Bones, bodies and burials: osteology and comparative anatomy

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Clear and concise written presentation of a topic
• Analysis of quantitative data

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• understand the reasons for the skeletal variability between taxa
• knowledge of the typical body plan of a mammal skeleton
• Understanding of the processes that affect the preservation and recovery of human and animal remains from archaeological sites

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• knowledge of how molecular studies can be used to gain information on human and animal migrations, diet, and population history
• Writing of technical animal bone reports
• Analysis of a faunal assemblages as a source of understanding of past environments, subsistence practices, craft, and trade

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Identification of the different elements of the human and animal skeletons

The module aims to give the student an understanding of the mammalian skeleton and its interpretation in archaeological studies. The first half of the module will deal with the identification and observation of the various bones in human and animal skeletons; the second half will deal with topics such as sex, age, and palaeopathology.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• Teaching methods include lectures and practicals
• Osteology is a “hands-on” subject; where students play and active role in learning. An important aspect of the module will be studying specimens during practicals and in the bone lab outside of the module meetings.

Learning activities include

• Lab study
• Report writing
• Background reading

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Osteological Reference Collection. Archaeology academic unit

Internet Resources

online resource of 3D-digitised skeletons made available by the Max Planck Institute (Leipzig).

Textbooks

Davis, S.J.M. (1987). The Archaeology of Animals. London: Batsford.

White, T.D. & Folkens, P.A. (2000). Human Osteology. London: Academic Press.

Schwartz, J. (1995). Skeleton Keys. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Reitz, E.J. and Wing, E.S (2008). Zooarchaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Schmid, E (1972). Atlas of Animal Bones. Basel.

O’Connor, T.P. (2000). The Archaeology of Animals Bones. Gloucester: Sutton.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External