Postgraduate Course: Bone Identification, Anatomy and Taphonomy (PGHC11130)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The accurate anatomical and taxonomic identification of bones is the first step in their evaluation. At a basic level, osteoarchaeological analysis attempts to distinguish between the remains of humans and animals, and to identify the bones of various animals. Taphonomy aims to reconstruct the post mortem history of bone finds and involves the critical evaluation of bone assemblages that have been continuously affected by natural agents and human activity alike. Understanding the processes that have created bone deposits is fundamental in the meaningful archaeological interpretation of osteological data. A special form of post mortem bone modification is burning. Cremation, especially in the case of humans, is of great cultural importance and identifying calcined bone takes special skills, also taught in this course. Last but not least, the course also includes guidance on the recovery and recording of archaeosteological materials, methods that are aimed at minimizing further, modern day 'taphonomic' loss of information. |
| Course description |
1. Introduction: Human remains
2. Bone development and histology
3. The spine
4. Introduction: Animal remains
5. Elements of the taphonomic process
6. Functional traits of the animal skeleton
7. Hands-on identification
8. The skull and dentition
Class test: The spine
9. The arm
Class test: The skull and dentition
10. Ribs, shoulder and sternum
Class test: The arm
11. The pelvis
Class test: Ribs, shoulder and sternum
12. The leg
Class test: The pelvis
13. Morphological differences between species
14. Hand and foot
Class test: The leg
15. Juveniles
Class test: Hand and foot
16. Review
Class test: Juveniles
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 23,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 18,
Summative Assessment Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
147 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
50 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
eight weekly class tests (50%)
one 2000 word essay (50%) |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course the student will:
- Be able accurately to identify and distinguish between animal and human (Homo sapiens) bones
- Be able to identify a range of animal species from their skeletal remains
- Have a basic understanding of the specific methods used in the identification and analysis of human cremated remains
- Have an awareness of the various processes that can affect skeletal remains after death and how this information can add to our understanding of ancient societies and/or environments
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | BoneId |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Linda Fibiger
Tel: (0131 6)50 2379
Email: Linda.Fibiger@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Gordon Littlejohn
Tel: (0131 6)50 3782
Email: Gordon.Littlejohn@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2014 The University of Edinburgh - 12 January 2015 4:31 am
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