Prospectus

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Osteoarchaeology 2

Course
2012-2013

Compulsory attendance

Yes.

Admission requirements

Osteoarchaeology 1 completed.

Description

The aim of this course is to build upon the identification and analysis skills you learned in Osteoarchaeology 1. Students will learn techniques associated with estimating sex, age-at-death, stature, and ancestry from human skeletal material.
There will also be a brief introduction to palaeopathology and palaeodiet analyses.

Every week will consist of a 2-hour lecture, with 4 laboratory exercises interspersed through the block (in weeks 2, 3, 5 and 6). This course places strong emphasis on laboratory assignments in order to teach students how to properly use and apply key methods.

Course objectives

  • Ability to estimate sex from adult cranial and post-cranial material;

  • Ability to estimate age at death using dental and skeletal methods;

  • Ability to determine stature and body size using anthropomorphic measurements;

  • Ability to recognise commonly encountered pathological lesions and trauma in bones and teeth;

  • Familiarity with basic palaeodemographic parameters and problems;

  • Familiarity with methods for estimation of ancestry and reconstruction of diet.

Ects distribution:

The course load will be distributed as follows:

  • Lecture, 14 hours (1 ects);

  • Laboratory work, 30 hours (1,5 ects);

  • Literature, 350 pages (2,5 ects).

Timetable

Course schedule details can be found in the bachelor 3 time schedule.

Mode of instruction

  • Weekly two-hour lectures;

  • 4 two-hour laboratory exercises;

  • 1 anatomy museum visit.

Assessment method

  • Written examination;

  • 4 laboratory exercises.

Assessment deadline

The exam date can be found in the exam schedule.

Reading list

  • T.D. White & P.A. Folkens, The Human Bone Manual (2005). Academic Press;

  • Articles and chapters posted on Blackboard.

Registration

Register for this course via uSis.
Instructions for registration can be found in the uSis manual.

Contact

For more information about this course, please contact mw dr A.L. Waters-Rist.