Studiegids

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Osteoarcheologie 1+2

Vak
2011-2012

OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY 1

Admission requirements

None

Description

Human osteoarchaeology is the study of human skeletal remains found in an archaeological context. The human skeleton provides important evidence for reconstructing lifeways of past peoples – indeed, it provides primary evidence of the people themselves. The focus of this class is the identification of human skeletal and dental remains. Students will learn basic skeletal biology, how to identify all the bones and teeth in the human skeleton, and major landmarks of each skeletal element. By the end of this class, students will be able to distinguish animal from human bones, and identify fragmentary skeletal material, as is common in many archaeological settings. Students will learn how to identify subadult bones, and determine the age of subadults. Finally, students will learn how to determine the minimum number of individuals from a commingled assemblage, identify burned bone, and recognize taphonomic changes on bone. In the class Osteoarchaeology II students will learn techniques associated with determining sex, adult age-at-death, stature, ancestry, and pathology, from human skeletal material (Osteoarchaeology I is a prerequisite for taking Osteoarchaeology II).

Course objectives

  • Identification of all bones, teeth, and major morphological features, of the human skeleton

  • Ability to distinguish subadult from adult remains

  • Determination of subadult age using dental and skeletal methods

  • Experience sorting and identification of commingled, burned, and scavenged assemblages

Timetable

Roostergegevens voor deze collegereeks zijn te vinden in het bachelor 3 rooster.

Mode of instruction

Weekly two-hour lectures by the instructor and weekly two-hour laboratory assignments completed by student (a minimum of 4 hours of class/lab every week)

Assessment method

  • Bone Identification ‘Bell-Ringer’ Exam

  • Laboratory Assignments

  • Final Exam

  • Participation

Literature

  • The Human Bone Manual. 2005. Timothy D. White and Pieter A. Folkens. Academic Press.

Registration

De inschrijving verloopt via uSis.
Instructies voor het inschrijven in uSis staan in de uSis handleiding.

Contractonderwijs: alle informatie (kosten, inschrijven, toelatingseisen, etc.) over het volgen van deze collegereeks in het kader van Contractonderwijs staat op de Contractonderwijs Archeologie webpagina.

Contact

For more information about this course, please contact Dr. Andrea Waters.

OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY 2

Admission requirements

Osteoarchaeology 1

Description

The aim of osteoarchaeology II is to build upon the identification and analysis skills you learned in Osteoarchaeology I. Students will learn and practice techniques associated with estimating sex and age-at-death in adults, and reconstructing stature and body mass, from human skeletal material. In addition, students will receive instruction on paleodemography, the estimation of ancestry from human skeletal remains, and an introduction to paleopathology and paleodietary analyses. Upon completion of this course, students will be well-trained in the wide range of methods that can be applied to human skeletal remains in order to create a complete osteobiographical profile.

Course objectives

  • Learn how to estimate sex from adult cranial and post-cranial material

  • Learn how to estimate adult age at death using dental and skeletal methods

  • Learn how to estimate stature and body size using anthropometric measurements

  • Learn how to recognize commonly encountered pathological lesions and trauma in bones and teeth

  • Become familiar with basic paleodemographic parameters and problems

  • Become familiar with methods for estimation of ancestry and reconstruction of diet

Timetable

Roostergegevens voor deze collegereeks zijn te vinden in het bachelor 3 rooster.

Mode of instruction

Weekly two-hour lectures by the instructor and weekly two-hour laboratory assignments completed by student (a minimum of 4 hours of class/lab every week)

Assessment method

  • Laboratory Assignments

  • Final Exam

Literature

  • The Human Bone Manual. 2005. Timothy D. White and Pieter A. Folkens. Academic Press.

  • Journal Articles and Book Chapters posted on BlackBoard by the instructor.

Registration

De inschrijving verloopt via uSis.
Instructies voor het inschrijven in uSis staan in de uSis handleiding.

Contractonderwijs: alle informatie (kosten, inschrijven, toelatingseisen, etc.) over het volgen van deze collegereeks in het kader van Contractonderwijs staat op de Contractonderwijs Archeologie webpagina.

Contact

For more information about this course, please contact Dr. Andrea Waters.