Module overview
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- observe and visually identify human bones
- evaluate and critique the methods and results of bioarchaeological analyses and studies
- present information clearly and concisely
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- identify and sort fragments of human bone
- undertake and report basic osteological analysis of human skeletons
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- write clear and concise reports
- evaluate and critique arguments and material
- select appropriate means for recording and analysing data
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- the use of human skeletal remains as a resource for studying past variability in diet and subsistence, health and disease, social structure and organisation, and population history and migration
- varying approaches to the analysis of human skeletal remains
- the ethical issues surrounding working with human remains
Syllabus
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Wider reading or practice | 50 |
| Seminar | 5 |
| Completion of assessment task | 52 |
| Practical classes and workshops | 32 |
| Lecture | 11 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Journal Articles
Brickley, M. and McKinley, J.I. (2004). Guidelines to the Standards for Recording Human Remains. IFA Paper, 7.
Textbooks
White, T.D. & Folkens, P.A. (2005). The Human Bone Manual. London: Academic Press.
Buikstra, J and Ubelaker, D. (1994). Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains. Fayetteville: Arkansas Archaeological Survey.
Roberts, C. and Manchester, K. (2010). The Archaeology of Disease. London: History Press.
Iscan, M.Y. and Kennedy, K.A.R. (eds.) (1989). Reconstruction of Life from the Skeleton. New York: Alan R. Liss.
Katzenberg, M.A. and Saunders, S.R. (eds) (2008). Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton. New York: Wiley-Liss.
Hillson, S. (1997). Dental Anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
White, T.D.; Black, M.T. and Folkens, P.A. (2012). Human Osteology. London: Academic Press.
Buikstra, J. E. and Beck, L.A. (eds.) (2006). Bioarchaeology. London: Academic Press.
Ortner, D. and Putschar, W. (1985). Identification of Pathological Conditions in Human Skeletal Remains. Washington: Smithsonian University Press.
Bass, W. (1987). Human Osteology. Missouri Archaeological Society.
Agarwal, S.C. and Glencross, B.A. (eds.) (2011). Social Bioarchaeology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Roberts, C. (2009). Human Remains in Archaeology: A Handbook. London: Council for British Archaeology.
Mays, S. (1993). The Archaeology of Human Bones. London: Routledge.
Brothwell, D. (1987). Digging Up Bones. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Larsen, C.S. (1997). Bioarchaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pinhasi, R. and Mays, S. (2008). Advances in Human Palaeopathology. Chichester: John Wiley.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Bone tests | 40% |
| Report | 60% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Report | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal