoric Human Remains,” by Santiago GenovÉs T.
• “Dental Mutilation, Trephination, and Cranial Deformation,” by Javier Romero
• “Pre-Hispanic Osteopathology,” by Eusebio DÁvalos Hurtado
• “Anthropometry of Living Indians,” by Johanna Faulhaber
• “Distribution of Blood Groups,” by G. Albin Matson
• “Physiological Studies,” by D. F. Roberts and Marshall T. Newman
• “Skin, Hair, and Eyes,” a series including “Introduction,” by T. D. Stewart; “Dermatoglyphics,” by Marshall T. Newman; “Hair,” by Mildred Trotter and Oliver H. Duggins; and “Color of Eyes and Skin,” by T. D.
• Stewart
• “Physical Plasticity and Adaptation,” by T. D. Stewart
• “Pathology of Living Indians as Seen in Guatemala,” by Nevin S. Scrimshaw and Carlos Tejada
• “Psychobiometry,” by Javier Romero

The Handbook of Middle American Indians was assembled and edited at the Middle American Research Institute of Tulane University with the assistance of grants from the National Science Foundation and under the sponsorship of the National Research Council Committee on Latin American Anthropology.

Robert Wauchope (1909–1979) was the director of the Middle American Research Institute at Tulane University.

T. Dale Stewart (1901–1997) was senior physical anthropologist of the United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, former director of its Museum of Natural History, and a past president of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.