Module overview
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
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
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- evaluate and critique the methods and results of bioarchaeological analyses and studies
- present information clearly and concisely
- observe and visually identify human bones
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- varying approaches to the analysis of human skeletal remains
- 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
- the ethical issues surrounding working with human remains
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- write clear and concise reports
- select appropriate means for recording and analysing data
- evaluate and critique arguments and material
Syllabus
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Seminar | 5 |
| Completion of assessment task | 52 |
| Wider reading or practice | 50 |
| 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
Mays, S. (1993). The Archaeology of Human Bones. London: Routledge.
Katzenberg, M.A. and Saunders, S.R. (eds) (2008). Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton. New York: Wiley-Liss.
Roberts, C. (2009). Human Remains in Archaeology: A Handbook. London: Council for British Archaeology.
Iscan, M.Y. and Kennedy, K.A.R. (eds.) (1989). Reconstruction of Life from the Skeleton. New York: Alan R. Liss.
Roberts, C. and Manchester, K. (2010). The Archaeology of Disease. London: History Press.
Bass, W. (1987). Human Osteology. Missouri Archaeological Society.
Ortner, D. and Putschar, W. (1985). Identification of Pathological Conditions in Human Skeletal Remains. Washington: Smithsonian University Press.
White, T.D. & Folkens, P.A. (2005). The Human Bone Manual. London: Academic Press.
Buikstra, J. E. and Beck, L.A. (eds.) (2006). Bioarchaeology. London: Academic Press.
Larsen, C.S. (1997). Bioarchaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Brothwell, D. (1987). Digging Up Bones. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Agarwal, S.C. and Glencross, B.A. (eds.) (2011). Social Bioarchaeology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Pinhasi, R. and Mays, S. (2008). Advances in Human Palaeopathology. Chichester: John Wiley.
Hillson, S. (1997). Dental Anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Buikstra, J and Ubelaker, D. (1994). Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains. Fayetteville: Arkansas Archaeological Survey.
White, T.D.; Black, M.T. and Folkens, P.A. (2012). Human Osteology. London: Academic Press.
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